Whitstable beach, Kent

#getgoing2025 Whitstable beach, Kent It’s not sandy but this pretty town’s pebble beach backed by stripy beach huts still rates as one of Britain’s best seaside spots. The stones may be hard on your feet, but the water is lovely – and for those who don’t like sand in their shoes it’s win-win. The town is getting smarter by the day (the annual Oyster Festival draws the crowds), and there are plenty of independent shops and cafés for diving into should it rain. You can’t miss the oyster stalls from the beach – once you’ve had your fill, plonk yourself on the pebbles near The Old Neptune pub so you can pop in and out for drinks (and, crucially, use the loos), then buy a crab sandwich from Elliott’s at No.1 Harbour Street for lunch.