Destinations on the SE coast

[granny grump]

We are thinking of going to SE Kent on holiday next year.

Looking for somewhere on the coast, with history within walking distance of shops & a good pub in the evening.

Considering Hythe, Deal, Whitstable, Broadstairs area can anyone suggest; recommend or advise where (or where not to go)??

[granny grump]

Sorry would add not into tradiational sea side ie candy floss & fairgrounds but like harbours

[buildersmate]

Whitstable, Broadstairs, Deal all seem to fit your requirements.
I don't rate Hythe, Folkestone, Dover, Ramsgate or Margate as destinations to stay - that's isn't to say there aren't things worth doing there as day trips.

[rsvp]

Rye is a nice little town - historical, lots of places to eat and interesting art places and second hand shops etc

[buildersmate]

This is true about Rye.
The pedant in me also thinks it is in East Sussex

[ojread2]

That's because it is

[spudqueen]

Rye is where E F Benson lived, and set his books, if you're in to that sort of thing.

[granny grump]

Thank you buildersmate rsvp ojread2 & spudqueen.. Back to tyhe maps - I have been to Rye and it is all you say it is thank you

[Andyvon]

Hi,

My wife and I like St. Margaret's Bay near Dover. We usually spend a couple of weeks a year there and we stay on the Parks Holiday Park which is very pleasant indeed. There is a very good 24-hour Tesco on the A2 as well as good shops in Dover. There are also various places on interest in Dover such as the beach, Roman House, castle, WW2 tunnels etc.

St. Margaret's is superbly located for touring Kent and for day trips across the Channel to Calais and Boulogne. We often like to walk to Dover along the clifftops from South Foreland Lighthouse, although the path can be steep, especially down into the town. The views across the Channel to France are usually good and there are also lovely walks in the opposite direction to Deal. If you have a car then Rye Bay is nice for places like Winchelsea. Rye and Romney Marsh. Ramsgate is a lovely town and there are also Margate and Folkestone. We have also stayed in holiday parks near those places but they are not as pleasant as St. Margaret's Bay.

Good luck.

[nungate]

We stayed in Rye every year until my daughter was 9, and we toured all around East Sussex and Kent. We stayed at a hotel called the Hope Anchor
which was very nice, though latterly we rented a flat and a cottage both were great. it's a lovely area for touring around I love Deal and St. Margaret's bay, Eastbourne and Hastings - makes me want to go back soon

[granny grump]

Thank you Andyvon and nungate I'm looking forward to it more and more

[Prudie]

You want to try and catch boxtops' eye for this post. I think she lives in Dover and knows Kent very well. I used to live there about 25 years ago and Whitstable was a dump then but she put me right - it's become quite the place I believe!

[boxtops]

Thanks Andy, you've said everything that I was going to say, since Dover is my home town! However - you do need a car for St Margaret's as it's a bit of a way out of town, but it is pretty.

Granny, Dover town is not up to much (it's small and quite run down so not a lot of shops, but we do have a de Bradelei factory outlet!) but it's got a good Best Western Hotel on the seafront, and behind it is Cullins Yard bar and restaurant which is very good. It's right on the harbour front, if you can get a sea view.

Depending if you are driving or on public transport, Dover has good rail links to Deal (which is lovely) and Sandwich (ditto) and the train also goes round the coast up to Ramsgate and Margate. Canterbury is a direct train line half an hour away. Folkestone (bigger town) and Ashford are on the other train line. Folkestone's got the Grand Burstin Hotel which is right on the harbour front. You can get a 45-minute bus ride down to Hythe which is well worth a visit - the Royal Military Canal, the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch miniature railway takes you down to near Dungeness, and the shops in Hythe are quaint.

Although Dover's not a shopping hub, it has some fabulous history - you can spend all day in the castle and the underground tunnels, it's a great place, then there is the Bronze Age boat in the town museum, the Roman Painted House, the fortifications up on the Western Heights, Langdon Cliffs where you park and can spend lovely hours watching the seat traffic up and down the English Channel - and you can see France on a good day. You can always take a ferry crossing too - lovely on a calm day. Bring your passport!

[boxtops]

^^ Thank you prudie!

[Maydup]

Deal is lovely, Broadstairs is too and Sandwich is sweet with good history.

But don't forget to include day trips to Canterbury, Rye and Calais (take your passport) which are all a must from wherever you decide to stay.

[daisya]

Whitstable and Sandwich are lovely and so too is Canterbury for a visit, depends if you're driving as a lot of places can be difficult to get to by public transport or not as accessible that is.

[granny grump]

Thank you prudie & boxtops for your detailed answer. I was born in Portsmouth but spent my formative years in Kent when my father was posted to the Isle of Sheppey. Now that is a dump and it went down hill when the dockyard closed and the army left. He was also stationed in Dover castle but I was too young to remember that. Still go back to the island as I have family there but not for a holiday. We have been to Whitstable, Sandwich and Rye all of which we enjoyed

Thank you again

[granny grump]

Sorry missed you while I was typing Maidup & daisya thank you

[tamirra]

Whats wrong with Ramsgate, i live there, you have the Royal harbour here, the lady likes harbours, and its only 5 mins drive to Sandwich too, i say Ramsgate is a good place to be, but definatly NOT Margate.

[granny grump]

Thank you tamirra - will certainly consider it on your recommendation

[granny grump]

Just got back from holiday - had an absolutely wonderful time The weather was absolutely glorious and we all got wonderful tans although I understand that a lot of the rest of the country has had horrendous weather.

We stayed in Canterbury on the way down and visited Dover, Hever, Leeds & Walmer castles from Deal and also went to Sandwich & Rye. We stayed in Cambridge on the way back.

We also called in at Capel le Ferne - what a beautiful place and the Battle of Britain memorial was amazing.

Thank you all for your recommendations