Holidaying in a British seaside town in winter can be a bit of a risky game. The weather’s likely to be cold and rainy and some of the shops might be closed.
But if you don’t mind packing a raincoat, a wintery staycation at the British coast can still have plenty of charm.
I visited Whitstable, one of the UK’s most popular seaside towns, in the winter and found it still had a lot to offer.
On the north coast of Kent, Whitstable is a popular day trip from London, as well as one of the UK’s best places for oysters.
So what is there to do in Whitstable in winter?
Whitstable has a pebble beach and while local residents might be brave enough to take a dip in January, I’m definitely not. However, it’s still a lovely spot for a winter walk.
If the pebbles are a challenge to walk on, stick to the promenade for incredible views of the Kent coastline.
I was lucky on my visit to escape any rain, but if the weather’s really wet, check out one of Whitstable’s galleries instead. Fishslab Gallery has rotating exhibitions inside a former fishmongers.
Oysters aren’t everyone’s favourite food but you can’t leave Whitstable without sampling at least one. Winter is actually the best time of year to sample oysters.
The saying goes that oysters are best eaten in months with an ‘r’ in, meaning that September to April are the best months to splash out. I had some fantastic oysters at Samphire, a bistro in town, but many of Whistable’s restaurants serve them.
If you really can’t stomach an oyster, make sure to pick up some traditional fish and chips and V.C Jones is rumoured to serve the town’s best.
Source: express.co.uk