Kingsdown Beach
Kingsdown Beach
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
121 reviews
Excellent
68
Very good
32
Average
16
Poor
4
Terrible
1
Stephen Masefield
Herne Bay, UK18 contributions
Apr 2021
If you find yourself in Deal then do take the time out to visit the small village of Kingsdown which is about two miles away and its beautiful beach - I suggest that a walk along the excellent coastal path is the best option as parking is very limited in Kingsdown.
The beach which is mainly set to pebbles is lovely and the bathing if you use common sense is safe. At certain times of the day there are rock pools and there is a great sense of space on the beach.
The Zetland Arms faces the beach and is quite beautiful and about five minutes away is The Rising Sun which is just as nice.
At the end of the beach one can see the beginning of the famous White Cliffs which stretch more or less all the way to Dover. There is an abandoned firing range which in theory is private but it is well visited . This said it is not that suitable for young children. But if you are sensible it is a really peaceful place to explore with the great cliffs on one side and the sea on the other. Again please just use common sense and remember that the derelict signs are there for a purpose. Once you have visited Kingsdown and its beach you will not forget it as it has views to France and the ferries can be clearly seen. Lastly the light in this area is incredible and the equal of Venice but I will let you find out for yourselves . SMO
The beach which is mainly set to pebbles is lovely and the bathing if you use common sense is safe. At certain times of the day there are rock pools and there is a great sense of space on the beach.
The Zetland Arms faces the beach and is quite beautiful and about five minutes away is The Rising Sun which is just as nice.
At the end of the beach one can see the beginning of the famous White Cliffs which stretch more or less all the way to Dover. There is an abandoned firing range which in theory is private but it is well visited . This said it is not that suitable for young children. But if you are sensible it is a really peaceful place to explore with the great cliffs on one side and the sea on the other. Again please just use common sense and remember that the derelict signs are there for a purpose. Once you have visited Kingsdown and its beach you will not forget it as it has views to France and the ferries can be clearly seen. Lastly the light in this area is incredible and the equal of Venice but I will let you find out for yourselves . SMO
Written April 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hammer302
sidcup138 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
A wonderful place to start and walk into Deal. It took about 50 mins to reach Deal Pier and was very picturesque along the seafront with lots of properties to look at and amazing wild flowers. There is also a pub which is always handy for refreshments at the end.
Written May 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,879 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Kingsdown Beach is short distance from St Margaret's Bay and the White Cliffs of Dover. It is a well maintained shingle beach and whenever we have visited it has always been relatively quiet. The beach is easy to get to and there are plenty of places to park nearby.
Written August 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geoff H
Sissinghurst, UK17,843 contributions
Sep 2022
A lovely, quiet beach set right next to an area of scientific interest. Unfortunately, being shingle, it is neither wheelchair or pushchair friendly but there is a concrete promenade at the back of the beach which is. There are plenty of beaches where you can sit and enjoy the views. There is also a pub at the back of the beach for drinks and refreshments but check opening times if you are going to rely on this for your food.
Written September 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chrissie R
Ramsgate, UK8 contributions
Sep 2017 • Solo
I walk regularly with my dog along Kingsdown Beach and onto the old firing range. I sit with my dog there and watch the Ships come and go from Dover Port. It is a magical place for me - sometimes I just sit and listen to the birds and sea and sometimes I do my Yoga (when no one is about), or I pray - it has an ambiance of its own. Is it a tourist place? No not at all it is peaceful and soulful.
Written December 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela S
8 contributions
Aug 2019
This is a wonderful place, very much revered and enjoyed by the local people and those from nearby places........however this is spoilt by being overrun by the 'downfromlondon' crowd who really don't give back what they take from this place at the weekends and height of summer. If they want sand and ice cream then go to Brighton...............
Written August 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aengusmum
West Sussex372 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
A lovely shale beach in a secluded area. Get a thick blanket, settle down and look out to sea, maybe think how long it would take you to swim to France in the distance! Once you've done that, time for a drinky at the Zetland Arms.
Written January 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Polly H
114 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
My best friend and I had decided to take a short break in Kent just to get away from London. We visited Sheppey, stayed overnight in Maidstone, went down to Dover but got rained off our epic walk and decided to check out Kingsdown as the weather perked up. I'm so glad we stopped for lunch here instead of heading home when we got wet and muddy because it was really uplifting and refreshing to just sit on the stones and watch the tide coming in.
We walked down past the pub 'The Zetland Arms' onto the pebbly beach and took a walk of about a mile up to the stony part and around where we sat in the sun and had a picnic. The beach is quite shallow so you can walk over the stones and fish in the rock pools, we saw quite a few crabs.
Obviously as with any beach, having the perfect weather helps, but it's still a very nice spot. We parked on the road in the village then walked down one of the side alleys between cottages to the front near some pretty old beach huts.
On the way back we stopped for a drink in the pub. It was a lovely afternoon, and only an hour away from our house in London Zone 3, so a great escape too.
We walked down past the pub 'The Zetland Arms' onto the pebbly beach and took a walk of about a mile up to the stony part and around where we sat in the sun and had a picnic. The beach is quite shallow so you can walk over the stones and fish in the rock pools, we saw quite a few crabs.
Obviously as with any beach, having the perfect weather helps, but it's still a very nice spot. We parked on the road in the village then walked down one of the side alleys between cottages to the front near some pretty old beach huts.
On the way back we stopped for a drink in the pub. It was a lovely afternoon, and only an hour away from our house in London Zone 3, so a great escape too.
Written September 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShaunKent
Deal, UK44 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
We live fairly close to Kingsdown and I often walk the dogs here. It is a natural pebble beach with lots of wild native flora and fauna which can be very colourful at the right times. There is a pub right next to the sea where you can enjoy a drink or indeed a meal. The quirky properties dating from many different periods add to the interest and I would recommend it for anyone that enjoys a walk by the sea.
Written April 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PolicyDoubter
County Durham, UK34 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
Fish this beach quite frequently over the summer. good to fish from or for taking a stroll but not much else there TBH.
Written December 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I don't see why not it's out of the way and I've seen fishermen have barbarise often all the way up to deal
Written July 9, 2017
Is this a good fishing spot
Written October 29, 2016
Yes. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS.A public footpath extends the length of the Parade from the Zetland Arms public house up to Walmer Lifeboat
House and beyond. It is shared by the Saxon Shore Way and White Cliffs Country Trail walking
routes. The National Cycle Network route 1 enters the site at Boundary Road. This route begins in Dover
and heads north via London leading to John o’Groats, the Orkneys and Shetlands.
There are numerous informal pathways that pass through the grassland across the beach to the sea. There
are two public footpaths which carry the pedestrian across the main road to the north and south of Walmer
Castle.
There are two major public car parks on the beach side and just north of Walmer Castle. The larger one to
the north known as Borrow Pit car park, has a grid reference of TR 378 505, and has a public convenience
to its south. There is a small car park with this. A car park is also positioned in front of the castle at grid
reference TR 378 502. Public footpaths lead from these to the Parade/beach. There is access to these car
parks from Kingsdown Road. There is also some car parking space in front of the Zetland Arms. There are
a total of 6 bus stops positioned along the Kingsdown Road for ease of access to the site.
Written October 6, 2015
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