Kent Swimming beaches
The beach guide has 30 swimming beaches listed in Kent. Check here for all swimming beaches in the UK
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1. Stone Bay
This pleasant sandy beach is backed by a promenade lined with beach huts which leads into Broadstairs town. Behind the beach are high chalk cliffs which provide shelter from the breeze and a feeling of seclusion. The cliffs to cast…
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2. Shellness Beach
Just under a mile along the coast from the resort of Leysdown-on-Sea, on the Isle of Sheppey, is Shellness. This is a world apart from its rowdy neighbour with just a few ramshackle beach chalets and old, land-bound boats.
Shellness…
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3. Greatstone Beach
Greatstone Beach 's two miles of sandy shoreline, dotted here and there by large rocks, has been a favorite of holidaymakers for generations. The long stretch of flat, soft sand and safe swimming waters, as well as the increased popularity…
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4. Dover Harbour Beach
This pleasant patch of shingle beach sits within the shelter of Dover's harbour. Despite being set within a major port the beach has surprisingly clean water (Marine Conservation Society recommended) and an attractive seafront behind.…
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5. Walpole Bay
Walpole Bay, in Margate, is a long, sandy beach with one of the last tidal pools ever to be built. Along with a number of rockpools to explore this makes for a family friendly beach. It is worth checking the tide times before visiting…
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6. Hythe Beach
Hythe Beach is located on the south-eastern coast, approximately midway between Folkestone and Dymchurch. The unspoiled, mainly pebble beach slopes quite steeply into the sea and the water can become deep surprisingly quickly when the…
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7. Leysdown Beach
The traditional seaside resort of Leysdown-on-sea is situated towards the eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey on Kent's north coast. As a well established seaside town there are all the facilities you would expect; shops, cafes, amusements…
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8. Seasalter Beach
The small town of Seasalter sits just across the mouth of the River Swale from the Isle of Sheppey. It is a fairly quiet, laid back town that spills right down to the long sand and shingle beach. Seasalter beach itself is made up of a…
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9. Sandwich Bay
This long, somewhat featureless, stretch of sand and pebble beach is backed by three golf courses and a private estate. This makes actually getting to the beach a little more complicated than it look on the map. The most obvious route…
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10. Westbrook Bay (Margate)
This pleasant, sandy beach sits on the north-eastern Kent coast, and is one of the quieter beaches to be found close to the town of Margate – there are no arcades here. Westbrook is a good beach to bring young children, who will enjoy…
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11. Ramsgate Main Sands Beach
Ramsgate Main Sands is a popular sandy beach surrounded by high chalk cliffs and adjacent to the picturesque Royal Harbour and marina, with plenty of options for ice cream and fish and chips. The beach is perfect for families, with rides…
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12. St Mildreds Bay
Within easy walking distance of Margate, the small, quiet, sandy beach of St Mildred's Bay is next to the seaside town of Westgate. The beach backs on to a promenade and the sea wall follows the cliff formations around the bay.
Beach…
13. Sunny Sands Beach
Sunny Sands Beach is a popular sandy beach located close to the centre of town and next to Folkestone Harbour. As such all the facilities are close by including cafés, pubs, shops and toilets.
The fact that this is one of the…
14. Minnis Bay
Minnis Bay is a long family-friendly stretch of beach in the village of Birchington-on-Sea in an area known as the Isle of Thanet. It is east of the Thames Estuary, facing the North Sea midway between Herne Bay and Margate.
The…
15. Dymchurch Beach
The flat, mainly sandy beach at Dymchurch stretches for approximately 3 miles along the Kent coast. The beach is backed by the new, improved sea wall. Built in 2011 at a cost of £60 million, is wide enough to allow pedestrians to walk…
16. The Bay (Margate)
Margate's central beach offers visitors an award-winning wide, sandy stretch backed by a traditional seaside resort. A boardwalk gives easy access to the beach and is the perfect spot to while away a sunny afternoon while young…
17. St Marys Bay
This clean, sandy beach stretches along the coast between Dymchurch and Littlestone-on-Sea. At low tide this part of the beach is about half a mile wide with wooden groynes dividing it up. In summer St Mary's Bay is particularly popular…
18. Dymchurch - Redoubt Beach
On the A259, about halfway between Dymchurch and Hythe, a granite and sandstone fort overlooks the shoreline. Dymchurch Redoubt was built between 1798 and 1809 to act as a supply depot and barracks to support the 21 Martello Towers which…
19. Deal Beach
The long pebble beach at deal is punctuated by the pier which dates back to the 1950s. Whilst it might not be the most attractive pier it is long and features a cafe and fishing decks at the end. The beach at Deal is an interesting spot…
20. Viking Bay (Broadstairs)
Viking Bay is the most popular beach in the archetypal British seaside town of Broadstairs. The crescent of sand is one of Broadstairs main draws although competition is pretty stiff from other nearby beaches such as the ever popular…
21. Tankerton Beach
Tankerton is an old-fashioned shingle beach with wooden groynes and pretty multi-coloured beach huts. The beach is backed by a promenade and gentle grassy slopes that are perfect for children to play on.
At low tide it is possible…
22. Dymchurch - Hythe Road Beach
This beach forms part of a long stretch of sand and shingle backed by a wide sea-wall, which it is possible to walk along. As you head North-East, the beach becomes quite narrow. Martello Tower (number 24) overlooks this stretch of the…
23. Joss Bay
Joss Bay is a popular sandy beach sheltered by steep chalk cliffs and backing on to the North Foreland golf course. Stretching for around 200 metres this is a great family beach with all the facilities close at hand. There is a beach…
24. Sheerness Beach
Sheerness beach is found on the northern coast of the Isle of Sheppey, where the rivers Thames and Medway meet the North Sea. From the shore there are views across the estuary, towards Southend-on-Sea and the Essex coastline.
The…
25. St Margaret's Bay
The sheltered, shingle beach at St Margaret's Bay has a spectacular backdrop of white chalk cliffs. Driving down to the beach car park is not for the fainthearted; a steep, narrow road with some blind corners leads down to the pay-and-display…
26. Palm Bay
Palm Bay is a pleasant sandy beach not too far away from Margate's town centre, between Walpole and Botany Bay. Despite its appeal, Palm Bay never seems to get as busy as the better known neighbouring beaches. This is probably the best…
27. The Warren Beach (Folkestone)
This sandy beach, near Folkestone, has rocks and some good rock pools. The beach is quite popular with fossil hunters as over the years some interesting specimens have been found here. Behind the beach, the area known as The Warren Country…
28. Shakespeare Beach
Recently reopened after the beach's seawall was almost completely destroyed in a storm in 2015, Shakespeare Beach's long stretch of shingles is popular among locals and visitors alike. Known as a bit of a hotspot with swimmers, swimming…
29. Pegwell Bay (Ramsgate)
Pegwell Bay is more than one beach. At one end of the bay is a sandy stretch that nestles up against the harbour in Ramsgate. This end is most popular with families and there is plenty to explore. At the other the beach becomes a marshy…
30. Epple Bay
This little sandy beach is set in a small bay that feels like it has been carved into the white chalk cliffs. Set about halfway between West Bay and Minnis Bay, it is connected to the latter by a level promenade that winds along this…
