The UK seaside town nicknamed the ‘jewel of the region’ with seven beaches and award-winning pubs
A SEASIDE town in the south of the UK has been named the “jewel of the region” and has more than seven beaches to choose from.
Found between Margate and Ramsgate, Broadstairs is just as beautiful.
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Dubbed the “Jewel of Thanet,” the seaside town’s biggest claim to fame is featuring in Charles Dickens‘ novel David Copperfield, while he was staying in Broadstairs.
He wrote: “Today is one of the most wonderful and charming days I ever saw – the air so brisk and bracing as it is nowhere but at Broadstairs – the Channel so busy and alive with shipping as it is nowhere but off Broadstairs – the hotel so cosy and like a private house as it is nowhere but in Broadstairs – everything as nothing is out of Broadstairs. Veeve la Broadstairs!”
Staying in the Albion Hotel, now called the Royal Albion Hotel, you can still stay there, or you can visit the Dickens House Museum.
Time your visit well for one of the many festivals, including Broadstairs Dickens Festival in June, Broadstairs Folk Week in August and Broadstairs Food Festival in September.
Otherwise there are seven beaches to choose from, although the main one is Viking Bay, although both Botany Bay and Joss Bay have Blue Flags.
One of the most popular stop offs near the beach is Morelli’s, which has been serving ice cream since the 1930s.
You aren’t short of pubs to choose from either.
The two-storey The Charles Dickens has views of the bay and is one of the largest pubs in the town.
The Royston won Thanet Pub of the Year in this year’s Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) awards, beating more than 150 other pubs.
Otherwise there is also Tartar Frigate, a pub named one of the best seafood restaurants in Kent, while both restaurants Albarino, Kebbels, Posillipo and Stark have all been up for awards.
Last year it was named one of the “coolest” places to live, and locals agreed.
Morelli’s manager Richard Mann said: “I think it should be number one in the whole country. It’s an amazing place to live.
“First of all, the people are the nicest you’ll ever meet. I’m sure everyone says that about their town but I really do think it’s true.
“The beach is beautiful, I don’t go as much as I should, and the town has all you need.”
What is it like to visit Broadstairs?
The Sun’s Phoebe Cook visited Broadstairs – here’s what she thought:
We’re climbing up Broadstairs’ Eastern Esplanade, where our boutique hotel rests atop chalk cliffs towering over the Channel.
We then tucked into a full English before heading off on our adventures – soon passing Bleak House, where Charles Dickens spent his summers and wrote his novel David Copperfield.
Our final day began with a gentle three-mile stroll to Botany Bay beach, via four other picturesque bays, peaceful country roads and a gaze at North Foreland Lighthouse – surrounded by mile after mile of cauliflower fields.
Reluctant to leave quite yet, we allowed our hunger to guide us once more – this time to ice-cream parlour Morelli’s – where for over a century the whole community has come together over gelatos.
Stuffed with sumptious sundaes, and with sand in our shoes, we snoozed on the train back to London – where even a stint on the rush-hour Tube could not rob us of our feeling of seaside peace.
Another local said: “The town is beautiful and walking along the beach is so lovely.
“It’s a bit of a cliche round here but it is true, it does feel like you’ve stepped back in time.”
Trains to Broadstairs take around 1hr20 from London St Pancras.
If you fancy staying in Braodstairs, here’s what we thought of The Bay Tree Hotel and The Yarrow Hotel.
If you fancy exploring the rest of Kent, here’s how to do Margate like a local, including cheap eats and quiet beaches.
Otherwise there is also Ramsgate, which has the UK’s biggest Wetherspoons.
