Famed for its native oysters, vibrant art scene, maritime history and spectacular sunsets, Whitstable not only provides a unique and charming holiday experience, it also caters for all ages and interests.

The Eateries                                                                                      

For those of you who enjoy a gastronomic break, Whitstable will not disappoint. The town is particularly famed for its seafood restaurants, most notably the Royal Native Oyster Stores Fish Restaurant and the original Wheelers Oyster Bar, where you can enjoy fine dining and locally caught shellfish. Or you could just opt for the good old English Fish & Chips! As well as seafood, Whitstable also has a great selection of international cuisine from Thai, Chinese and Indian, to Italian and Spanish Tapas. See our 'Places to Eat' section for details. 

The Activities   

If If it's an active holiday you want, Whitstable offers a wealth of watersports and land based pursuits. Learn to dinghy sail and windsurf with Wild Times at Whitstable Yacht Club; or kitesurf with Transition Kiteboarding. You can also enjoy swimming, tenpin bowling, tennis, squash, or golf nearby.  

The Shops      

Whitstable has a variety of shops and art galleries. Harbour Street in particularly is well loved for its pretty boutiques and shop fronts. It is also home to David Brown's Delicatessan and the Sundae Sundae ice cream shop.

Liz Shedden at the Boatshed is home to Liz's own paintings,home furnishings and accessories, as well as being Kent's only retail outlet for the French Breton clothing label, St James. Click here for more details. 

The Beaches     

Whitstable's pebbley shoreline is blessed with an array of beautiful cottages, beach huts and smugglers alleys to explore. If you walk to neighbouring Tankerton and look out to sea at low tide, a long stretch of pebbles and land known as 'The Street' leads out to sea, and provides a temporary natural promenade.

The Harbour    

Whitstable is unique in that it still has a busy working harbour. You can see the local fisherman plying their trade, sample the famous Whitstable Native oyster, or choose your supper from one of Whitstable's fabulous fish markets.

Opened in March 1832, Whitstable harbour became the first harbour in England to be served by a railway, the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway’s ‘Crab & Winkle Line’. This railway was also the first in the world to have a steam-drawn passenger train, the ‘Invicta’ locomotive, now housed in the Canterbury Heritage Museum. You can enjoy Whitstable’s marine history at the Whitstable Museum in Oxford Street, or why cycle the original ‘Crab & Winkle Line’ route to Canterbury and back.