Whitstable

A day trip to Whitstable. In search of oysters, sea air and a slower pace of life….

Jumping on a train from London and within just over an hour you’ll reach the quaint seaside town of Whitstable full of fisherman huts, seafood shacks and pebbled beaches.

A town renowned for is it’s oysters, it’s no surprise there are stalls, and more stalls, lining the harbour edges with no-frills plastic chairs and tables offering some of the freshest collected oysters in the whole of Kent. The town is famous for the salty delicatessen!

Note that oyster season typically runs from September until April, so if visiting during this time you will have picked the right time of year to sample these.

Whitstable beach is quintessentially English with pebbles, old school ice cream vans selling out of 99s and colourful beach huts – all you need to bring is your foldable chair, picnic basket and pop-out tent (if you are taking the “seaside day out” very seriously). Even on a sunny, hot day the beaches don’t feel too overcrowded because Whitstable has long seashores meaning you’re able to stroll far enough to find a quieter spot.

If you’re brave enough you can join the fearless folk and opt for a dip in the water, or if cold water (like me) isn’t your thing you can enjoy a drink in one of the seafront pubs.

If oysters aren’t for you, a popular haunt with the locals is Ossie’s fish bar, easily identified by the long queue you’ll usually find outside the shop. There’s the option to take-out, or if you’d rather eat-in and dodge the hungry seagulls there is table service.

Whitstable harbour has a pretty industrial feel to it, with fisherman boats and nets lining the quay – making a very picturesque scene.

If you enjoy mooching around shops when exploring a new town or city, you’ll be pleased to hear that Whitstable is home to lots of independent retailers.

The high street, called “Harbour Street”, is full of shops that celebrate British-products and smaller brands, making it worth a visit.

Not to be missed is Sundae Sundae with a retro-looking store front and (often) popular queue outside, it’s the perfect place to grab an ice cream to enjoy along the beach.