An interior lovers travel guide to Whitstable

I love Whitstable. I think it’s one of my favourite seaside towns in the UK, if you don’t count Cornwall (but that might just be because I spent nostalgic childhood holidays there). Set on the north coast of Kent, Whitstable is known for its colourful beach huts, pebbled shores and famous oysters. It’s a place I keep going back to time and time again.

Whitstable makes a perfect day trip from London – just an hour and 19 minutes from London St Pancras International – or a weekend seaside escape. It’s ideal for children because the waters are shallow as the tide goes in and out, and you can find some sand amongst the pebbles. I love that it’s completely unspoilt (you won’t find any cheap tat here), with independent shops, local eateries and beachfront takeaway shacks. White clapperboard fishermen cottages and pastel-coloured homes create this feeling of old-world charm. It’s a simple life really – stroll along the harbour, eat fish and chips fresh out of the paper on the beach, watch the sunset and enjoy a slightly slower pace.

In my Whitstable travel guide, I’ve gathered together my favourite places and tried-and-tested local finds, from cosy pubs and seafood shacks to artisan bakeries and sustainable fashion stores. Plus the best places to stay if you’re looking for a home away from home.

WHERE TO STAY

• West Cliff – keeperscottages.co.uk – This colourful townhouse has everything you could need for a weekend by the seaside. Designed in collaboration with SE London-based designer Hello Flora, it’s been lovingly restored by its owners into a welcoming family home with bold pops of colour and on-trend design details. Set over four floors, there’s three bathrooms and four uniquely decorated bedrooms – choose from a powder pink bedroom, a cosy room with a green-framed window looking over the garden, and two charming twin rooms on the top floor. It’s perfectly located just a short walk from the high street and nearby beach, and ideal for young families with kids thanks to the well-stocked cupboards with plenty of books, toys and games. There’s even a games room with table tennis and table football. The bifold doors in the kitchen open onto a lovely, wild garden where you can enjoy your morning coffee in (relative) peace. It’s also dog friendly! Get 10% off a stay at West Cliff (not including peak season) using code CATE on Keeper’s Cottages. [Ad – press stay – I was hosted at West Cliff]

• Keeper’s Cottages tends to be my go-to when looking for nice, stylish, boutique places to stay in Kent, and they have lots of other great options for Whitstable, such as a calm neutral loft and a cosy cottage with a sea view.

• Kip Hideaways is also a good shout for unique self-catered stays. I particularly like the look of Tides Cottage, a vintage-style cottage where you can take in the sea views and sunsets right from the bed.

• Otherwise have a browse on Airbnb – I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the one I stayed in a couple of years ago (dirty mugs and a lack of coffee marked it down for me!), but you can find some cute fishermen cottages and reasonably priced stays, such as here, here, here and here, which I’ll be bookmarking for next time.