"Broadstairs, Kent" Top 5 Page for this destination Broadstairs by diosh

Broadstairs Travel Guide: 79 reviews and 161 photos

English seaside

We went down for the day, 06/03/08, by train.Woke up to a delightful sunny, cold day and decided to go.
We noticed quite a few changes.The town's being made more upmarket-after all these years!
More coffee houses and more fashionable shops and a curry place!
We sat outside Chiapinni's, having a coffee, looking at the bay and jetty, in the sun.Lovely..
The sun shone all day .We had chips on the jetty, before walking along the beach.
Excellent train service, there and back- from Victoria.

If you want to visit a traditional English seaside town, go to Broadstairs in

Kent.It's absolutely delightful.

Its beautiful sandy beach,Viking Bay is huddled under the steep cliffs.At the

far end of the bay is the jetty, overlooked atop the cliffs by Bleak House,

where Charles Dickens lived and wrote.The place has hardly changed from

the time he was in residence in the 19th Century.It remains unspoilt by

modern tourism.

See pics of Broadstairs on my "Me and the Boys" page, with my kids.

Incidentally- the new advertisement for E.ON Power is set in Broadstairs!

It shows people being blown about in all the favourite places in

Broadstairs, on the prom,atop the cliffs, on the beach, on the jetty, up

York Street, by the

Bandstand, in Voctoria Gardens, etc. A lovely ad for the place, with the

delicious Bill Nighy doing the voice over:-)

The ad is entitled "Wind of Change"

Viking Bay-doesn't look like England, does it?

Viking Bay

This is the main bay of Broadstairs, a huge sweep of sandy beach,(cleaned every day in the summer).
The beach can be reached from the promenade by flights of steps,(fine going down but not so funny going up after a hard day's bathing!)

The writer -John Buchan found his inspiration for his book, "The 39 steps",

from the original Victorian steps that were built into the cliffside of the

adjoining bay-Stone Bay.There are in fact over 70 odd steep steps, but

Buchan decided to make it 39 as it sounded better!

They are quite treacherous to walk up or down, as they get very slimey,

from all the undergrowth that hangs over them.

So take care- if you're following in the 'steps 'of Buchan!

Knickerbocker Glories at Morelli's!

Morelli's

The best place for ice-cream is at Morelli's Ice Cream bar.It's on the

promenade and has remained the same since it was built in the 1930s.

Its a beautiful, stylish bar and cafe, whose decor is in the 30s style of

chrome, pale green and pale pink, with a fountain in the centre that

changes colour as the different lights play on it.The scrumptious ice-

creams are to die for.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Pure 'bucket and spade' English seaside.
Cons:None!
In a nutshell:A 'Dickens' of a place!

Last visit to Broadstairs: Aug 2003
Intro Updated Jul 29, 2008
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (12)

Chair for smokers at the chippie! - Broadstairs

Down on the Jetty Things to Do (3)

One of our favourite things is to sit on the jetty with a cuppa, admiring the view, the sea and people watching. One has... more travel advice

The famous White Cliffs! Off The Beaten Path (4)

This wonderful view is what greets travellers arriving at Dover by boat.The first view of England. Broadstairs is... more travel advice

Ramsgate model village Off The Beaten Path (4)

Ramsgate is a lovely walk from Broadstairs,along the cliff top.The model village has been there since the 1940s and was... more travel advice

The original '39 Steps' Off The Beaten Path (4)

Stone Bay, next bay along from Viking Bay, Broadstairs.Can be reached by walking behind the Jetty and along the beach.A... more travel advice

Restaurants (3)
See All Another great cafe

Nightlife (2)
See All There is none apart from the 100 seat...

Travelogues (1)

Written Jul 29, 2008

8 photos

Broadstairs-28.07.08

1 - 1 of 1

Comments (16)

Reply
- Report abuse
ettiewyn Feb 21, 2011 at 1:29 PM

Wonderful tips, thank you!
Reply
- Report abuse
BruceDunning Oct 11, 2010 at 1:00 PM

Well I guess Dickens made his mark here. You did a nice job of showing the sites and the comments well done.
Reply
- Report abuse
Andrew_W_K Apr 30, 2009 at 8:46 AM

Spent a great day out in Broadstairs with friends from Sarf London - real dodgy geezers but they knew where to get the best beer and fish n' chips.
Reply
- Report abuse
balhannah Apr 14, 2009 at 4:26 AM

What a delightful part of England. Thanks for the tour.
Reply
- Report abuse
Leylakyria Nov 24, 2008 at 1:22 PM

Hello Diana! I must say that your photo's are beautiful! I can't wait to travel your way. May I please use your "drinking fountain" pic. I'm working on a piece of glass art. I didn't want to copy it without your permission. Thank you so much.
Reply
- Report abuse
ranger49 Nov 22, 2008 at 2:36 PM

Diana - Only just heard about your computer problems and your lost files etc. Can you get a Recovery disc - sometimes works.... At least you have all your lovely photos on VT like the ones here, but I am so sorry for how you must feel.
Reply
- Report abuse
Spincat Feb 10, 2008 at 12:01 AM

It i a lovely place, isn't it? Until last summer I hadn't been - fI just didn't know about it. Then I saw that ad and initially thought it was Tenby, my favourite seaside town - was amazed how alike they are some ways.
Reply
- Report abuse
unaS Oct 16, 2007 at 11:49 AM

Makes me want to vist.
Reply
- Report abuse
MrsPeel Sep 14, 2007 at 11:43 AM

This is brilliant!!! I went when my daughter was in reception, in 2001,with the svhool, one of the most beautifull trips in the UK!!!
Reply
- Report abuse
evaanna Sep 14, 2007 at 3:42 AM

Exactly my sort of place, with the sea and the boats and the jetty to walk on. Pity about the model village at Ramsgate. And as many times as I have been to Britain I have never come across the Knickerbocker Glories. Shame on me!