Whitstable Town Centre
Whitstable Town Centre
4.5
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144 within 3 miles
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89 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
924 reviews
Excellent
445
Very good
390
Average
63
Poor
18
Terrible
8
Laura G
Sutton, UK11 contributions
Oct 2021 • Family
Interesting that some of the recent reviews show disappointment with beach, expensive parking, other visitors and covid. Myself and family had a lovely time at October half term. I appreciate, at other times, the atmosphere might be different but as we visited on bikes and spent the week. Out of season seaside towns can feel bleak but Whitstable was alive. Yes there's a whopping great asphalt factory on the harbour but people were happily troughing oysters, strolling with dogs and enjoying the Autumn sun. Whitstable has a nice high street, restaurants, beach and great history.
Written October 29, 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.
SB01
Krakow, Poland743 contributions
Sep 2020
There are no standout attractions here, but you can spend several very pleasant hours walking along the beach, around the harbour and through the town browsing the non-chain stores. The main feature is the very large number of traditional houses and also fisherman’s huts with mercifully very few examples of 1970s civic architecture. There are good pubs and some trendy coffee shops. In the harbour area there are some nice places to get seafood, although most seemed quite pricey. Parking is plentiful.
Written September 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.
JXXXR
United Kingdom4,897 contributions
Jul 2020
I came to Whitstable Town Centre in July and overall I was impressed with the amount of nice independent shops and food outlets. There is a good mix of traditional seaside town shops (chip shops and ice cream shops) and more high end businesses. This town is well worth visiting if you are in the Kent area or within a few hours drive.
Written October 14, 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.
Alan S
2 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
A victim of its own success. Unfortunately what used to be a lovely town is now completely overpriced. £8 for 3 oysters, in a harbour front cafe, charity shop clothing at near high street shop prices, car parking more than £7 for three hours. Sorry, I will prefer to go to Hythe, or Herne Bay, or Folkestone, as 3 examples of equally nice places without being ripped off.
Written September 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.
Baby Beatle
3 contributions
Jun 2022
A nice seaside town with lots of interesting independent shops. The harbour is worth a visit and you can walk along to The Old Neptune - a very nice pub on the beach. There are plenty of places to eat and drink and if you are keen on photography the light and the sunsets are wonderful.
HOWEVER - if you are visiting Whitstable in your campervan or motorhome then don’t bother - you are not welcome! The local council do not want you there spending your money!
HOWEVER - if you are visiting Whitstable in your campervan or motorhome then don’t bother - you are not welcome! The local council do not want you there spending your money!
Written June 11, 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.
Little Miss Clumsy
South Midlands104 contributions
Jun 2021
This review is based on the extortionate parking fees which in my mind are extremely prohibitive. My partner and I had hoped to spend some time looking around the beach and shops as the drive in looked promising. However at £2.50 an hour to park meant a quick cup of coffee and then on to somewhere with more reasonable parking charges! How many others has this deterred I wonder?
Written June 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.
johnm1951
King's Lynn, UK188 contributions
Jul 2021
it's about 20 years since our last visit and what we saw it will probably be 20 years to our next visit. we stayed about 4 hrs and had to pay £9.60 for the pleasure of parking. the beach area was very quaint , old fishing huts etc worth a look.
Written August 27, 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.
Alessyndrome
3 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Went here on the recommendation of a friend and couldn't have been more disappointed. There is practically no beach to speak of, just a few feet of shingles. There is a factory right by the seafront that stinks. Lots of graffiti visible as soon as you arrive. Parking was difficult and everywhere was packed. The streets are tiny so there is little space to move around. There are some nice looking small restaurants but all were very busy and didn't look COVID safe due to the tiny size and amount of people in there. There are lots of Covent Garden type shops, some of which were interesting.
Overall though, didn't enjoy it at all - ended up leaving after 2 and a half hours and went to Herne Bay instead which was much nicer.
Overall though, didn't enjoy it at all - ended up leaving after 2 and a half hours and went to Herne Bay instead which was much nicer.
Written July 16, 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.
Stephenbkk20156
Okayama Prefecture, Japan712 contributions
Aug 2019
We went to Whitstable to be near the sea, not to shop. The Triangle bus left us more or less in the centre of town, and we were immediately disappointed. The shop signs around us were exactly the same as the ones we had left behind in Canterbury. It looked like Canterbury-on-Sea!
We wandered for a very short time before we discoered the true charm of Whitstable Town Centre: turn down any street to your left and you are by the seaside. It is magical. The atmosphere changed as soon as we saw the sea. We were not shopping - we were at the seaside.
Streets are narrow and we had to be really careful not too step in the path of a car or bus. People in te shops are very friendly and helpful. Much more so than in Canterbury. Must be the sea air.
All the chain shops seem to be there. Quite an achievement in these days of Amazon massacre. Quite a lot of small, local businesses, too. If we had been there to shop, I think we would have enjoyed it.
Oh and pretty, very pretty.
We wandered for a very short time before we discoered the true charm of Whitstable Town Centre: turn down any street to your left and you are by the seaside. It is magical. The atmosphere changed as soon as we saw the sea. We were not shopping - we were at the seaside.
Streets are narrow and we had to be really careful not too step in the path of a car or bus. People in te shops are very friendly and helpful. Much more so than in Canterbury. Must be the sea air.
All the chain shops seem to be there. Quite an achievement in these days of Amazon massacre. Quite a lot of small, local businesses, too. If we had been there to shop, I think we would have enjoyed it.
Oh and pretty, very pretty.
Written March 16, 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.
Elizabeth M
Loughborough, UK39 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
A quaint town totally over run by drunken rowdy local youths.
Arrived here expecting a lovely seaside town.
During the day and especially in the evening, there were hoards of youngsters with cases of alcohol roaming * the streets and beachside walks, drinking and taking drugs in full view, but no one seems to care. We were told by a local business owner that they don’t report it because they would gel their windows spray painted by them!
Motor bikes roar down the Main Street in the the evening at 70 mph but nobody cares.
DO NOT STAY IN WHITSTABLE
Arrived here expecting a lovely seaside town.
During the day and especially in the evening, there were hoards of youngsters with cases of alcohol roaming * the streets and beachside walks, drinking and taking drugs in full view, but no one seems to care. We were told by a local business owner that they don’t report it because they would gel their windows spray painted by them!
Motor bikes roar down the Main Street in the the evening at 70 mph but nobody cares.
DO NOT STAY IN WHITSTABLE
Written June 14, 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.
Medwayshopper
Rainham, UK137 contributions
Our Daughter is visiting Whitstable in Dec on a Sunday and Monday are all the shops open on these days please ?
Val B
1 contribution
I would like to know if there is a Waitrose store in Whitstable please?
Thank you
Little Miss Clumsy
South Midlands104 contributions
Try Google, I've no idea
I am looking to take my Great Aunt to Whitstable for a break. She is 91 and not able to walk without a stroller and not very far. My question is how can I use or qualify for disabled car parks in your area. My Aunt lives in Greenwich and i will be picking her up from there.
hardman
United Kingdom17 contributions
We have booked a holiday staying in a cottage in Clifton Road for 7 days starting Friday 30 July 2021 which does not have its own parking area. I have read that parking can be a nightmare in July. Is anyone in Clifton Road or nearby able to offer a parking space on their driveway and would be happy to pay.
MarkMahoney
Aldershot, UK1,803 contributions
If your willing to walk 10 minutes I would park at saddleton road theirs lots of off street free parking. Just an idea for you
Sheila Thompsonj
1 contribution
Is there still disable parking @ the harbour car park whitstable.
SB01
Krakow, Poland743 contributions
Yes there is.
David S
Plymouth, UK1 contribution
Directions to walk in to Whitstable from 92 South Street
philip davis
Faversham, UK79 contributions
South Street to,Millsrode road,Belmont Road,Whitstable town centre
Elisaboscaro90
London, UK150 contributions
They told me that the town in small but lovely. Would it be enough half-day to visit it? Let's say arriving in the morning and leaving after lunch. Thank you very much
Stewart C
Chatham, UK1,014 contributions
Yes, you could do this but given the limited time I would prioritise the immediate harbour area and if possible walk towards the Tankerton slopes to see the beach huts. There are some places to buy coffees and snacks in this area or fish restaurants around the harbour if you would like a meal. The harbour area also has public toilets nearby.
Debbie G
London, England, United Kingdom21 contributions
Hi, I am planning to visit the town shops on Bank Holiday Easter Monday. Can anyone tell me if majority of the shops will be open as it is a bank holiday?
Any help appreciated
carolbu67
West Malling, UK105 contributions
yes most shops are open but parking is a problem we often park near the castle and walk down to Whitstable Town. With it being bank holiday better to book a restaurant we go to Crab and Winkle on the harbour good fish.Have a lovely time
maisonbrives
Greater London, UK
Is there a Waitrose in the centre of Whitstable?
Hooch2015
Maidstone, UK267 contributions
Think the nearest Waitrose is in Canterbury
OnmeHols22
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom56 contributions
Is there anywhere in Whitstable where a mobility scooter can be hired for a couple of days?
Ultimate007
Brighton, UK1,431 contributions
88A Herne Bay Rd, Whitstable CT5 2LX
01227 792229
Hope that helps xxxxx
Whitstable Town Centre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Whitstable Town Centre
- Hotels near Whitstable Town Centre:
- (0.03 mi) FISHERMANS COTTAGE, family friendly, with a garden in Whitstable
- (0.03 mi) Fishermans Cottage, Whitstable
- (0.03 mi) Historic Cottage, superb harbour & beach location, seconds from all amenities!
- (0.09 mi) Hotel Continental - Fisherman Huts
- (0.06 mi) Waves-Whitstable
- Restaurants near Whitstable Town Centre:
- (0.03 mi) West Whelks
- (0.03 mi) Olive Tree Wraps
- (0.03 mi) The Fish Wife
- (0.03 mi) Hathats Coffee At The Quay
- (0.03 mi) Rad Burger