geocalia
Day itinerary · 51.36° N · 1.02° E
A direct train from Victoria or St Pancras, the harbour with its boats, oysters at a bar dating from 1856, the castle gardens and, if the tide allows, a stone path out into the sea.
Part of Whitstable
The plan
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
direct from Victoria or St Pancras
boats, seafood stalls and fishermen's huts
book by phone · bring your own wine · closed Wednesday
8 High Street, CT5 1BQ Whitstable · +44 1227 273311
free gardens and a tea room
only at low tide · come back in good time
from Whitstable · in London around 19:00
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Whitstable is the beach for Londoners in search of seafood: a working fishing harbour, colourful beach huts and oysters with protected geographical indication, a little over an hour and a quarter away by direct train. This plan is slow on purpose: harbour in the morning, a long oyster lunch and an afternoon by the sea, ending with a walk on a spit of stones if the tide allows.
9:30 · Direct train. Southeastern leaves from Victoria, roughly every hour, and also from St Pancras. A little over an hour and a quarter.
11:00 · Whitstable Harbour. From the station, ten minutes downhill. Trawlers, mountains of shells, fish stalls and the fishermen's black huts on the beach.
12:30 · Oysters at Wheelers. The pink-and-blue bar on the High Street, open since 1856. Book by phone in advance and bring your own wine: it has no licence. Closed on Wednesdays.
14:30 · Castle gardens. Ten minutes along the coast to the east. Free, with views over the estuary and a playground.
15:30 · The Street. Opposite the slopes of Tankerton, a shingle ridge that runs out into the sea at low tide. Check the tide table beforehand and come back in good time.
17:30 · Back. From Whitstable station to London, home around seven.
If low tide falls in the morning, reverse the order: The Street first, oysters afterwards. And if you prefer something more complete, start in Canterbury and ride to Whitstable along the Crab and Winkle Way, 12 km through Blean woods.
Where to eat
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
What to order: half a dozen native oysters in season and whatever the boat brought in that day, from lobster to Rye scallops.
What to order: a tea with a scone after playing in the playground, or breakfast before heading down to The Street.
Map
With where to park at each one.
Getting there
When to go
From May to October for the beach; from September to April for native oysters. Avoid Wednesday, when Wheelers is closed. Plan the afternoon around the time of low tide.
Tips
Wheelers does not serve alcohol.
The Street only appears at low tide.
Wheelers is closed that day.
Questions
A little over an hour and a quarter on a direct train from Victoria or St Pancras.
Native oysters, from September to April; rock oysters, all year.
Yes, by phone, with a deposit of £10 per person.
Yes, 12 km away along a greenway or by bus.
More plans like this
geocalia.com/en/england/whitstable/itineraries/whitstable-oysters-harbour-and-the-street
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/england/whitstable/itineraries/whitstable-oysters-harbour-and-the-street
