Top Things to do in Herne Bay
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Top 10 Things to do in Herne Bay, United Kingdom (UK)
Discover the best top things to do in Herne Bay, United Kingdom (UK) including Reculver Towers and Roman Fort, Herne Bay Central Beach, Herne Bay Pier, Wildwood Trust, Central Bandstand, Waltrop Gardens, The Seaside Museum Herne Bay, Herne Bay Memorial Park, Reculver Country Park, The Downs.
Restaurants in Herne Bay
1. Reculver Towers and Roman Fort
Overall Ratings
4 based on 426 reviews
Reviewed By arj66 - Wellington, New Zealand
We stopped in at the Reculver towers on the way back from Ramsgate given that the towers stand out on the landscape from quite some distance away and we were wondering what it was. In the end we ended up staying almost 2 hours (following the towers we had lunch at the King Ethelbert Inn next door).
The ruins themselve are interesting and their are number of information boards around the area the details the history of the area from the time of a roman fort through to church and modern day. What stands out is how much the area has change both geologically and in terms of settlement.
We never knew for example that the area called "thane" was actually an island, and the flat farmland now located next to the hill the tower stands on was a fairly large river/ channel at one time (hence the reason you sometime see the name as "isle of thanet"). Consequently all manner of historical real estate developers (i.e - the Romans and other groups of territorial speculators) - have sailed to, through, and conquered the area as part of furthering trade and settlement. This resulted in the building of a fairly large Roman fort (for which there are information boards on site showing the location, size, and what the fort would have looked like). There are still some remnants there - but not much.
The site then providers information of how it changed becoming a church, the history of the building, its subsequent decline and so on (I wont go into too much detail here). Overall - a really interesting place and worth the detour off the main roads. Last points to note - if you go in winter and its freezing - there's a nice warm pub next to the site (yummy). There's a car park which charges a small fee per hour - oh, and from the site you can look out to the ocean and see the wind turbines in the distance!
2. Herne Bay Central Beach
Overall Ratings
4 based on 179 reviews
Reviewed By Tony R
Last weekend Herne bay seafront hosted the Herne Bay air show on Saturday and the Herne Bay car show on Sunday. What a great weekend of events and it's great to see the seafront so busy with loads of people visiting
3. Herne Bay Pier
Overall Ratings
4 based on 298 reviews
An interesting pier with different thing to do on it
Reviewed By Karyn65 - Coventry, United Kingdom
Came across Herne bay on the drive home from Canterbury, plenty of parking on the front, the pier has a nice walkway and some beach hut shops selling a variety of wares, theres a variety of cafes and food stalls, fish & chips, stonemade Pizza and shell fish stall, no Pier is complete without a small funfair and Clairvoyant waiting to read your cards, nice little place with views across the Bay.
4. Wildwood Trust
Overall Ratings
4 based on 728 reviews
Welcome to Wildwood, where you can come nose-to-nose with British Wildlife past and present. We have over 200 native animals set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland. See Wolves, Bison, Deer, Owls, Foxes, Red Squirrels, Wild Boar, Lynx, Wild Horses, Badgers, Beavers and more as you make your way around the park. Let your children go wild in our amazing adventure playground with drop slide, tube slide, wild fort, tree-top towers and more!
Reviewed By Rebecca P
We are local so have a monthly pass for the family which works out cheaper over the year, not a great all day outing but a nice walk around. Takes about an hour to see everything. Great play area, worth the membership just to use this! Easy way to spend an afternoon. Wouldn’t travel far to visit tho
5. Central Bandstand
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 101 reviews
Reviewed By LesGUk - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Visited on Sunday for lunch, superb outlook, lovely restaurant, band playing all the while we were there. Thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
6. Waltrop Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
Facing Telford Terrace is a quaisi Victorian sunken garden, erected to celebrate the twinning of Waltrop and Herne Bay. The sundial on the seaward side is a gift from Waltrop, designed by the burgermeister Herr Jochen Mungner. In the centre of the garden is a Portland stone Fountain given to the town in 1888 by London Alderman Col. Horatio Davies, who became Lord Mayor of London. (This Fountain was originally located near the clock tower).
Reviewed By DaveWa126 - Herne Bay, United Kingdom
The Waltrop Gardens is a peaceful stop during a busy day. It is a sunken garden with few users (I don't thing I've ever seen it with all the benches full of people). It has well maintained flower beds and a small lawn area and is conveniently located near to the bandstand toilets (including disabled) with graduated slopes at both ends suitable for wheelchairs. Strict 'No ball games' notices are in place. If you want a quiet stop-over whilst listening to the bird song, just resting from your walk in a sheltered spot or even a time to sit down and just relax - this is for you. Additionally the Gardens are close to two of Herne Bay's finest sculptures - the boy with the boat (who sits on the Waltrop garden wall facing towards the sea) and the Amy Johnson bronze which is nearby on the Promenade.
7. The Seaside Museum Herne Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
The town museum of Herne Bay. A small museum with many interesting items from fossils to a bouncing bomb of Dambusters fame.
Reviewed By Tony R
The Seaside Museum Herne Bay is a local museum in Herne Bay, Kent, England. It was established in 1932 and is notable for being a seaside tourist attraction featuring local archaeological and social history, for featuring the history of the town as a tourist resort, it is worth a visit if you are in the area it has items for sale from local artists covering a wide range of artwork.
8. Herne Bay Memorial Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By HerneBayCharley - herne bay
As parks go, it is difficult to fault the memorial park. We live locally and have been visiting it for over 30 years. When my children were young, we went every day. It is a good shortcut from the station to the town. Walking diagonally down from the station you go past all its attractions - rose garden, war memorial, tennis courts, boating lake (used for radio controlled boats in the summer), large green for football and dog walking plus a children's play area. It has toilets conveniently near the play area. The approach to the war memorial from the memorial gates is a bit disappointing as the chestnut trees are dying and gradually being replaced with hornbeam. This does not appear to be entirely successful as some of the hornbeam also appear to be dead but it will all take shape eventually. The pond area and formal planting areas are particularly lovely. There is a boot fair in the car park every Sunday morning. All in all, a good amenity for locals and visitors alike.
9. Reculver Country Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By juliaandadam123 - Ashford, United Kingdom
This park is beautiful, and isn't too expensive to park if you are going to make a few hours of it. The coast here is lovely to walk along and for small children there is a great (looks new?) park themed as a roman fort. Plenty to keep children entertained before heading out on your walk OR when you sit and relax with a drink from the on site cafe when you return. There are plenty of benches and spaces for a picnic so you can keep them in view.
10. The Downs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By Happychap103 - Royal Wootton Bassett, United Kingdom
We didnt really know of The Downs but this long Promenade , backed by low grassy hills , leading off East to Reculver is ideal for relaxed exercise , walking or cycling.
So peaceful, in August it was quieter than I have ever seen Bournemouth...any day of the year !
Didnt find any loos or cafes though.
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