Whitstable is famous for its oysters.Head straight down to the harbour, with its Victorian clapperboarded buildings and fish market, to taste them. (But only if there’s an R in the month, otherwise you’ll have to make do with crab or fish, or cockles or winkles.)

Or wander the little alleyways of the town; the fact that one is known as ‘Squeeze Gut Alley’ should give you some idea of just how narrow some of them are. This landscape goes back to the seventeenth century, perhaps earlier, and it’s the sign of a traditional fishing town -  go up the East Coast and you’ll find the ‘Scores’ in Lowestoft or the ‘Rows’ in Yarmouth.

Most seaside towns have a pub on the prom. Again, Whitstable is different, with a pub actually on the beach – the Old Neptune. I’m always amazed it doesn’t just float off at high tide.  It’s a pretty old building, and like much of the rest of Whitstable, feels rather Dickensian.

In fact if you’ve seen the television adaptation of Sarah Waters’ novel ‘Tipping the velvet’ , you might have a bit of a feeling of deja vu in Whitstable – it was used as one of the filming locations for the series.

And although it’s not Whitstable’s main draw, there is a beach – Tankerton beach, a little way out of town. I’d describe it as ‘bracing’ on most days – there always seems to be a wind blowing! Tracy Emin used to have a beach hut here, and it does have a certain attraction, though if you’re after sunbathing I can think of better places.

You can get to Whitstable in a bit less than an hour and a half from London Victoria.

Photo credit: Mark Kelly on flickr

Post from: The London Traveler