Stella-Maris - Broadstairs - Star of the Sea

Picture of Broadstairs

Although the pandemic is officially over Covid has not gone away so some events may still get cancelled or curtailed so please make sure you contact the event organisers before making any plans for 2024 especially if travelling from afar!

If you do visit please respect our Town and please leave nothing but footprints in the sand when you depart.

East Kent

This page show some of the other attractions in the surrounding area of East Kent. There are many varied and interesting places to visit, some of historical interest and others ideal places to relax in.

There are also many lovely towns and villages in the surround area which are well worth a visit. There are the old towns of Faversham, Whistable and Herne Bay on the north coast, and then south of Broadstairs the town of Sandwich is a must to see. Then there are villages like Chilham west of Canterbury, Fordwich and Wickhambreaux to the east.

There is in fact so much worth seeing in the area, this page just gives you some examples of places to see when visiting East Kent.

I have tried to list these places in such a way that starting in Canterbury you can travel clockwise (looking at a map of East Kent) and visit all of these sites ending up back at Canterbury! However you probably need at least a day at many of these places to see just what they have to offer. Enjoy....


Canterbury Cathedral

Probably one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, Christian worship has been taking place continuously here for the past 1400 years. People from all over the world come to see this beautiful cathedral, many to visit the spot where on December 29 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered. There is a charge to enter the precincts and cathedral. For full details please call 01227 762862 or visit their website.


Canterbury Museums & Galleries

There are three main museums and galleries in Canterbury the Canterbury Roman Museum, Th Canterbury Heritage Museum and The Beaney. For details please visit their website.


The Canterbury Tales

This reconstruction of Chaucer's 14th century England lies inside the historic St Margaret's Church. This very popular attraction allows you to follow Chaucer and his colourful characters on their journey from London to Canterbury Cathedral to visit St Thomas Becket's shrine. For details please call 01227 479227 or visit their website.


Mount Ephraim Gardens

At Hernhill near Faversham Mount Ephraim Gardens are in the heart of an 800 acre estate incorporating the house, gardens, progressive fruit farm and grazing. The splendid late Victorian mansion and gardens have magnificent views over the parkland and the Swale and Thames estuary. For details of the gardens please visit their website.


National Fruit Collection - Brogdale

At Brogdale near Faversham is the home of the National Fruit Collection. The largest collection of fruit trees in the world, set in 150 acres of orchards. An ideal place for anyone interested in horticulture, or just to see the blossom in spring or buy that tree for the garden. There is also a gift shop selling produce grown at the collection and other products.It was the hottest place in the UK on Sunday 10th August 2003 at 38.5 degC (101.3 degF)! For details of the collection please visit their website.


Wildwood Woodland Discovery Park

Just between Herne Bay and Sturry on the A291 at Herne Common this park provides close encounters with wildlife, from Owls to Otters and from Wild Boar to Wolves. For details of the park please visit their website.


Reculver Towers

Just along the coast from Herne Bay is the ancient site of Reculver Towers managed by English Heritage, the twin 12th-century towers of the ruined church stand amid the remains of an important Roman 'Saxon Shore' fort and a Saxon monastery. Admission is free. For details please visit their website.


Quex House and Gardens and the Powell-Cotton Museum

Located at Quex Park, Birchington near Margate, Quex House is a regency mansion set in 200 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland. You can view the interior of much of the house and the collection of 19th century African and Asian treasures. Contact 01843 842168 or send an email for details. There is also this website.


Turner Contemporary

Located on Margate sea front by the Harbour the gallery is now open and admission is free. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday plus Bank Holiday Mondays. This is the big hope for Margate's regeneration but has not been without its critics. It is well worth a visit especially if you can catch a good sunset to view a 'Turner Sky'! You can contact the gallery via email or use their website for full details of events etc.


Margate Caves

These are chalk caverns which it is believed are over 1000 years old. In past times they have been used as a refuge from invaders, a prison and dungeons, a church, and a smugglers contraband store. Sadly the caves have now closed but there is a campaign to re-open them, please see their website for details.


The Shell Grotto

Discovered in 1835 the Shell Grotto in Grotto Hill Margate are a series of underground passages covered with shell mosaic. Nobody knows who created it though some believe it could be a 2000 year old temple. Contact 01843 220008 for detail, or visit their website.


East Kent Maritime Trust

The trust is a registered charity which cares for the local maritime heritage. It runs two museums, the Seaside Museum in Margate, and the Maritime Museum based in the country's only Royal Harbour at Ramsgate. You can also see Sundowner, one of the Dunkirk Little Ships at the Royal Harbour in Ramsgate. Contact the Trust for full details.


The Grange, St Augustine's Road, Ramsgate

The Grange is the house that Augustus Pugin (the architect) built for his family in Ramsgate. Next door is the Monastery which Pugin also designed although he did not live long enough to see it completed, this was done by his son Edward (also an architect). The house has been recently restored by The Landmark Trust with the help of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The house is available as a holiday let, and parts of it are also open for viewing. To visit contact their Booking Office (see Landmark Trust website).


Gazen Salts Nature Reserve

Gazen Salts Nature Reserve offers around one and-a-half miles of footpaths, winding through a variety of habitats, including lakes, reedbeds and a meadow area. The area provides a safe roost for many birds in winter, and is home to a small collection of pinioned wildfowl (have had their wings clipped to stop them flying away).


Richborough Roman Fort & Amphitheatre

Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre is managed by English Heritage is perhaps the most symbolically important of all Roman sites in Britain, witnessing both the beginning and almost the end of Roman rule here. Explore the huge stone walls which mark the site of this Saxon Shore fortress and take a look at the fascinating museum. Catch a boat from Sandwich and reach the fort as the Romans would have done. Please contact their website to check times and entry prices to non-members.


White Mill Rural Heritage Centre

White Mill was built in 1760 and still has most of its original wooden machinery. The Engine House, restored in 1995, contains a Lister petrol engine which can be used to drive a Plate Mill to grind corn into flour. The Miller's Cottage, built in the 1830's, and outbuildings are a rare survival of a complete milling site. Run for almost 100 years by the Stanley family, the windmill was supplying flour and animal food throughout the Victorian era, and worked on until 1957. The Museum is housed in the Miller's Cottage and other buildings surrounding the mill.


Minster in Thanet

Although now some miles away from the coastline, up until the 11th Century the village of Minster lay right on the estuary to the River Wantsum, making it one of the nearest ports to the continent. Ships used to sail past on their way to London and regularly anchored at what are now arable fields below the Church grounds. Minster has an ancient Abbey and an equally old Church.


Goodnestone Park

The 14 acres of beautiful gardens are set in 18th century parkland off the B2046 near Aylesham. For details of the gardens please visit their website.


Howletts Wild Animal Park

One of two fabulous parks (the other being Port Lympne west of Folkstone) which are the legacy left by millionaire John Aspinal. Howletts is at Bekesbourne near Canterbury and makes a really great day out for everyone, see the largest family group of Gorillas in human care, there are Elephants, Tigers, Lions, Rhino and so much more. For details of the park please visit their website.


Higham Park

At Bridge just outside Canterbury this is a stately home with landscaped gardens dating back to the 14th century was once owned by Thomas Culpepper the herbalist. During the 1920s the owner was Count Louis Vorrow Zborowski who was a very ambitious racing driver killed driving in the Italian Grand Prix in 1927. Sadly it seems that the house and gardens are no longer open to the public.

If you would like to see Local Attractions then click here.

If you would like to have your attraction listed here please email me.

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