When it’s 30+ degrees in London, it’s time to go to the coast. I had heard that Whitstable was fairly easily accessible from St Pancras, had a nice beach, and was a cute little town to wander around in. Therefore, I planned a quick day trip, starting early to beat the crowds, and returning mid afternoon so I wouldn’t come back with all the other returners.
Departure
So with a very early start, I managed to catch the 8.20 train to Ramsgate from St Pancras. I must say I do like a nice quiet St Pancras, and after avoiding the Eurostar queue, I had a peaceful wait on platform 13 along with the other wise people who were starting their seaside journey early.
I bought myself a cheeky chocolate croissant and English tea, from the Pret a Manger in the station and had an easy going journey to Whitstable station. It was my first time travelling in this direction to the Kent coast and so I enjoyed looking out of the window at the surrounding countryside. There was enough room in the train for me to have a double seat to myself for the whole journey, which is always a victory.
Arrival and Whitstable Harbour
There is a signpost that points the way to the harbour, and although it was not easy to see, I followed the direction of the other people. Roughly a 10 minute walk, I soon reached the harbour. It was cloudy and dull but gave me an opportunity to explore without hoards of people.
This is the place to come to if you like oysters. I do, but as this was a budget trip, I wasn’t planning to get any. There are places all around the harbour and beyond selling oysters and other sea food. I must definitely come back for fish and chips.
Whitstable to Tankerton
After a good wander around the harbour area. I decided to walk to the beach. After some slight confusion with directions (there is a restaurant that blocks the way) I found the entrance via the back of the swimming pool. It was a triumphant moment when I found the beach route, and I set off in the direction of Tankerton slopes.
On the way, I passed the Whitstable Coastwatch hut. A shout out to all the volunteers who are making our coastline safer.
It’s a good walk to Tankerton and at that time in the morning (around 10am) not too many people around. A very relaxing vibe, and despite the lack of sun at that time it was warm and I didn’t regret my choice to wear shorts.
Tankerton
On arrival at Tankerton I was interested to see that it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). I looked out for a rare plant – Hog’s Fennel, but not sure if I found it. Happily, the sun had started to burst through the clouds, and the view of the beach and the slopes looked stunning with the blue sky as a back drop. When I come back I will find ‘The Street’ a natural strip of shingle on clay bank which runs out to sea at right angles to the coast, for a distance of about half a mile. I was planning to find it on this trip but I wasn’t sure where to look for it, and whether the tide was low enough. I will need to do more research on this one!
The walk goes up to Herne Bay, which would have been interesting and I will come back on another visit. However, as this was a half day trip I decided to turn back and find somewhere nice to have a brunch. On the way I walked past some cannons with a nautical flagpole, apparently from the 1700s. The sky provided a dramatic background.
Whitstable Castle, grounds and tearoom
On the way back from Tankerton I was very pleased to stumble across the entrance to Whitstable Castle. It was on my list to visit but I expected my usual confusion and a bit of a wild goose chase in finding it. This was a great result, and I didn’t hesitate to heading towards the Castle tearooms. I was also lucky enough to be just in time for breakfast. Another result, as I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been five minutes late and just hit the lunch time slot in a cafe. I ordered Eggs Royale, for £11.50 and a white Americano. I was rewarded with a massive brunch which I could hardly get through despite all the exercise beforehand. It was incredibly filling and packed with tons of smoked salmon. A very generous portion served by very friendly staff.
Sunny Whitstable Harbour
With the sun fully out I decided to walk back along the beach to the harbour to get some sunnier shots. It was a lot busier now, and I was glad that I’d visited earlier when it was nearly empty. It gave me a good contrast of how the atmosphere can change greatly with light and people. Again, I didn’t seem to be able to walk all the way to the harbour from the beach due to the Lobster Shack Restaurant. Maybe it’s possible when the tide is out, but this time I had to retrace my steps to the high street and then re-enter the harbour from there.
Whitstable High Street
I decided to hit the high street and bought some cute presents and cards for family and friends from George’s, a lovely gift shop. At this point the high street was super busy, and once I made my purchases I wanted to make a quick exit. It would be a great place to browse at another time, maybe in low season so I will have to come back. There are many interesting gift shops, boutiques, and food shops to explore.
Interesting Journey Back to London
By now, it was early afternoon and I felt like it would be a good time to travel back, having made the most of my morning at Whitstable. On the way back I was pleased to find a pretty path that led me back to the station. Unfortunately problems with trains during the afternoon meant that my direct train to St Pancras was cancelled, and we were advised to travel to Canterbury East and walk to Canterbury West to get a direct train from there. A very helpful fellow passenger directed me to Canterbury West, and I enjoyed an interesting detour through the centre of Canterbury, which is definitely worth a future trip.
The train I caught back was the busiest most crowded train I had taken for some time. So much for returning early to beat the rush. However, overall this did not diminish the fun I had on my half day trip to Whitstable. I will definitely come back to explore more.
Top Tips
- Arrive early – Trains fill up fast, especially on sunny weekends.
- If you want to try the oysters – Head to the harbour market for the freshest catch.
- Walk the Tankerton Slopes – Wonderful views and a peaceful break from the crowds.
- Visit Winchester Castle Tea Rooms for a lovely and reasonably priced brunch.
- Bring cash – Some of the best food stalls and vintage shops are cash-only.
- Check tide times – The beach is best at low tide for exploring.
Pocket Adventures 