The location means that you can do Margate and Broadstairs in the same day (easily). Margate is ok, Dreamland will kill a few hours and there are the usual amusements. Beach is ok. Broadstairs is a nicer place, beach is better and the restaurants and pubs are much nicer - not sure how much of a consideration pubs are if you have 10 & 12 year olds though.
I cycle to Herne Bay a lot and never spend much time there. The pier is open with a small fair ground and some local stalls. The amusements are small and the places to eat and drink are standard seaside fayre. Whole place is pretty tired TBH.
If you want a bit to do, Southend might be better. Beach is ok, pier with the train ride out to the end is ok, sea life have an aquarium there and you also have loads of amusements and Adventure Island. If you want a quieter more attractive beach you can head about 10 mins further up the road to Thorpe Bay or Shoeburyness.
Haven’t been since lockdown but Margate might be better for the kids. Dreamland is good as is the beach. A few decent places to eat in and around the old town. Broadstairs is a nicer place but other than the beach, not a massive amount for the kids. Parking can be a nightmare there as well.
Margate is what I would call the quintessential English Holiday destination of Dreamland, ice creams, kiss me quick hat's, Stag/hen parties...beach is ok, Prefer Broadstairs myself, it used to have a penny arcade, not sure if it is still there, but a much better beach, nice harbour and pier, used to be able too park on the pier, still got the ice creams, coffee shops, pubs etc, but a lot more interesting than Margate...
Depends what your kids like and how long a day out you want but I would go to Margate or Broadstairs for a few hours then head to Beltinge right next to Herne Bay for 4pm on the way back home (low tide is 5.23) and spend an hour or so finding 53million year old fossilised shark tooth on the beach (they are only small). With some patience and a good eye you would find a few (last time I took the kids they found 30+). Basically just park in the car park top of the cliff, walk down the path, straight down the small steps into the beach and head to the flattish part where the sea goes furthest out and they are on there.
I live in Broadstairs so I’m furiously proud if it. Nicest seaside town in Kent! but Margate offers more for the kids and has some trendy eateries. Easily do both though!
Botany Bay is probably one of the nicest beaches in Broadstairs, if not the whole of Kent - But its a beach, and that is it... There aren't any other attractions beachside or a pier there etc.
You also have Viking Bay or Joss Bay further along the coast
Parking is a bit of a bugger at Botany Bay though, you can park at the Captain Digby pub for £10 for the day, might be free if you use the pub.
I live in Broadstairs so I’m furiously proud if it. Nicest seaside town in Kent! but Margate offers more for the kids and has some trendy eateries. Easily do both though!
Cheers @Taxi_Lad, probably showing my age calling it the Penny Arcade, probably The Quid Arcade now!!...two weeks every year holiday with the parents when I were nowt but a lad...🙄 Morelli's ice cream parlour was something else, but always loved it down there, fishing off the pier, donkey rides on the beach,,,jumpers for goalposts😉...Margate was ok for a day out though...
My youngest daughter is 15 and my granddaughters are 13 & 4 and Margate is always top of their list of requests (and Southend!) and has been for years.
I always make a point of wandering around the harbour and visiting the Turner Contemporary and there are some good micro pubs there although I’ve never tried them
If you want another option St Mary’s Bay just outside of Dymchurch is worth considering. Large sandy beach, car park runs the length of it so easy parking, toilets, cafe, etc
When you want a break from the sand you can walk along the seafront into Dymchurch and there is a staircase that takes you straight into the amusement arcade and fairground rides. Bit of fish and chips and an ice cream on the front, walk back to the car and the kids will be asleep before you get out of the car park
We'll be in Broadstairs from Sunday 'til Friday next week with 3 matches in Canterbury on Sunday, Wednesday & Friday - not that we're very optimistic about the results.
3 days sitting on the beach, thinking we're back in Tenerife, weather permitting.
Might see you there, MOL ?
Mr F will be the one in his Charlton budgie smugglers & I'll be wearing my leopard skin print bikini, complete with thong......
....so there'll be LOADS of room in our vicinity !
If you want another option St Mary’s Bay just outside of Dymchurch is worth considering. Large sandy beach, car park runs the length of it so easy parking, toilets, cafe, etc
When you want a break from the sand you can walk along the seafront into Dymchurch and there is a staircase that takes you straight into the amusement arcade and fairground rides. Bit of fish and chips and an ice cream on the front, walk back to the car and the kids will be asleep before you get out of the car park
And there's the mini train. Romney-Hythe-Dymchurch. https://www.rhdr.org.uk/ We all love a train ride.
Will be two years this September since we moved down to Broadstairs and I still feel oddly proud that people come for day visits/holidays to where I live. Never happened in Barnehurst🤣
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Prefer Broadstairs myself, it used to have a penny arcade, not sure if it is still there, but a much better beach, nice harbour and pier, used to be able too park on the pier, still got the ice creams, coffee shops, pubs etc, but a lot more interesting than Margate...
Basically just park in the car park top of the cliff, walk down the path, straight down the small steps into the beach and head to the flattish part where the sea goes furthest out and they are on there.
Could also go crabbing off Whitstable pier.
Then go up the road to Broadstairs. Have a walk around and finish the day here https://www.morellisgelato.com/
On the way back to South London (?) have a nice evening walk around Canterbury.
but Margate offers more for the kids and has some trendy eateries. Easily do both though!
You also have Viking Bay or Joss Bay further along the coast
Parking is a bit of a bugger at Botany Bay though, you can park at the Captain Digby pub for £10 for the day, might be free if you use the pub.
Morelli's ice cream parlour was something else, but always loved it down there, fishing off the pier, donkey rides on the beach,,,jumpers for goalposts😉...Margate was ok for a day out though...
The old town is worth a visit and the Crab 🦀 Museum https://www.crabmuseum.org/visit is fun and funny.
My youngest daughter is 15 and my granddaughters are 13 & 4 and Margate is always top of their list of requests (and Southend!) and has been for years.
I always make a point of wandering around the harbour and visiting the Turner Contemporary and there are some good micro pubs there although I’ve never tried them
When you want a break from the sand you can walk along the seafront into Dymchurch and there is a staircase that takes you straight into the amusement arcade and fairground rides. Bit of fish and chips and an ice cream on the front, walk back to the car and the kids will be asleep before you get out of the car park
3 days sitting on the beach, thinking we're back in Tenerife, weather permitting.
Might see you there, MOL ?
Mr F will be the one in his Charlton budgie smugglers & I'll be wearing my leopard skin print bikini, complete with thong......
....so there'll be LOADS of room in our vicinity !
We all love a train ride.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2654635