Whitstable Harbour

Whitstable Harbour

Whitstable Harbour
4.5
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  • Louise H
    Slough, United Kingdom20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    My new favourite place to visit in Kent
    This is one of my most favourite places to go. I loved everything about it! The quirky little market, people eating oysters from the street food vendors and the beautiful harbour full of boats of all shapes and sizes. There were many children crabbing in the area but unfortunately the lack of solid rails worried me for my children’s safety. Apart from that it truly is a lovely place and I would go back again.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 8, 2024
  • Geoff H
    Sissinghurst, United Kingdom18,057 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A lot to hold your interest
    I appreciate that we went in October when mostly everything was closed (the shops and eateries in the South Quay Shed were open) but it is still an interesting place to walk around. There's information boards telling the story of the harbour, there's the fishing boats to look at, along with the old lifeboat, and Greta, a former Thames barge. There's such a lot to hold your interest.
    Visited October 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 9, 2024
  • Cheekycockney190757
    Basildon, United Kingdom11,801 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful site for a day out
    We visited on Sunday 18th August 2024 as part of a day out to Whitstable. Parked near the harbour which is surrounded by small cabins selling a range of interesting art and crafts, your standard food and drink as well as the famous shellfish and oysters that Whitstable is famous for. There are various boat tours available from the harbour and attractive routes along the coast and into the pretty town centre. Double-check how often the harbour shops are open as this was a Sunday so not sure if they are open every day.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 28, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,028 reviews
Excellent
477
Very good
413
Average
100
Poor
20
Terrible
18

irina j
London, UK3,542 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Friends
I guess Whistable is really comes alive at the weekend when day trippers or second home owners come to town. We arrived Thursday evening and harbour was dead with shops shut and no customers even in crab sham restaurant. However, as we stayed till Sunday, place became lively on Saturday! Many people, lots of customers to eat oysters, promenade on the beach and go for a swim. The harbour itself is not as pretty as harbour of Brixham or some Cornwall places
Written June 12, 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.

Dave C
Walton-On-Thames, UK24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
What an eclectic place, the modern with the history, it was amazing. Parking was easy if you go a little bit out of the area (still walking distance) lots of places to eat or to buy local art. The salt factory in the middle shows a working harbour even if it feels out of sorts, its an important part of the local economy. Not much of a beach but plenty to see and experience especially the oysters a beach town that is well worth a visit and I am sure there are lots of hidden gems here given the time to find them.
Written July 17, 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.

Pepoph
Whitstable, UK34 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2020 • Family
Lovely harbour better when tides in so check the tides table. Wee Willie Winkles under the crab and winkle now open from 10am chips from 12 noon slowly opening up again. Lovely for a stroll and ice cream.
Written June 2, 2020
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.

Gregg M
Rochester, UK852 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
Very sad that the end is nigh for Whitstable. We have supported and loved it for many years but now the end is near. As now seems the norm that the little shacks/stalls are rarely open . After our pleasant stroll into the town centre and independent shops. Then eat within the Peter Cushing (Wetherspoons ) ,return to the harbour car park. It was then that as OAPs we had to make the very unfortunate decision not to return . The virtually empty car park charged us £8 FOR 2 HOUR 10 MINS. WHY SO MUCH ????? . I bet some of the struggling businesses do not realise the extortionate amount charged causing the loss of much needed revenue. Shame upon the council.
Written June 10, 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.

Frank C
Bexleyheath, UK8 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
Beware Rip off parking opposite the harbour. We are pensioners and parked up for 4.5 hours while looking around Whitstable. We were shocked to be charged £14.50 parking fee. We will not be coming back again, and will take our custom elsewhere! This is extortion fees for someone who can't afford rip off fees like this. The. Council should be ashamed!
Written September 10, 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.

SimeyWimey
Whitstable, UK889 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Look at these pictures. Sadly visitors and beach users left the beach looking like this a lot in July and August this year. The council installed extra bins but these fill up with food and drink purchased in the town and along the sea wall. Ultimately it's the responsibility of those people to find a bin and not pile up takeaway containers, used bbqs, plastic pint pots, wine bottles and so on in the vicinity of a bin when it's full. Beach hut renters also dump their day's drinking and picnics, spent oyster shells on their plastic plates and even neatly tied bags of dog mess just left out for someone else to deal with. Walking through at 8am the following day is pretty miserable. The Augean stables were nothing compared to the task facing council staff today. Witnessing how far society has dropped to actually think it's ok to leave a beautiful place trashed like this is quite depressing. There must be a lot of people who are too stupid, too entitled, too lazy or just too full of weak excuses to say "it's not my fault there's no one to clean up after me". It's not hard to pop back into town where you bought your items and locate a bin. Or if you're really grown up and not useless scum, take it home.
Written August 29, 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.

Cherriesfan99
Cheltenham, UK2,264 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
The Harbour at Whitstable is the soul of this little town, from the world famous oysters and fish, to the commercial port, and the increasingly important tourist trade.
It is certainly a pretty harbour, but with an edge to it, this no doubt a real working harbour, with a small fleet of (colourful) inshore fishing boats, berthed beside the black fishing net buildings, and shacks selling seafood direct from the boats. On the other side of the harbour is the commercial vessels many of which import aggregates for the building trades.
It was a very windy day when we visited, and outside the harbour walls the sea was a wash with "white horses". Inside the harbour the waters were only slightly less choppy - a strong reminder of the perils of this coastline.
The harbour also boasts a great restaurant and a number of exceptional cafes / bars.
Written October 31, 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.

anthony b
United Kingdom4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
Beware the parking machine Number 4774 , it takes your money , but fails to issue a ticket , this leads to a £ 25 fine . A F O I request about this machine got an answer about a different machine . Canterbury council are cheats / incompetent . I will not go there again !
Written November 18, 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.

L G
Beckenham, UK367 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
It was our second visit to Whitstable and didn’t disappoint. I love the really “English” feel of the town and harbour. The harbour was relatively quiet but some of the huts were open selling crafts and paintings etc. It’s certainly worth a visit and the beach huts long the beach are generally very attractive.
Written March 1, 2020
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.

Peter B
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
Use the big car park just past the harbour (cheaper than the ones in town and on the harbour).
Plenty of shops-in-sheds and photo opportunities. Sad about the Crab and Winkle Restaurant being burnt out - lets hope it will be rebuilt.
Written February 21, 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.

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Whitstable Harbour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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