Photo: Neil Theasby (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Whitstable
Wondering what to do in Whitstable? This guide lists the area's attractions — zoos, museums, theme parks and more — with distances, so you can plan every day of your trip.
Showing museums, aquariums and attractions with indoor areas — the ones that work whatever the forecast.
🎟️ This weekend near Whitstable
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Maidstone Audio Tour: Courts, Cultures
Maidstone Museum And Art Gallery, Maidstone · 22.6 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Canterbury Chronicles: From Cathedral Stones to Cultural Thr...
Canterbury Heritage Museum, Canterbury · 6.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Canterbury Audio Tour: From Cathedral Stones to Cultural Thr...
Canterbury Heritage Museum, Canterbury · 6.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
The Slide Guitar Festival
Voco The Clifton Folkestone, Folkestone · 20.7 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Aquariums
Museums & Galleries
0.3 mi from Whitstable
Whitstable Museum and Gallery
Whitstable Museum and Gallery is a volunteer-run local museum housed in the historic Foresters' Hall, telling the town's stories of diving, fishing, shipbuilding and oysters. You'l...
4.5 mi from Whitstable
The Seaside Museum
The Seaside Museum Herne Bay is a local museum in Herne Bay, Kent, England. It was established in 1932, and is notable for being a seaside tourist attraction featuring local archae... — Wikipedia
5.9 mi from Whitstable
Kent Museum of Freemasonry
The Kent Museum of Freemasonry, is a museum in St Peters Place, Canterbury, Kent with a rare collection of masonic exhibits of national and international importance. — Wikipedia
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6.1 mi from Whitstable
The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge is a museum, art gallery, library and visitor information centre in the heart of historic Canterbury. Inside, you can explore varied galleries,...
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6.1 mi from Whitstable
The Marlowe Kit
The Canterbury Heritage Museum was a museum in Stour Street, Canterbury, South East England, telling the history of the city. It was housed in the 12th-century Poor Priests' Hospit... — Wikipedia
6.2 mi from Whitstable
Canterbury Roman Museum
Canterbury Roman Museum is an underground museum built around the remains of an original Roman Town House and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, including one of the UK's only remaining...
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6.3 mi from Whitstable
St Augustine’s Abbey
St Augustine's Abbey was founded in AD 598 by St Augustine himself, marking the rebirth of Christianity in southern England after he baptised the pagan King Ethelbert of Kent. Ethe...
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6.6 mi from Whitstable
Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre
The Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre is the Faversham Society's local history museum and archive, offering free entry to everyone. Inside you'll find archaeological discoveries, everyd...
8 mi from Whitstable
Eastchurch Aviation Museum
Eastchurch Aviation Museum, on the Isle of Sheppey, tells the story of the island's pioneering role in early English aviation, including the founding of the Royal Naval Air Service...
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8 mi from Whitstable
Eastchurch Aviation Museum
Eastchurch Aviation Museum, in Eastchurch, Swale, Kent, tells the story of the Isle of Sheppey's pioneering role in English aviation, from the founding of the Royal Naval Air Servi...
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10.2 mi from Whitstable
Minster Abbey Gatehouse Museum
Minster Abbey Gatehouse Museum sits in Minster-on-Sea, Swale, Kent, housed in a 1000-year-old Grade I listed gatehouse beside the historic Minster Abbey. Inside you'll find local a...
12.3 mi from Whitstable
Sittingbourne Heritage Museum
Sittingbourne Heritage Museum has told the story of the town and its surrounding villages since 1999, with objects donated or loaned by local residents and other museums. You would...
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12.4 mi from Whitstable
Powell-Cotton Museum
The Powell-Cotton Museum is situated in Quex Park in Birchington and houses the diverse personal collections of hunter and explorer Percy Powell-Cotton. The museum also contains th... — Wikipedia
12.8 mi from Whitstable
Queenborough Guildhall Museum
Queenborough Guildhall Museum tells the story of this historic Saxon-founded town on the Isle of Sheppey, from its Royal Castle built by Edward III to its Victorian industrial heri...
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14 mi from Whitstable
Richborough Castle Museum
Richborough Castle is a Roman Saxon Shore fort better known as Richborough Roman Fort. It is situated in Richborough near Sandwich, Kent. Substantial remains of the massive fort wa... — Wikipedia
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14 mi from Whitstable
Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum
This museum at the historic RAF Manston airfield in Minster, Thanet, tells the story of the Battle of Britain through its centrepiece aircraft: a Spitfire Mk XVI and a Hawker Hurri...
14.8 mi from Whitstable
Sandwich Guildhall Museum
Sandwich Guildhall Museum sits in the heart of the town inside the historic 16th Century Guildhall, telling the story of Sandwich from its early beginnings to the present day. Insi...
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Theme Parks
17.9 mi from Whitstable
Adventure Island
Adventure Island is a free entry theme park on Southend seafront, packed with over 40 rides and attractions, a six storey Soft Play, prize arcades, cafes, restaurants and sideshows...
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23.7 mi from Whitstable
Diggerland Kent
Diggerland Kent is located in Medway Valley Leisure Park, where guests of all ages can ride, drive and operate real diggers in a safe and family friendly setting. Alongside the dig...
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Zoos & Wildlife
10.4 mi from Whitstable
Wingham Wildlife Park
Wingham Wildlife Park is a large family-owned wildlife park near Staple, Dover, in Kent, home to the greatest number of animal species of any Kent zoo, including tigers, Asiatic li...
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29.9 mi from Whitstable
Barleylands Farm Park
Barleylands Farm Park is a family-friendly attraction in Great Burstead and South Green, Basildon, combining a working farm with animal experiences, a Craft Village of independent...
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Where to stay near Whitstable
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
More around Whitstable
Haunted Britain
Start with the sea, then plan around the weather
Whitstable is a coastal town in Kent, and the sea sets the tone for almost every day you'll spend here. If the sky is behaving, build the day outdoors: a long walk along the shore, time spent watching the boats and the light change, and a gentle drift back into town when your legs have had enough. Nothing about this needs booking, which makes it the ideal default plan when you arrive without one.
The sensible approach is to keep one indoor option in your back pocket for each day. Kent's coastal weather turns quickly, and the museums nearby are small enough that an hour or two inside doesn't swallow the whole day.
Rainy-day museums close to base
Whitstable itself has a handful of small museums that work well when the rain sets in. The Seaside Museum is the obvious first stop and the one most likely to tell you about the town you're standing in. The Cart and Wagon Shed is a quieter, more rural sort of collection, and the RAF Bradwell Bay Preservation Group covers wartime aviation history for anyone in the family who likes aircraft more than beach huts.
These are modest places rather than all-day attractions, which is actually their strength. You can pair two of them with lunch and still have the afternoon free.
Heritage and wartime history
If you want a day built entirely around history, Broadstairs has the densest cluster. The Secret Wartime Tunnels are the headline, and the Spur Casemates Exhibition sits naturally alongside them for anyone interested in coastal defences. Add Arthur's Hall, St Margaret's Museum and the PWRR & Queens Regiment Museum and you have a full day without doubling back on yourself.
Canterbury offers a different sort of heritage day. The Canterbury Roman Museum takes you much further back, and makes a good contrast if you've already done the twentieth-century sites. Canterbury is also where you'll find the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway listed — a reliable crowd-pleaser with children, and a decent anchor for a day that otherwise involves a lot of looking at display cases.
Family days and wildlife
For a day aimed squarely at children, the Imperial Birds of Prey Academy in Essex is the standout. Birds of prey hold attention in a way few indoor attractions manage, and it's the sort of outing that works for a wide spread of ages. Also in Essex, the Radio Caroline Ross Revenge appeals to older children and teenagers — a ship with a story, rather than another room of labels.
Essex has more to offer if you're making a proper day of it: the Dutch Cottage Museum, The Cater Museum and Sandford Mill Museum can be strung together sensibly, with Sandford Mill tending to suit curious, hands-on types best.
A day further along the coast
Hastings is worth setting aside a full day for. Rye Castle Museum at Ypres Tower and Rye Castle Museum are closely connected, so treat them as one outing rather than two separate stops. It's a longer day than the Whitstable-based ones, so start early and don't over-plan the afternoon.
Where to eat
A few places with 5-star hygiene ratings are worth knowing about before you set out:
- The Dove — a pub, and the right call for a proper sit-down meal after a long walk.
- The Bus Café — a tea room, and good for a mid-morning stop before the museums open up properly.
- Real Eating Company — another tea room option, handy when you want something lighter than a pub lunch.
- Scoops and The Oyster Bed — both ice cream and creameries, and both earn their keep on a warm afternoon by the water.
If you're heading out for the day to Broadstairs, Canterbury, Essex or Hastings, eat before you go or plan to eat on the road — don't rely on getting back in time for a late lunch.
Turning it into a short break
There are 113 places to stay in Whitstable listed on BritStays, which gives you room to be fussy about location rather than taking whatever's left. A three-night break splits neatly: one day on foot around Whitstable with The Seaside Museum and the Cart and Wagon Shed held in reserve for showers, one day out to Broadstairs for the Secret Wartime Tunnels and the Spur Casemates Exhibition, and one longer day to either Canterbury or Essex depending on whether you're travelling with children.
Stretch it to four nights and you can add Hastings without rushing anything.
Practical advice before you go
Check opening days directly with each attraction before travelling — smaller museums like Arthur's Hall, St Margaret's Museum and the Dutch Cottage Museum often run limited hours and seasonal closures. Book accommodation early if you want to be within walking distance of the seafront. Pack layers and waterproofs whatever the forecast says, bring cash in case card payments aren't available at the smaller sites, and don't try to fit Essex and Hastings into the same short break unless you're happy spending a good chunk of it in the car.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Whitstable itself on a rainy day?
Whitstable has several small museums that work well in poor weather: The Seaside Museum, the Cart and Wagon Shed, and the RAF Bradwell Bay Preservation Group. They are modest in size, so you can comfortably pair two of them with lunch rather than planning a full day around one.
Where should I go for a day out with children?
The Imperial Birds of Prey Academy in Essex is the strongest family option, and suits a wide range of ages. The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, listed in Canterbury, is another reliable choice. Older children and teenagers often prefer the Radio Caroline Ross Revenge in Essex.
What's the best way to plan a history-focused day?
Head to Broadstairs, where the attractions cluster together. The Secret Wartime Tunnels and the Spur Casemates Exhibition cover wartime and coastal defence history, and you can add Arthur's Hall, St Margaret's Museum and the PWRR and Queens Regiment Museum to fill the day without backtracking. For much older history, the Canterbury Roman Museum is a good alternative.
Are there places to eat with good hygiene ratings?
Yes. The Dove is a pub and suits a full sit-down meal. The Bus Cafe and Real Eating Company are tea rooms, good for lighter stops. Scoops and The Oyster Bed are ice cream and creamery options. All five hold 5-star hygiene ratings.
How many places are there to stay in Whitstable?
There are 113 places to stay in Whitstable listed on BritStays, which gives you enough choice to prioritise location. Booking early is worth it if you want to be within walking distance of the seafront.
Can I fit both Hastings and Essex into one short break?
It's not recommended unless you're happy spending a lot of time driving. Hastings, where you'll find Rye Castle Museum at Ypres Tower and Rye Castle Museum, is best treated as a full day on its own. The same goes for the Essex cluster of the Dutch Cottage Museum, The Cater Museum and Sandford Mill Museum. A four-night break gives you room for one of them without rushing.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Whitstable.