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. Or explore with 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 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 - M25 linking with M26, M20, M2 and A299 to Broadstairs Public Transport By Train: 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 is available every Saturday at St Peter's Park Road, Broadstairs. Click here for more parking options for Broadstairs
By road Excellent road links with the M20 and M2 motorways close by provide easy links from London and its airports via the M25 orbital motorway Broadstairs is situated on the A255 and on the coast between Ramsgate and Margate.
By rail There are frequent trains between London Victoria and Charing Cross, and Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate. Journey times are approximately 1 hour 50 minutes (Victoria) and 2 hours (Charing Cross). By Bus National Express runs a national network of coach services. Express coaches run from London Victoria to Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate. Textphone: +44 (0) 121 455 0086 For information on local bus services:
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