Herne Bay Seaside Resort on the North Kent Coast

                                        Herne Bay Traditional Bandstand ©Solange Hando

Designed in 1924, later extended with an art deco frontage, it was almost abandoned but beautifully refurbished in the 1990s.

Today it's a great place to meet family and friends with cafe restaurant and ice cream parlour, sit indoors or in the spacious courtyard with garden and sea views and traditional concerts in summer.

                                                  Herne Bay Seafront ©Solange Hando

See the clock tower?  This is the other landmark in Herne Bay, built in 1836-37 by a rich widow who enjoyed holidays in the resort. It is one the earliest free-standing towers of its kind in the country.

A Grade II listed building and 82 feet high including the weathervane, it looks across the sandy part of the beach and the small inner harbour.

Central Parade on Herne Bay Seafront ©Solange Hando

Herne Bay enjoyed its first golden age in the Victorian era as one of the nearest seaside resorts to London. With its Victorian and Edwardian architecture, the Parade is a conservation area, enhanced by flower gardens and palm trees leading to the promenade along the shore.

Look out for the Ship Inn, a historic seafront pub, also Grade II, once a smugglers' haunt, now popular with cyclists and walkers on the Saxonshore Way.

                                                            View from the Shore ©Solange Hando

Grass on the beach? That's conservation... and on the right you see the end of Neptune's Arm, with viewing platform, built in the 1990s to prevent flooding.

On the left is the end of the pier, once the second longest in England, but severely damaged by the storm in 1978. It has been partially rebuilt, leaving its former 'head' out at sea. 

                                                                     On the Pier ©Solange Hando

But Herne Bay pier enjoys a new lease of life, with free entrance to the 'pier village' lined with colourful beach-hut like venues for casual eating, in or outdoors, and local craft shops.

There are fabulous views back to the shore or out to sea and entertainment for the children, most popular the merry-go round and helter-skelter.

                                                                  Reculver Towers ©Solange Hando

Just three miles east of Herne Bay central parade, you can stroll around this lovely country park topped by the twin towers of the old St Mary's church and Roman remains on the clifftop. Superb sea views, traditional pub and children's playground.

You can drive there from town or walk along the sea wall to the start of the wide grassy cliffs, a 'Special Protection Area' for birds and insects. There you can join the Oyster Trail laced in cycle and walking paths.

                                                Sunset and Herne Bay Pier Head out to Sea ©Solange Hando