A Sunny Beach Day in Broadstairs
Nothing says summer like a day by the beach. Now, I know what you’r thinking… The UK isn’t exactly what I think of when I hear beach holiday. Not that there aren’t nice beaches in the UK, but the weather can be so unpredictable. Still, when the sun is shining it can be magical. Especially with little corners like Broadstairs! Mr. Actually and I decided rather last minute to hop on the train and head off to Broadstairs. This little seaside town is the quieter little sister of Margate. It’s cute and cozy, and while I’m sure it gets busy during the summer holidays, it’s definitely worth a visit! We enjoyed it so much we went back the very next week!
Hopping on the train…
One of the nice things about living in South East London is how easy it is to get to Kent and Broadstairs is no exception! We did have a little train trouble due to delays so it took us a little longer to get there than expected! Still, the train journey is pretty straightforward! You can get direct trains in about 1 hr 45 minutes from either London Victoria or London St Pancras International. The sun was shining when we finally arrived and we couldn’t wait to get exploring!
Coffee at Forts
My favorite thing to do when I have a new place to explore is find the cute coffee shops and places to eat. Forts came highly recommended from two sources (big shoutout to Emma and Liv) and I was a little sleepy so we opted to go for a coffee as soon as we were off the train. I picked myself up a lovely little oat latte as we had a little wander!
Walking the Viking Trail
If you’re not aware of the coastal district of Thanet, it’s a peninsula in eastern Kent. Broadstairs is settled on this coast, along with Ramsgate, Margate, and lots of other villages. Along the coast though, there’s a trail you can walk along that goes around the coast. It goes right through Broadstairs so we decided to amble along for a bit and see where it took us. It was lovely to walk along the coast and take in the fresh air. There were lots of people out walking in the sunshine, so I’d definitely recommend it. The trail extends in both directions and you’ll find some stellar beaches and picnic spots along the way!
Fish and Chips
It’s basically sacrilege to be by the sea and not have fish and chips, right? Don’t worry, there’s plenty of options for you to choose from. We decided on The Mermaid for our seaside delicacy and it hit the spot! The portions were just right and we both appreciated the decor! I’d also recommend Flotsam & Jetsam, which is a takeaway but they have a delightful seafood selection if you’re after a more extensive menu! We went for the fish tacos, the Fritto Misto and fries, of course! It was a tasty treat to enjoy on the beach!
Wander to Stone Bay
The nice thing about Broadstairs is that it’s surrounded by beaches. One such beach is Stone Bay, which is just a little further along the Promenade. It’s very easy to get to and is perhaps a little quieter than The main beach. On our first visit, the tide was out and it was lovely to walk along the cliffs a bit and enjoy the views and the fresh sea air. On our second visit, we camped out here after lunch and spent most of our time laying out in the sun and swimming in the sea! It doesn’t have a bathroom or any amenities in the immediate vicinity but the walk back into the main town is minimal, so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue!
Swimming at Viking Bay
The main beach in Broadstairs is Viking Bay. It’s pretty much straight down from the train station, and it’s very cute! Beach huts, cafes on the threshold and lifeguards on duty too. One thing to bear in mind is that on a hot summer day, it will probably be very busy! Our first trip down, we sat here for a bit and it was lovely, but on the second trip down it was so busy, which is why we wandered over to Stone Bay after lunch. Having a nice sandy beach is such a treat though, and regardless of how busy, it’s well worth a visit!
Back to London
Both of our trips down culminated in a refreshing drink at Neptune’s Hall as we came down from our beach day high. Sitting in a little garden with a cool drink was the perfect end to our day before we headed back to the station to catch our train. The journey takes about 2 hours give or take, but we didn’t mind in the least, given what a nice time we had! We spent more time in Broadstairs than it took for us to get there and back! If you’re looking for somewhere to visit this summer, I’d definitely recommend Broadstairs! It’s a lovely little spot!
