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Broadstairs is the jewel in Thanet’s crown and is a delightful resort on the east coast of Kent, with chalk cliffs in the backdrop and seven golden bays to explore. Bordered on either side by their neighbours Margate and Ramsgate, these three towns are collectively referred to as Thanet Island. While Thanet was isolated from the mainland in the past, it is no longer an island but is still a stunning place to visit.
getting there:
By car: Take the M25 to the M2 which heads towards East Kent until it becomes the A299 (Thanet Way). From there, follow the signs into Broadstairs. For rail travellers, Broadstairs is just 75 minutes from London by high speed service. South from St Pancras. Other services also operate from London Victoria and Charing Cross.
See and do:
Viking Bay
First and foremost, enjoy the beauty of Viking Bay. It is a pretty horseshoe-shaped bay that runs between the harbour pier at one end and the foot of the cliffs at the other. Unlike many seaside resorts where the beach stretches as far as the eye can see at low tide, Viking Bay is a picturesque bay from where you can watch the waves gently lapping at the golden sand.
With colourful beach huts to hire, plenty of water sports and a surf school running between March and October, visitors to Broadstairs can be as active or as relaxed as they wish. There are more beaches north of Broadstairs, including Stone Bay and Botany Bay, which are beautiful with a backdrop of chalk cliffs and golden sand.
Viking Bay was a favourite holiday destination for Charles Dickens, who once wrote an admiring article on the town entitled ‘Our English Watering Place’. The town’s association with Dickens is celebrated throughout the town (see below).
Dickens House Museum
Charles Dickens is an important character in this part of Kent and Broadstairs is extremely proud of its Dickensian connections. The Dickens House Museum celebrates Charles Dickens’ long association with Broadstairs, where he visited frequently between 1837 and 1851. The museum is housed in the seaside cottage which was his inspiration for Betsey Trotwood’s home in David Copperfield.
The museum was once the clifftop home of Mary Pearson Strong, an elderly spinster whom Dickens knew well during his many visits to the town. Miss Strong bequeathed the property to the local council on the condition that it would become a museum celebrating the author’s links with Broadstairs. Two years later the Dickens House Museum was officially opened by the novelist’s great-grandson Peter Dickens.
Visitors are welcomed to the museum with a short introductory speech by an enthusiastic volunteer, after which they are given a self-guided tour. The gallery houses items belonging to Charles Dickens including first editions, letters written about Broadstairs, his writing box and mahogany sideboard as well as a fine collection of Victorian costumes. Dickens House Museum
Town Trails
For a small town, Broadstairs offers visitors many walking trails. Detailed guides can be obtained from the visitor information kiosk or downloaded Here,
Dickens Town Trail
Follow in the footsteps of Charles Dickens on the Dickens Town Trail. The trail starts at the Dickens House Museum, so it’s a good idea to do it after visiting there. The trail takes visitors through the town, past the Charles Dickens Bar and Restaurant, which was formerly the Broadstairs Assembly Rooms, and the Royal Kent Library, where Dickens purchased a two-week membership in 1837.
The route leads to the Royal Albion Hotel (formerly the Albion Hotel), where in 1839 Dickens completed his third novel, Nicholas Nickleby. The hotel looked so charming that we decided to stop for lunch. Furnished in New England style with a seaside atmosphere, there is also a large outdoor terrace overlooking the bay. Royal Albion Hotel
Back on the trail continue along Albion Street and head uphill under the archway and pass through Balmoral Gardens and Dickens Walk to reach Bleak House on Fort Road. Dickens rented this castle-like property overlooking Viking Bay between 1850 and 1851 and it was here that he wrote his final chapters of David Copperfield. It is now a private property and so it is only possible to see the exterior. Retrace your steps downhill from Bleak House and visit the pretty harbour and pier. Dickens Town Trail
Broadstairs Town Trail
This self-guided walking tour includes 10 illustrated boards providing information about the city’s history, notable people including Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria, as well as key features of the city’s architecture.
Dickens and Turner Walk
Visitors feeling more energetic can follow the four-mile (6km) Dickens and Turner Walk between the two seaside resorts of Broadstairs and Margate. This trail takes around two hours to complete and offers the opportunity to see the Turner Contemporary and Margate Old Town. No need to worry about walking back though as Thanet Loop The bus links the two towns, with a service every 8 minutes (fare £2).
Victoria Gardens
Victoria Gardens is situated on the cliff tops of Viking Bay and was opened in 1892 by Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. The gardens are tastefully maintained and have a Victorian bandstand. There was a concert taking place on the Saturday afternoon we visited so we stopped by for a while to watch it. The gardens also have a clock tower which was rebuilt in the 1970s to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Stroll in the old town
Enjoy a stroll around the town, which has many interesting little shops, galleries, pubs and restaurants. Broadstairs has a sophisticated atmosphere that is reflected in its high-end boutiques and eateries. Throughout the town, there are streets named after Dickens and plaques on the facades of places he stayed at during his visits to the town.
Meal
This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy some freshly caught seafood by the sea. We dined at the Tartar Frigate on the harbour side as it has a very good reputation for its seafood in Kent. The 18th century Flint Inn has a bar on the ground floor and a restaurant upstairs with panoramic views over the bay.
We ate dishes of sea bass and skate wings which were very fresh and tasty. The portions were very generous but we couldn’t resist dessert, especially as the gypsy tart, a local Kent speciality, was on the menu.
I had never heard of this tart before, but I loved its sweet flavor since it’s made with evaporated milk and brown sugar. Tartar Frigate
So, you have plenty of reasons to visit beautiful Broadstairs in South East England.
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During our visit we were guests of Visit Thanet And as always all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
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