This oft-overlooked gem of the Kent coast offers old-school seaside charm in spades. Here's our guide to spending an ideal day in Broadstairs.
Broadstairs is probably most famous for being one of Charles Dickens’ favourite places to escape to, but this charming little seaside town is often overlooked in favour of neighbouring Margate or Whitstable.
But you’d be a fool to ignore its offerings – with a backdrop of chalk cliffs and seven golden bays to be explored, Broadstairs has sea views for days – many of which can be enjoyed with a pint in hand or while gorging on some of its excellent food offerings. You can build up a hefty appetite by navigating the area’s gorgeous coastal trails or perusing its superb independent shops – there’s just so much to explore. So, without further ado, these are the best things to do in Broadstairs right now.
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Head straight for Viking Bay beach. The town’s headline stretch is a pristine crescent of sand that shelters a tidal pool. Walk the clifftop Victoria Gardens and end up at Bleak House –the lofty spot where Dickens wrote ‘David Copperfield’. Sadly, the house remains closed, but just a few longing looks will leave you feeling inspired.
Grab fish and chips to go from Star of the Sea and finish up with a sticky gypsy tart from The Old Bakehouse. Both are a stone’s throw from the beach. Twenty Seven Harbour Street is where it's at for Sunday lunch (it's small plates only in summer, but bumper portions again from September), with stunning views to go with its excellent menu and wine list.
The pub scene in Broadstairs includes giant gastros like The Charles Dickens and quirky micropubs like The Chapel – a chapel-turned-bookshop-turned-alehouse that still somehow manages to be a bit of all three. The Tartar Frigate does a fine line in local ales and fresh seafood, with the boozers here back and thriving after a couple of quiet years.
Cycle the Viking Coastal Trail. This 25-mile loop circles the Isle of Thanet, and the views are something else. On foot? Walk the three-and-a-half-mile stretch to Margate. Pause at Botany Bay. This picturesque sandy beach is dotted with giant chalk stacks and backed by huge white cliffs, which hide a handful of smugglers’ caves.
You’re more likely to splurge on seafood than shopping in Broadstairs, but what you will find in spades are art galleries, clustered around Viking Bay. The biggies are The Broadstairs Gallery and New Kent Art. If the weather isn't up to scratch, then check out the tiny but ace Palace Cinema, an independent spot that shows the latest arthouse movies.
If you don’t end up with ice cream dribbling down your arms, did you even visit the Great British Seaside? For masterful scoops of the sweet stuff, head to retro ice-cream parlour Morelli’s. The nostalgic spot, complete with formica tables, has been looking out over Viking Bay since 1932.
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