Hythe Seafront

The seafront at Hythe stretches along the Kent coast like a proper seaside postcard - all pebble beach, sea walls and that particular quality of light you only get on the south coast. There's a working lifeboat station here, which lends the place genuine character rather than the polished feel of more manicured resorts. You can walk the length of it, grab fish and chips from one of the local spots, and actually feel like you're somewhere with a pulse.

It's the sort of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a tick-box visit. The shingle beach is steep - wear decent shoes if you're planning to poke about on the rocks. On a clear day you can see right across Romney Marsh from the water's edge, and that expanse of flat land behind makes the sea feel properly dramatic. Families with younger kids might find it functional rather than thrilling, but teenagers and walkers will appreciate the lack of theme-park energy.

Hythe sits close enough to Port Lympne Safari Park to combine visits, which helps if you're basing yourselves at one of the caravan parks dotted around the area - New Beach Holiday Park and Daleacres are both within spitting distance. The seafront itself is free to access and there's no set time limit, though realistically you're looking at 90 minutes to two hours to do it properly. Go on a quieter day if you can. Summer weekends pull the crowds and the charm gets diluted.