They every have loads to supply for a refreshing spring getaway
These destinations are perfect for a weekend break free from the crowds.(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
At a time when many people are conserving a really shut eye on our spending, with the ability to afford a much-needed vacation will be fairly tough. A good way to get pleasure from a while away from dwelling with out breaking the financial institution is with quaint staycation, and fortunately Kent is suffering from improbable spots to just do that.
If you’re on the hunt to your subsequent lengthy weekend getaway however wish to keep away from the crowds this spring, then there are two seaside cities and an historic metropolis that may very well be simply what you want. That is in accordance with a brand new examine from bank card model Aqua which has in contrast and ranked staycation destinations from round the UK based mostly on numerous standards.
It was our vigorous capital of London which was in the end topped the nation’s high spot for a staycation, based mostly on metrics together with value of lodging, social media reputation, annual Google searches for visiting and staying in every location, in addition to climate information. While the examine additionally checked out the most reasonably priced and most viral UK destinations for a break, it was in the hidden gem class that Kent took the highlight.
By evaluating places based mostly on their annual search quantity for visits and lodge stays, in addition to their Instagram hashtag reputation, the examine was capable of finding the best retreats away from the crowds. Our very personal Broadstairs topped the record, with 332,000 Instagram posts however simply 3,360 searches for visits and resorts.
Dartmouth secured second place, whereas Whitstable on our northern coast took joint third place alongside Poole and the Scottish Highlands. Whitstable and Poole each noticed round 6,360 searches yearly, with the Kent seaside city recording roughly 593,000 Instagram hashtags.
These weren’t the solely Kent destinations to crack the high 10 both as Canterbury landed in seventh place. While the county’s solely metropolis noticed 1.4 million hashtags, it recorded simply 19,080 common annual searches for visits and resorts.
Kent’s best ‘hidden gem’ spring staycation spots for 2026
Broadstairs
This Thanet city topped the rating for hidden gem UK staycations with its surprisingly low quantity of Instagram hashtags and web searches. Promising golden sands, a bustling procuring centre, high quality eating places and refined resorts, it’s an exquisite place to unwind by the sea with out having to set foot anyplace close to an airport.
As the sunshine returns this spring, it is an ideal time to go to the stunning Viking Bay seaside earlier than the summer season crowds arrive. The horseshoe-shaped expanse of sand is taken into account among the county’s high seashores, full with a brief harbour/pier to at least one facet and a tidal pool at the different.
Sitting proper by the beachfront is The Pavillion, a highly-rated restaurant and bar full with a spacious backyard overlooking the bay, serving up cold and hot drinks plus loads of scrumptious grub. Other standout eating places to take a look at in Broadstairs embody Kebbells Seafood Bar, recognized for its fantastically offered sharing plates with a Mediterranean affect, The Little Sicilian for some hearty Italian grub, and Jetty Broadstairs, the place you possibly can get pleasure from healthful dishes in a family-friendly ambiance whereas absorbing the beautiful sea views.
Beyond the seaside and vibrant eating scene, Broadstairs is a improbable place for some retail remedy, because of the Westwood Cross Shopping Centre discovered only a 10-minute drive or brief bus journey from the essential seaside. Here, you possibly can browse loads of well-liked manufacturers together with Primark, Next, M&S, River Island and Waterstones, alongside an array of consuming and ingesting choices from quick meals staples to cafe chains.
For these seeking to actually make the most of all Broadstairs has to supply over a protracted weekend, there are many choices for lodging. The Royal Albion has seen quite a lot of reward from previous friends because of its outstanding sea views, refined interiors and comfy rooms.
Prices per evening common between £170 and £200. Or, for a extra pockets pleasant choice, The Crown of Broadstairs on the High Street has earned nice opinions for its helpful location among retailers and close to the seaside, clear rooms and pleasant employees, with costs sitting nearer to £80 per evening.
Whitstable
Moving over to Whitstable now, this slice of coast boasts beautiful surroundings, scrumptious meals and a relaxed vibe that can have you ever forgetting all about the work inbox very quickly. Perhaps best recognized for its oyster commerce, Whitstable and scrumptious seafood go hand in hand.
The Whitstable Oyster Company, Lazy Lobster and The Forge are all nicely price trying out for delicious plates made utilizing the freshest catch. Or, head over to the South Quay Shed for an thrilling array of cuisines, from juicy smash burgers at Rad Burger to succulent pulled pork from Pork and Co, that are joined by numerous charming merchants promoting artwork, decorations and presents.
If you may have a candy tooth that wants satisfying, Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium is a must-visit, providing distinctive and award-winning flavours that you just gained’t discover anyplace else. One of the most well-known points of interest in Whitstable is the Old Neptune Pub which sits proper on the shingly seaside.
Outside tables provide a one-of-a-kind ingesting expertise the place you possibly can get pleasure from high quality native pints as you watch the waves crash to the shore just some ft away. Standing as one in every of the most scenic boozers in all of Kent, it’s little surprise this spot has attracted its fair share of celebrity visitors over the years.
The seaside itself is nicely price stopping by for a stroll or sit-down and this large expanse of pebbles is massively well-liked with canine walkers. Of course, the excellent approach to cap off any journey to the seaside is with some fish and chips, and right here the high spots to take a look at are Ossies Fish Bar, Harbour Street Fish Bar and Seven Seas.
Inside the city centre you can find a formidable number of unbiased enterprise together with cosy ebook retailers, document shops, healthful cafes and second-hand retailers nice for some weekend thrifting. The Marine Hotel, present in close by Tankerton round a 20-minute stroll away, is regarded for its sea views and stylish design.
Prices right here vary between £100 and £240 per evening relying on chosen dates. If you fancy someplace extra central, the Duke of Cumberland is thought for its cosy rooms, high quality food and drinks, plus common stay music and occasions, with costs starting from £100 to £230.
Canterbury
The closing Kent vacation spot to be ranked among the UK’s high 10 hidden gem staycation destinations is our one and solely metropolis of Canterbury. Rich in historical past, dwelling to a thriving eating scene, an amazing spot for procuring and extra pubs than you would presumably know what to do with; what’s to not love?
When it involves grabbing a chew to eat, you actually are spoiled for selection as you could find a spot that can go well with any style and funds. Favourite of Orlando Bloom, Cafe Des Amis, and its sister location, Cafe du Soleil, are perfect for some nice eating, as is The Corner House in Dover Street, the multi-award successful Cook’s Tale in Beer Cart Lane or, for those who’re after a recognisable chain, the metropolis just lately welcomed The Ivy and has its personal Cosy Club too.
For one thing extra informal, Chuck and Blade or Notorious BRG are the locations to go for a burger, The Drapers Arms affords mouth-watering Asian impressed road meals, whereas franchises together with McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Express, Subway and Ask Italian litter the city centre. Plus, there’s not one, however two Wetherspoon pubs.
Speaking of boozers, The White Hart is all the time price a visit in the spring, boasting the largest beer backyard in the metropolis, the Lady Luck affords a novel, different vibe with a scrumptious menu of meals that includes loads of veggie and vegan choices, The Black Griffin and The Penny Theatre have you ever coated for stay music, whereas The Unicorn Inn and The Monument simply past the Westgate Towers present that conventional pub ambiance. Outside of eating and ingesting, the metropolis is alive with issues to see and do.
You can go to iconic landmarks corresponding to Canterbury Cathedral and the Westgate Towers, meander via the beautiful Franciscan Gardens, absorb some tradition at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, make some furry mates at the Canterbury Tails Cat Cafe, go punting alongside the River Stour or get pleasure from a movie at one in every of two Curzon cinemas, to call just some choices. Abode Canterbury and Hampton by Hilton are among the high rated resorts in the metropolis, with costs ranging between £70 and £200 per evening at the former, and £75 to £130 at the latter.
The Falstaff is a conventional fifteenth century teaching inn, providing a keep which is steeped in historical past, with costs ranged between £70 and £180 per evening, whereas the Canterbury Cathedral Lodge lets friends sleep in the shadow of one in every of Kent’s most well-known landmarks, with costs between £115 and £160 per evening.
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