Taking its name from the neighbouring village of Herne, meaning a place on a corner of land, the village was first recorded around 1100 as Hyrnan. One of the oldest buildings is the late 18th century inn, The Ship (theshipinnhernebay.co.uk) which served as the focal point for the small shipping and farming community which first inhabited the town. Back in the day it was a meeting place for groups of tubmen who often ending up in fierce fighting...a friendlier atmosphere is on the agenda today! Passenger and cargo boats also ran regularly between Herne Bay and London, and boats carrying coal ran further up north to Newcastle. When the pleasure pier and promenade were built by a group of London investors, the town rose to prominence as a seaside resort and it has retained its popularity ever since. In 1837, one of the area’s most notable spots, the clock tower on Central Parade, was constructed. This 80ft Victorian clock tower watches over the seafront and is believed to be the oldest, free-standing purpose-built clock tower in the world. As well as the architecture, the two miles of coastline appeal to residents and visitors. From the sandy and shingled beach with colourful beach huts dotted along the way, it has a Seaside Award, an award which marks the best beaches in the country, and, those wanting to learn more, a visit to the Seaside Museum (theseasidemuseumhernebay.org) in William Street, is recommended. Scavenger hunts and seashore safaris are on the summer holiday agenda.
Education wise and both primary and secondary education is available in the town with Herne Church of England Junior School rated Outstanding by Ofsted, while Herne Bay High School has been graded as Outstanding for its Sixth Form provision and Good in all other aspects. Getting about is easy, too. Herne Bay has its own railway station and is operated by Southeastern. It’s just a 20-minute walk to the beach and high-speed trains from St Pancras International take around one hour and 20 minutes. Above all, Herne Bay is about community and this year’s festival (hernebayfestival.com) runs until August 25. At many locations across the Bay will be the Herne Bay Festival Art Trail which is free and family friendly and don’t miss the jazz and swing festival between August 16 and August 18. The carnival takes place on August 10 with a day filled with fun and entertainment and a parade winding its way along the seafront.
Eating and drinking
With many places to eat and drink, first up is Oyster and Chop House (oysterandchophouse.co.uk). This unique smokehouse with its in-house smoker serves slow cooked, smoked meats, as well as some of the freshest lobsters and seafood and not to forget the cocktails…the menu has everything and much more…it won’t be an easy choice to make! A coastal staple, Herne Bay Fish Bar (hernebay-fishbar.co.uk) provides everything from cod and chips to rock, skate and a range of meal deals and children’s meals, while over at The Wallflower Café (vegan-café.co.uk) in Herne Bay’s high street, it not only gets several ticks in its Tripadvisor reviews, but choices from this eatery, which offers dishes completely plant-based and 100 per cent vegan, are in their plenty. From the Wallflower breakfast to the Wallflower burger, there’s also the falafel or frittata buddha bowl as well as weekly specials, too. The team ensure they source the best ingredients to provide customers the best in quality and flavour. Finally, The King Ethelbert Inn (kingethelbertinn.co.uk) is a popular meeting place for locals and visitors, before or after a stroll around the Reculver Towers. Serving traditional pub food, locally sourced wherever possible, it also has locally brewed ales, lagers, spirits and wines available.
Exploring
Dominating the skyline of Herne Bay, the imposing towers of the medieval church at Reculver acted as a navigation marker for ships at sea. The site is one of the earliest Roman forts built against Saxon raids on the Saxon Shore and much of the site has now been lost to the sea. The small, tranquil beach at Reculver is the perfect place to relax and admire the stunning Kent coastline and while there is no access to the interior of the towers, the exterior can be viewed during daylight hours. The country park is home to the coastal classroom for community events and school visits and there’s also toilets, a café, and dogs on leads are welcome. Find out more at (visitreculver.com). With the helter-skelter in the distance and the old-fashioned fairground horses, it is easy to see why Herne Bay Pier (hernebaypier.co.uk) run by the Herne Bay Pier Trust, a registered charity, still remains popular and will be ideal for families with the summer holidays looming! And for some more seaside nostalgia, pop into the amusement arcade (cainamusements.co.uk). It’s the longest indoor amusement arcade and continues to create childhood memories and bring them back for adults!
Staycation
A short walk from the beach and town centre, The Sleep-Inn Hare (thesleepinnhare.co.uk) adds a touch of luxury as a family-run bed and breakfast. Four spacious and individually designed rooms, three of which have a separate sitting room, and all come complete with an en-suite shower or bathroom. Further benefits include private off-street parking, small fully licensed bar, serving a selection of alcoholic beverages and snacks. An indoor and outdoor eating area is available for guests to sit and enjoy the home cooked breakfast and relax in, too. Nothing beats the great outdoors and Hampton Bay Park (hampton-bay-park.co.uk) offers a relaxing and chilled camping and caravanning break in Herne Bay. The small, family-run and friendly site offers electrical hook up and is a perfect base for exploring the area and there’s even an adult only field for those seeking a little bit more peace and quiet! Offering a tennis court and garden view, SherPai Lodge (sherpailodge.elifim.top) is a chalet close to the beach. With an equipped kitchenette and living room and one bedroom, there is also the benefit of a heated outdoor pool between May and September. Free Wi-fi and private parking add plus points to this beach-based getaway.
Shopping
With all that exploring this summer, comfortable footwear is a must. The Shoe Room (theshoeroomhernebay.co.uk) stocks the best quality footwear brands and offers a personal one-to-one service, it’s easy to see why it has a loyal following. It’s the same for Peter’s Produce (petersproduce.co.uk) a firm fixture in the town since 1981. Its long-standing reputation for offering good quality fresh fruit and vegetables sourced from local farms and producers is second-to-none and despite the challenges facing high streets, this is one much-loved store! For beautiful fabrics, Heidi’s Crafts and Fabrics (heidiscraftsandfabrics.co.uk) sells a range of textiles including 100 per cent cotton, jersey, fleece and canvas, as well as a selection of buttons, threads, ribbons and haberdashery and every town has a much-loved bookshop. The Little Green Book Shop (thelittlegreenbookshop.com) has a range of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, local artwork, cards and homeware. There are also regular events to watch out for, too! If you’re heading to the pier, the independent retail huts have beach essentials as well as gifts and home items. Magical Glass Creations (magicalglasscreations.co.uk) creates stunning glass ornaments including paperweights, vases and sculptures while The Daisy Patch (@thedaisypatchhernebay) sells unique gifts, leather handbags and Lagenlook clothing.
