Feeling like you’d rather be anywhere but here? Time to getaway from it all where the sea meets the South Coast and take in this pretty, timeless town. For this itinerary and for a weekend in Whitstable that goes with a bang, leave straight after work on Friday and then have your Saturday crammed with sightseeing.

Things are a lot more chilled on the Sunday, with your mind already starting to fill with thoughts of the office and a wad of clothes to squeeze back into your suitcase. But, there’s still a few stops on the way home that’ll brighten up your day.

A weekend in Whitstable – tried and tested itinerary

What do you really want from this mini morsel by the coast?

Come for the glorious, retro, Instagrammable (and dating from a time when that word hadn’t been coined) destination. This Kent fishing village glows with petite charm – and is an antidote to all things urban.

Kent day trips from London

Too many commutes on the Tube could make anyone frazzled! I hate to be all ‘let’s get away from the city’ but I guess that’s basically what I’m saying.

Just 60 minutes in the car or a direct train from Victoria and you’re under the sea gulls, listening to the sea. Whitstable is the perfect day trip from London.

Brunch in Whitstable

It’s not always easy to get up on a weekend, so let’s say you arrive at 11 am. As Winnie the Pooh says – time for elevensies.

Have a quick unpack and wander over to What’s Up Cupcake at 64 Harbour St, the sunsoaked centre of Whitstable. I loved the Ishy Wishy, a creamy vanilla cupcake, which you can nibble on as you browse the quirky seaside boutiques on the same street.

Lunch in Whitstable

Follow the main high street round to the right and you’ll be at the harbour – just follow the salty breeze. It’s full of tall sail boats with bright sails and fat bellied fishing vessels.

This is a working harbour, so in good weather there’s plenty of eyeball and in the wee hours, boats leave en-masse.

Pop round the corner to a row of black fisherman’s huts, which host an arts and crafts market that’s a quaint place to wander. It’s open every day (11am till 5pm any day except Tuesday and Wednesday) and is your best choice for lunch.

Some of the stalls sell fish and chips and snacky bits which add up into an eclectic lunch. If you’re looking to ‘taste’ Whitstable, this, along with the oysters is where I’d do it.

An afternoon on Whitstable Beach

Shabby chic beach huts, a waterfront dotted with shells and a fishing boat basking in the sun – this is a beach full of nostalgia. It’s enough to make me want to get out a vintage parasol!

If you’ve packed a blanket for maybe even a colourful deckchair, now’s your chance to lie back in front of the waves. On weekends and holidays, the beach is busy, but if you come on a Saturday afternoon with clear skies but without blazing sunshine – like I did – you’ll be almost alone.

Where to snack in Whitstable?

The best ice cream near the beach is at Sundae Sundae (62 Harbour St). They sell ice lollies, buckets ideal for making sandcastles and fishing nets for you to skim by the seashore. All you need for the beach! It’ll be no surprise if you also get drawn into their selection of nautical souvenirs and get something for home.

Order a classic, a 99er (so called because it used to cost 99p), which is a soft vanilla cone with a chocolate stick. Or try two flavours at once, you deserve it.

Where to eat the best oysters in Whistable

For me, there’s no competition for an early dinner. With a quirky (and a bit hipster) interior and mouthwatering oysters, you need to eat at the Whitstable Oyster Company, on Horsebridge Road. It’s a little pricey at £3 an oyster or £16 for six tasty mouthfuls.

Basically walk straight to the bay, turn right and at the right hand end of the beach is what you’re looking for. The building has warehouse pulleys and doors, marked with the scratchy painted lettering that says ‘Royal Native Oysters’.

Inside there’s a bar and lounge, but the sweet spot is upstairs on the left, where the windows have binoculars and look straight out over the beach. You squeezed in with all the apothecary bottle displays, succulents and objects that belong in an antiques shop.

Insider tip! Order your oysters early, as they use only the freshest catch and don’t serve after 4pm. We made the mistake of leaving it too late and couldn’t order seconds – shame.

Check out just how beautiful they are! You’ll need to order two plates or more, they’re moreish.

If you’ve come with someone who won’t eat oysters, you’ve made a mistake! OK, no – you can take advantage of their wider menu which also has fish and chips, lobster, squid, salmon and more.

Two day itinerary in Whitstable

So you’ve made it to Sunday morning and you want to finish the weekend off nicely? I have just the thing.

Put the morning, lunch and maybe a little of the afternoon into Sissinghurst Castle which is about an hour west of the coast.

Castle it isn’t – but stunning, it is. Think lavish orchards which remind you why Kent is called The Garden of England. Think a headspinning tower with views over the horizon. Think cute cottages and the eccentric touch of Vita Sackville West.

Run by the National Trust, it has farm gardens surrounding a dainty (pricey but worth it) cafe and cute shop (probably not worth it).

It’s open 10 am till 4 pm in the season and costs £13.80 per adult.

Where to next?

Got longer than a weekend? Maybe even a bank holiday, you lucky thing you? It’s a half hour to Margate for more beach times and Herne Bay is only 15 minutes heading east. And at the bay there’s a pier and classic seaside town, yet it’s much calmer than Brighton. Ride a clifftop railway and watch the boats in Hastings.

Need even more bays, coves and beaches that are out of this world? Spend a few days in Cornwall, in the South West of England.

About
Latest Posts

Danni Lawson

A small town girl on a mission to live in 10 different countries before she pops her clogs, Danni began travelling with a job in Peru at the age of 18. Now an expert in living and working abroad, she shares all the tips and tricks you need to get started.

A weekend in Whitstable – the perfect seaside Kent itinerary