A working harbour, beach huts, and the best sunset in Kent. Here is how we would spend a day in Whitstable with your dog.
Whitstable is a proper little seaside town that has kept its soul: a working harbour, weatherboard cottages, rows of pastel beach huts and a shingle beach that faces due west, so the sunsets are ridiculous. It is genuinely dog-mad, from the pub sitting right on the beach to the cafes that keep a bowl by the door, and outside high summer the dog can run most of the shoreline.
The shape of the day is a beach walk, a potter round the harbour, some very good food and a pint watching the sun go down. Here is how we would spend it, with the real, well-reviewed places we would actually take our own dog.
1
Morning: the slopes and the beach
Start on the Tankerton Slopes, the grassy bank above the beach lined with those famous huts, where dogs run off-lead with the whole Thames Estuary laid out in front of them. At low tide a shingle spit called the Street snakes out into the sea, and walking your dog along a path that appears out of the water never quite stops being a novelty. West Beach at the other end of town is off-lead all year too.
It is flat, breezy, big-sky walking, and the sort of morning that sends a dog home happy and sandy.
Wander down to the working harbour, where the day boats come and go and the Harbour Market fills the old sheds with independent traders, dogs welcome to browse with you. Up the hill, Whitstable Castle sits in lovely free gardens with a tea room terrace that welcomes dogs, a quiet green contrast to the bustle of the front.
Whitstable eats very well. For dog-friendly tables, Harbour Street Tapas welcomes them, Birdie's takes dogs inside and in the front garden, and the Umbrella Cafe is a lovely community spot that welcomes a dog. Grab something tasty and eat it looking at the sea.
There is only one place to watch the sun go down: the Old Neptune, a white weatherboard pub that sits right on the shingle with tables on the beach and dogs welcome throughout. For something snugger, the Twelve Taps is a friendly dog-friendly bar in town, and the Ship Centurion keeps a warm welcome too.
To catch the morning light, the Marine Hotel up on Tankerton is dog-friendly and, brilliantly, the chef will prepare a meal for your dog, and the Old Schoolhouse offers characterful dog-friendly holiday cottages a short walk from the sea.
A pub on the shingle, a harbour to potter round and a sunset that turns the whole estuary pink. Whitstable knows exactly what it is good at.
What to pack for a day out
The short list that turns a good day into an easy one. Throw it in the boot before you set off.
Water bottle and collapsible bowl
Towel for the boot
Poo bags, always
Spare lead and a long line
Treats for the pub
ID tag and vaccinations up to date
Questions dog owners ask
Can I take my dog on Whitstable beach?
Yes. The Tankerton Slopes and West Beach allow dogs off-lead all year, and the Street shingle spit is a great low-tide walk. Central beach areas may have summer restrictions, so check the signs from May to September.
What is the best dog walk in Whitstable?
The Tankerton Slopes above the beach are the standout, with off-lead grass, estuary views and the beach huts. At low tide, walk out along the Street, a shingle spit that appears from the sea.
Which Whitstable pubs take dogs?
The Old Neptune sits right on the beach and welcomes dogs throughout, the Twelve Taps is a dog-friendly town bar, and the Ship Centurion welcomes them too.
Where can I stay in Whitstable with a dog?
The Marine Hotel on Tankerton is dog-friendly and will even prepare a meal for your dog, and the Old Schoolhouse offers dog-friendly holiday cottages near the sea.
Is Whitstable Castle dog friendly?
Yes, the castle grounds and gardens are free and dog-friendly, and the tea room terrace welcomes dogs, making it a lovely quiet stop away from the busy seafront.
Whitstable through the seasons
Spring
The huts get their fresh coat of paint and the town wakes up before the summer rush. A brisk Tankerton walk and a table outside the Old Neptune is spring here at its best.
Summer
Parts of the beach restrict dogs in high season, so aim for the off-lead ends, go early, and carry water. Time your pint at the Neptune for the famous west-facing sunset.
Autumn
The harbour hums, the light turns golden and the crowds thin out. Big skies, empty shingle and the Street revealed at low tide make for a lovely, quiet autumn day.
Winter
Bracing and beautiful. Wrap up for a blustery slopes walk, then thaw out by the fire with a muddy dog and a plate of something from the harbour.