Whitstable beach frontWith its working harbour, famous seafood restaurants and towering castle, it’s easy to see why Whitstable is one of Kent’s most visited towns.
Whitstable is a small town on the Kent coast, five miles north of Canterbury. The town is famous for oysters, which can be sampled in many of the cafes and restaurants near the harbour. This celebrated delicacy has been collected in the area since Roman times and is the focus of Whitstable’s annual Oyster Festival. The town centre is a lovely place to explore by foot, with a selection of independent shops and an unusually large number of narrow alleyways, perhaps the most famous of which is Squeeze Gut Alley.
Whitstable’s biggest annual event is its Oyster Festival, when the town is filled with live music, kids’ activities and, of course, plenty of oysters.
One of the town’s most popular attractions is Whitstable Harbour, where you can watch fishing boats come and go, or sample shellfish from one of the many cafes and stalls dotted along the seafront.
Whitstable's colourful harbour Nearby, you’ll find the town’s beach, a vast stretch of pebbles, lined with colourfully painted beach huts and divided by wooden groins which jut out to sea. Due to the beach’s size, you never have to go far to find a secluded spot to lay down a towel and catch some sun. It’s also a lovely place to take a long walk along the coast or, in the summer months, a dip in the sea.
Whitstable and the surrounding countryside are home to some fascinating historical landmarks, few of which are as impressive as Whitstable Castle, which dates back to the 1700s and has magnificent grounds for visitors to explore.
“With its working harbour, famous seafood restaurants and towering castle, it’s easy to see why Whitstable is one of Kent’s most visited towns.”
There are some great places to eat and drink in Whitstable, from modern restaurants to rustic pubs. One of the town’s most popular cafes is Waltshaw’s, which serves excellent coffee and a variety of snacks and light lunches, including homemade croissants and salt beef sandwiches.
Don’t leave Whitstable without sampling its trademark oysters. There are a number of eateries in the town which serve this delicacy and one of the best is Wheeler’s Oyster Bar, a strikingly designed restaurant which is known for its excellent seafood including lobster, crab sandwiches and generous plates of fresh oysters. If you’re in the mood for fish and chips, look no further than the award-winning Ossie’s. Alternatively, try Birdies, a relaxed café which serves, tea, cakes and a wide range of tasty dishes. There are a number of welcoming pubs in Whistable, one of the oldest and most popular of which is The Monument, which serves beautifully presented, classic pub dishes as well as a wide selection of local ales.