A favourite holiday haunt of Charles Dickens, Broadstairs is an attractive coastal town in East Kent. It retains its Victorian beach resort charm with sandy coves and colourful fishermen cottages while also boasting one of England’s most engaging heritage tours.

Things to do

If you’re a fan of Charles Dickens, visit the Dickens House Museum, which celebrates the author’s love of Broadstairs through a range of memorabilia. You can also visit the cliff-top Bleak House, where he holidayed in the mid-19th century and wrote his famous novel “David Copperfield”.

Want to visit the beach frequented by Charles Dickens? Spend a day relaxing on the golden sands of Viking Bay, which is backed by a strip of colourful beach cabins. Wander along the harbour pier, which is clustered with fishing boats, soak up the views from the cliff-top promenade and test your skills while learning to surf.

Join one of the award-winning heritage tours of St. Peter’s Village where you’ll meet costumed characters from Broadstairs’ past. Explore the largest graveyard in England at St. Peter’s Church and wander through the village green, then hear lively anecdotes that bring the history to life.

Train enthusiasts should visit the Crampton Tower Museum, housed in an old water tower adjacent to the Broadstairs Railway Station. Admire the working model railways and learn about the legacy of Thomas Crampton who was the first to successfully lay a telegraph cable beneath the English Channel.

Getting around

Broadstairs is around two hours by train from London and 1.5 hour’s drive from London Gatwick Airport. The Thanet Loop bus connects Broadstairs with Margate and Ramsgate, while the town is small enough to navigate on foot.