Start your seaside visit

With its Instagrammable chalk stacks and sand stretching ahead, it’s one of Thanet’s top beaches, with a Blue Flag. A perfect sandy spot for those both looking to relax or seek adventure – and when the tide is out it is great for fossils and exploring rock pools for hours. However, it’s quite a compact site so is likely to be busier on hot days this summer. Shepherd Neame has reopened its pub overlooking the beach, the Botany Bay Hotel, and it is advisable to book first, though walk-ins are welcome if there’s space.

With one of the most enclosed sandy beaches in the county, Broadstairs has ice cream parlours, as well cliff top walks. Whatever you’re looking for by the sea, Broadstairs has it. It’s an ideal place for families to spend a few hours enjoying a traditional day out at the seaside building sandcastles. There is seafront parking for a small cost, but on warm days there is competition for the parking spaces - especially at weekends. the shingle beach is flat and is a haven for winged wildlife especially. It’s a great spot for your dog to run free and eagle-eyed visitors will enjoy looking for a range of rare and interesting birds. However the nature reserve is not open and facilities such as the visitor centre and toilets remain closed. The RSPB has opened one car park with limited capacity from 9am to 5pm only.

You’ll find miles of unspoilt sand stretching ahead of you at Dymchurch or neighbouring St Mary’s Bay. The golden sands are the jewel in the crown for this stretch of the Kent coast, come rain or shine, and it’s not surprising it gets such a good Tripadvisor rating. Dymchurch was also the subject of some beach art for last year’s JAM on the Marsh festival, though the event is only being held virtually this year. The amusement park has now reopened with strict hygiene measures and sanitising stations, plus the German Hot Dog Kiosk on the sea wall is again open daily from 11am.

Sunny Sands Beach is a lusted-after landmark on the south coast. Venture down through the town’s Creative Quarter to the beach, watched over by the town’s mermaid statue, it is a perfect spot to take your dog when the weather’s less warm and it also has hills and downs, and is a short walk from shops and cafes, as well as some of the town’s Artworks.