Day Trip to Whitstable
Sometimes
when I have a weekday off to myself, I like to hop on a train and head outside of
London.
Very
slowly, either solo or with my husband, I am trying to explore more of this
country that we’ve called home for the last two years and will do so for the foreseeable
future as well. On one such occasion, I took a train from London Victoria to
the seaside town of Whitstable,
about 90 minutes away. This coastal town is the perfect summer day trip from
London and a foodie destination too.
Whitstable
ticks all the boxes for me already.
Coffee Break
Taking
a morning train means I need some caffeine as soon as I arrive into Whitstable.
Located near the beach on the corner of Nelson Road and Island Wall, Windy Corner Stores & Café offers a
good selection of homemade baked goods, lunches and a good flat white. Since
the outdoor seats are already taken, I sit in the window seat and enjoy some
people watching.
Local Art and Street Art
Being
a seaside town, Whitstable seemed to have an artsy, relaxed vibe. I found some
interesting local art at the Fish Slab Gallery as well as some fantastic street art as I wandered around the narrow laneways. I discovered that several of
the stencil art/paste up pieces were designed by Unify, a street artist known for his work around London as well.
All About Those Oysters
Being
at the seaside means eating seafood in this coastal town in Kent, of course.
And Whitstable is known for its oysters and even hosts an oyster festival in July.
One of the popular places to sample some local oysters is at The Forge, which is located right along
the beach. I don’t even like oysters, but I tried a couple of them and fed my
leftover chips to the yapping seagulls. You’ll also find oysters at the popular
Whitstable Oyster Company and the
pink-hued Wheelers Oyster Bar.
Walking Along the Harbour
After
lunch, I decided to take a stroll along the harbor and look for the colorful bathing
boxes which I had read about online. However, I quickly learned, that the
seashore was filled with rocks – quite uncomfortable for sunbathing – and so typical
of U.K.’s beaches. But that doesn't stop kids from playing along the beach or wading into the sea.
Along
the harbour, you’ll also find the Harbour Market Whitstable which features about 35 traders selling everything from
coffee and ice cream to handmade jewelry and artwork.
Whitstable Castle
Perched
on the hillside, you’ll discover the Whitstable Castle, or the Tankerton Towers, as it was first called by the Pearson
family who called the manor house home in the 1790s. The castle is open to the
public and features a lovely, small flower garden and an afternoon tea at the café.
In case you’d like to know, the castle has experienced an interesting history
filled with mistresses, poverty, Rembrandt paintings and more.
Bathing boxes at Tankerton Beach
A
bit along the coast, I find a plethora of the bathing boxes – each one
different with its brightly colored stripes and décor. Surprisingly, these tiny
beach huts sell for several thousand pounds, and there are constantly waiting
lists to buy them too. Expensive real estate, but cheaper than our London flat!
At
Tankerton Beach, I stumble upon a patch of hogs fennel, also known as sulphur weed,
which I learn is one of Britain’s rarest plants and grows in few places, but
seems to like the Whitstable coastline quite well. Who knew?
The
hot sun made me thirsty so I ventured up the steep hillside and cooled off with
a pint of British cider at the Royal Pub.
After
an afternoon in the sun, I headed back to the Whitstable train station, about
1.5 miles away, but first treated myself to a seafood risotto dinner at Samphire in the town center. As you can
see from my photos, Whitstable is a darling, pastel-hued town that is perfect
for a summer break.
What is your favorite summer get away in
the U.K.?
2 comments:
The North Kent coast is my old stomping ground - love the area! Used to keep my sailing cruiser at Iron Wharf Boatyard, Faversham, another historic old and interesting town.
Lovely, Joy!
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