Broadstairs
South East
Broadstairs

Curious to discover what enticed Charles Dickens to his favourite seaside resort? Itching for a spectacular coastline to get surfing? Come to Broadstairs on the Isle of Thanet!

This quaint fishing village-turned quintessential seaside resort blends timeless, authentic charm with surprising modern twists. Stroll quirky lanes past tiny flint houses and fishermen’s cottages to seafront promenades and gardens. Then explore the town differently with Captcha Code: an imaginative new escape room-meets-treasure hunt experience.

Dickens declared Broadstairs ‘the freshest, freest place,’ and holidayed and wrote here for 22 summers. Channel his creative spirit at Dickens House Museum, once home to the woman who inspired the figure of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield, and view imposing cliff-top Bleak House. Then how about a ‘novel’ stay in Fagin’s Den self-catering cottage? At the annual Dickens Festival in June you can meet many of the author’s much-loved characters. 

With the closest surfing beaches to London, Broadstairs is perfect for that quick high-adrenalin fix including at Joss Bay and Viking Bay. Seven very different sandy beaches and bays await you: share classic family bucket-and-spade fun and make forever memories on the golden horseshoe of Viking Bay. Or explore the natural beauty of chalk cliffs, stacks, rockpools and arches at Kingsgate and Botany Bay. 

This lovely coast offers refreshing breaks all year round with blow-the-cobwebs-away adventures and a calendar full of events: from Broadstairs Blues Bash (February) and Broadstairs Folk Week (August), to summer fireworks, and food festivals in spring and autumn. 

You will find plenty of great value activities that help you to mind the budget, like hiring a Coastal Explorers pack – kids (and grown-ups) love playing coastal detectives. Feeling thirsty? Check out the water refill scheme around town – just one of the green tourism ideas taking off locally. Feeling peckish? Tuck in at a mouth-watering number of restaurants, cafés and pubs , or an ice cream parlour like iconic Morelli’s serving gelato overlooking Viking Bay. 

For further information on Broadstairs click here. Discover more to explore around the Isle of Thanet : the refreshing coast for all SEAsons. 

TRAVEL INFORMATION 

Road Directions to Broadstairs - M25 linking with M26, M20, M2 and A299 to Broadstairs 

Trains to Broadstairs- High Speed service from London St Pancras to Broadstairs 85 minutes or services to London Victoria and Charing Cross 

By Bus: National Express coaches run from London Victoria to Broadstairs 0871 781 8181 

FREE CAR PARKING IN BROADSTAIRS is available every Saturday at St Peter's Park Road, Broadstairs. Click here for more parking options for Broadstairs.