SUMMERSTAYCATION
KENT ’ S COASTAL CORNER CONT .
Botany Bay , Joss Bay and Kingsgate Bay
Awarded a Blue Flag for its clean water and with golden sands to match , it ’ s no surprise that Botany Bay is the perfect place for families to enjoy idyllic hazy beach days , exploring rock pools , building sandcastles and playing about in the surf . With deckchair rental service and a beach café selling ice-creams and snacks , Botany Bay really is an English summertime haven . If you are a fan of the UK ’ s fastest growing sport of paddleboarding , the balmy waters are ideal for perfecting your balance and technique and when the tide goes out , visitors can wander among the imposing chalk stacks and hunt for shells and fossils . Car parking is however very limited here , so an early arrival in summertime is heavily advised !
Neighbouring bays to Botany Bay also provide similarly idyllic experiences , Joss Bay is an easily accessible sandy cove and Kingsgate Bay is most famous for its sea caves , imposing rock sea arch and cliff-top Kingsgate Castle . Bring your beach towels , sun-cream and a delicious picnic to revel in the very best of a British beach day and whatever you do , don ’ t forget your camera !
Deal
Deal ’ s prettiness does not stop at the immaculate pebble beach complete with its long pier and smattering of wooden fishing boats , it ’ s charm and charisma soaks all the way from the shoreline into the winding streets lined with elegant Georgian townhouses rubbing shoulders with fisherman ’ s cottages . Deal is best observed enmasse from the pier , a sweeping panoramic view of seafront houses mirrored above the emerald green ocean will challenge even the nonphotographers among us not to snap a picture of this perfectly preserved slice of British seafront . Traditional English pubs such as The King ’ s Head ( www . kingsheaddeal . co . uk ) sit
festooned with cheerful bunting and hanging baskets , offering refreshing local ales and scrumptious Sunday roasts , as well as views out to sea and a vibrant atmosphere . Deal is also rich in history , with not one , but two castles , as well as an intriguing story of smuggling , paid homage to by Smuggler ’ s Records ( shop . smugglersrecords . com ), an independent record shop well worth a visit . Built on the orders of Henry VIII as a Tudor artillery coastal defence , Deal Castle sits a stone ’ s throw away from the town ’ s other royal link Walmer Castle . Once a residence of the Queen Mother , visitors can admire the beautiful formal gardens and grounds before delighting in the chic waterfront restaurants with mouthwatering menus back in town .
Margate
Arguably the most famous of all Kent ’ s beaches , and the epitome of English seaside speciality , is the treasured town of Margate . Close your eyes and imagine hard enough the screeching of gulls against the tinkle of fairground amusement music and you will feel transported to Margate ’ s sandy shores that seem to somehow relentlessly capture times gone by and showcase them to the crowds of loving visitors that flock to the town year upon year . With a direct high speed train link from London , Margate beach ’ s popularity is undeniable . Whether it ’ s ‘ seaside kitsch ’ attracting the uber-cool hipsters or the age-old resort town traditions , such as seafood stalls and shore-front rides that bring the families , Margate will hold a special place in anyone ’ s heart . Vibrant cafés , vintage stores and record shops , combined with the famous Turner sunsets over the ocean and the namesake art gallery , have convinced artists to come in waves . Revel at the sheer amount of museums , galleries and theatres here ready to amuse and inspire , take a swim in the tidal pool or simply sit back on the sand and watch the world go by – a day in Margate is one you will never forget .
DEAL
DREAMLAND , MARGATE JOSS BAY
40