Reculver Towers and Roman Fort
Landmark · The twin towers of a ruined church on the cliff edge, beside the remains of an early Roman coastal fort, free to visit.
Herne Bay
A Victorian seaside town on the north Kent coast, with a two-mile shingle front, beach huts and a pier turned into a village of small shops.
From King's Cross St Pancras: 1 h 43 min by train · 2 h 14 min by car
Travel times by TravelTime
Time there: 1.5–3.5 h to see all 3 places
Get directionsTownBy the seaLandmarksIndependent shops
Must-see places
Herne Bay Pier
Waterfront · What is left of a once mile-long Victorian pier, now a charity-run platform of beach-hut shops, food stalls, a helter-skelter and fairground rides over the water.
Victorian Clock Tower
Landmark · A 23-metre stone clock tower on the seafront gardens, the town's best-known landmark and a favourite spot for sunset photographs.
Quick facts
The pier is now a seaside village of independent shops in beach huts, with a helter-skelter, a carousel and a stage, run by a charity and open at weekends, on public holidays and in school holidays.
The clock tower on Central Parade dates from 1837 and is believed to be one of the earliest purpose-built, free-standing clock towers in the country.
A two-mile shingle beach runs along the front, lined with beach huts and good for sunset swims, with the Roman fort and twin church towers at Reculver about an hour's walk along the coast and about 80 minutes by train from St Pancras.
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