Broadstairs Viking Bay

Viking Bay is the main beach in Broadstairs, a horseshoe-shaped crescent of golden sand wrapped around a small harbour in one of Kent's most charming seaside towns. The bay is overlooked by Bleak House, where Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield, and the harbour with its fishing boats and the York Gate archway on Harbour Street give the town its distinctive, old-fashioned English seaside character. The beach has excellent facilities including a cliff-top lift, deck chair hire, and seasonal lifeguard cover, and the town's cafes, restaurants, and shops are immediately behind.

Dogs are not permitted on Viking Bay at any time between 1 May and 30 September. Outside the restriction period the compact sandy bay provides pleasant walking, though it can still be busy given Broadstairs' year-round popularity. Dog owners visiting during summer should head to nearby Dumpton Gap or Kingsgate Bay, both of which allow dogs all year. The town itself is highly walkable with the beach as its focal point, and parking is available in town car parks within a short walk.