Going to the seaside is one of my favourite things to do and living in Kent we are quite spoilt with our lovely coastal towns. One of my favourites has to be Whitstable I just adore the colourful houses, pebbly beaches, oysters, independent shops, beach huts, sugar doughnuts and of course, how dog-friendly it is.
I’m not just taking a dog-friendly beach, which FYI Whitstable has several, but there are so many foodie options from traditional pub grub to French dining, cute cafes and all the seafood you can eat.
The Beach
I love a pebbly beach, they always seem quieter, and there is something so relaxing listening to the waves crash up over the pebbles that I just love.
One of the best beaches has to be Whitstable’s West Beach, a long stretch of shingle divided by wooden groynes right by town, with wildflowers along the edges. So, this isn’t the longest stretch of beach, it is around a mile long, but there is something so charming about this walk with the fishing boats, colourful houses and weatherboard cottages. It is also a great spot for a picnic or a coffee, just don’t forget to grab some doughnuts from The Forge.
This beach also faces west, making it a great spot to watch the sunset.
Want a slightly longer dog walk? Just keeping going to Seasalter Beach, much of the same when it comes to pebbles but definitely a lot quieter.
Looking for somewhere to eat right on the beach, you can’t go wrong with the Old Neptune, a Victorian inn with period decor that offers good pub-grub, like fish and chips, pie and mash, and burgers. In the summer months, they often have a BBQ on the beach, and they do a selection of local beers.
Going with your dog, just note you can’t go on Tankerton Beach between 1 May and 30 September, between the first house and the start of beach huts.
Can’t go to Whitstable without having Oysters
So, it isn’t just oysters, but more like oysters, cockles, mussels and lobster, but it is fair to say that Whitstable has become known for the salty little buggers, apparently native oysters have been harvested in this Kent seaside town since Roman times. Oysters aren’t for everyone, I’m not personally a fan but my husband loves them and it seems wrong to go to Whitstable and not try one.
There are many places to go: the Instagrammable pink Wheeler’s Oyster Bar in the town centre, the Whitstable Oyster Company formal restaurant offering the best oysters, fish and seafood, and The Forge, the cute little shack on the beach, which also has the most amazing doughnuts, have I mentioned that yet!!!
If we have Falcon, we tend to go to The Forge and then eat on the beach, or we head to The Lobster Shack, located at the end of the East Quay in Whitstable Harbour, which has tons of outdoor seating, stunning views, great food and amazing cocktails.
Harbour Street Shopping
Harbour Street is one of the main streets in Whitstable and it is lined with an array of independent stores with cute vintage-style facades, including The Cheese Box – selling all the cheese you could possibly want and dream about and the amazing Sundae Sundae, which describes itself as an ice cream delicatessen and has one of the biggest displays of traditional rock in town.
For vintage-inspired clothing try The Whiting Post, Frank has a gorgeous selection of ceramics, prints, homeware and stationery, and Harbour Books means you can grab something to read while listening to the waves.
Fish & Chips
Can you go to a British seaside town and not have fish and chips? If you are me, no!!! There are a couple of options in Whitstable, VC Jones is a family-run chippy that always has a queue snaked out the door. Vegetarians just note that VC Jones fries its chips in beef dripping – but don’t worry down the road is the just as impressive Ossie’s Fish Bar.
Cafes & Bakeries
Maybe it is the sea air but I find a trip to the beach leaves me hungry and thirsty – if you are after a cute cafe or bakery to pick up supplies there a few places in Whitstable.
Try Windy Corner Stores & Cafe, a literal stone’s throw from the beach, on the corner of Nelson Road and Island Wall. Not only is this place cute, but it is also dog friendly and has the best homemade cakes.
I also love the Scandi-style Blueprint Coffee & Books on Oxford Street, grab a coffee and cake for the walk, or head to Grain & Hearth Bakery for their delicious cruffins or sourdough cinnamon buns.
