Botany Bay, Kent - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Joss Bay is a popular 200 metre long bay, best known as Thanet's best surfing beach. It is surrounded by fields and a golf course, so offers a wide expanse of sand and carefree play. The beach is perfect for a day at the beach with deck chair and lounger hire available, a beach shop and café on the sands and children’s rides. The beach is reputedly named after an eighteenth-century smuggler, Joss Snelling. He was notorious for importing a variety of contraband to the various beaches of the Isle

Stone Bay is a beautiful, quieter location, best known for rock-pooling and popular with families. Behind the beach are high chalk cliffs which provide shelter from the breeze and a feeling of seclusion. It is also worth noting that the beach at Stone Bay almost disappears on the high tide, so be sure to check the tide times. This beach has beach huts from April to September. Access is via steps from Eastern Esplanade, or for vehicles access is down a steep slope which includes a hairpin bend.

Shell Grotto is an astonishing 70 ft of winding passages decorated with 4.6 million shells - arranged as images and patterns including gods and goddesses, and trees of life made from the shells of whelks, mussels, and oysters. It was discovered in 1835, but its age and purpose remain unknown. The grotto is a Grade I-listed building and is open to the public.

The Dickens House Museum is housed in the cottage that was Charles Dickens’ inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield. David’s description of Betsey’s cottage with its square graveled garden full of flowers, and a parlor of old-fashioned furniture still fits today. Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine Dickens lived here with the eldest three of their ten children, with the older two of Dickens's daughters, Mary Dickens and Kate Macready Dickens being born in the house.

Turner Contemporary is an art gallery in Margate, Kent, England, intended as a contemporary arts space and catalyst for the regeneration of the town. The title commemorates the association of the town with noted landscape painter J. M. W. Turner, who went to school there, and visited throughout his life.

Hornby Visitor Centre is a fantastic day out for the whole family, Featuring rare products from the Hornby, Scalextric, Airfix, and Corgi archives, track the history of Hornby’s iconic model trains from Frank Hornby’s early home-made toys in sheet metal, through the development of Hornby ‘O’ gauge and Hornby-Dublo. Don't miss the spectacular Model Railway and Scalextric layouts, plus grab the latest products in the Shop which offers an extensive range of Hornby, Scalextric, Airfix, Humbrol and C