From great views to nostalgic arcades – here’s a guide to all of the Blue Flag beaches in Kent within a 90-minute drive of south east London.
With the weather heating up, many people will be packing up their beach towels and slathering on the sunscreen as they head to the coast for a day at the beach.
Kent has many stunning beaches, and currently boasts nine Blue Flag beaches on its coastline.
The highly sought after Blue Flag is an international symbol awarded to beaches on account of their water purity, clean coasts, safety, and access.
We’ve rounded up the nine Blue Flag beaches in Kent and why we think you should visit them:
Joss Bay Beach, Broadstairs
Known for being a popular surfing beach in Kent, Joss Bay is a small sandy beach overlooked by white chalk cliffs.
It’s located a short distance from the seaside town of Broadstairs, which is a great spot to grab some lunch or to shop in the town’s many independent businesses.
The beach stretches over 200 miles long and has a number of nearby facilities on hand, including a café, toilets, showering facilities and disabled facilities.
Botany Bay Beach, Broadstairs
Known for being a popular photo spot, Botany Bay hosts some beautiful views of the white cliffs and offers great views of the north sea.
For any explorers, young or old, Botany Bay is also a prime place to explore the many rock pools and to comb the shore for fossils when the tide is out.
The beach also offers seasonal toilets open from April as well as a nearby café area.
With its dramatic views of the coast, this is a photographer’s idea of heaven.
Stone Bay Beach, Broadstairs
Located a short walk from Broadstairs town, Stone Bay Beach is an idyllic beach with a touch of nostalgia, with its promenade featuring colourful beach huts.
Stone Bay is a sandy beach which hosts rock pools to explore, and is known to be one of the quieter beaches in the area.
Be sure to check the tide times, as Stone Bay Beach is covered by water during high tide on account of its small size. Minnis Bay Beach, Margate Best known for being a prime location for water sports, Minnis Bay Beach is a great spot for all the family to enjoy.
It’s located near the village of Birchington-on-Sea, just 90 minutes away by car or a train ride from Bromley South if you’d prefer.
This flat, sandy beach is bordered by sand dunes and offers nearby amenities including car parking, toilets, a picnic area, café and a children’s play area, making it a great family friendly beach to visit.
St Mildreds Bay Beach, Margate
Located next to the town of Westgate and within easy reach of Margate itself, St Mildreds Bay Beach is a fun beach to visit, offering sporting activities like golf, tennis, wind surfing and other water sports.
Despite being a sandy and rocky beach, you can still find enough sand to build your obligatory sandcastle no matter how old you are.
It also offers disabled access to the beach, with nearby parking on hand for anyone with access needs.
Margate Bay Beach, Margate
For those of you looking for a touch of nostalgia, Margate Bay Beach is the perfect English seaside spot, complete with amusement arcades, rides, and a promenade.
Margate Bay Beach is a popular sandy beach in Margate, a short walk from the town’s many attractions like the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery, Dreamland and The Shell Grotto in Margate’s Old Town.
The bay also offers great views of the Thanet Coastline where you’ll be able to spot Botany Bay and Broadstairs.
Margate can be reached in around 90 minutes by car, by train from Bromley South, or by National Express coach stopping at spots in Lewisham and Eltham.
Tankerton Beach, Whitstable
Best known for its famous Oysters, Whitstable is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for a pretty town complete with beach huts, a harbour and great seafood.
Tankerton beach is a nostalgic shingle beach lined with beach huts, and is a short walk away from Whitstable Castle, which also happens to be a popular spot for afternoon tea.
If you don’t fancy afternoon tea, the town has many eating options to choose from, whether you are looking for a Sunday Roast or a portion of fish and chips to enjoy on the beach.
Sheerness Beach, Isle of Sheppey
Located in the town of Sheerness, this shingle beach is a good spot to visit if you are looking for a family fun day out with lots to do nearby.
The beach also has a number of roads offering Blue Badge parking and offers ramps down to the beach below.
The beach offers great views of the Thames Estuary, is near local attractions like Sheppey Little Theatre, and is a short drive from the historical dockyards of Chatham.
Minster Leas Beach, Isle of Sheppey
If you are looking for a more quiet beach to visit on the Isle of Sheppey, Minster Leas Beach is a great option, offering a shingle and sandy beach which is backed by a promenade.
The beach also has a designated bathing spot, and offers a lifeguard service from May until September.
A short walk from the beach is the village of Minster, which features the historic Saxon Abbey that was rebuilt by William the Conqueror after it was ransacked by Vikings.
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