Botany Bay: The beautiful beach once one of Thanet’s best kept secrets

The summer season is upon us, and with warm temperatures set to stick around this weekend, it’s the perfect time to head to the beach to soak up the rays. If you are looking for a family-friendly sandy beach surrounded by stunning scenery with white cliffs and beautiful chalk stacks, Botany Bay is the place for you to go.

Hidden behind residential streets and located in Broadstairs facing the north sea, the bay is often overlooked and less popular than Joss Bay. On a scorching sunny day, the waters are clear and clean, ideal to explore the smugglers caves around the beach.

When the tide is low, Botany Bay becomes the perfect place to go rock pool dipping with your little ones. There is a lifeguard on duty to ensure the bay is safe as some visitors like to go surfing or kayaking in the area.

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And if you get bored of the beach, you can climb up to the cliffs and be rewarded with a lovely view of the bay. You can spend a few hours strolling around and enjoying sights – and nothing puts you in a greater mood like a good dose of fresh air.



Botany Bay, Broadstairs, Kent, England
Botany Bay, Broadstairs, Kent, England

It is also among the 14 beaches across Kent and Sussex to have received a Blue Flag award, recognising water quality, safety and cleanliness. If that does not convince you of how amazing the place is, not much else will.

If you’re looking for snacks, coffee or tea, there is a kiosk on Botany Bay. And situated on the clifftop at Kingsgate, the Botany Bay Hotel offers a wide range of delicious food from crispy fried squid to roasted rump of BBQ seasoned lamb.



Botany Bay hotel

Are pets allowed in the high season?

There’s a dog ban in the daytime between 10am to 6pm from May until September 30.

Can I park there?

If you’re able to, it is recommended to go to Botany Bay using public transports, but if you’d rather drive, there is a small car park and you can park on the nearby streets off Marine Drive.



Botany Bay in the midday sunshine

What do people think on Tripadvisor?

Botany Bay was awarded four stars on Tripadvisor, with one visitor saying: “We passed Botany Bay whilst walking a section of the Viking Coastal Trail between Margate and Broadstairs. As the tide was in during our walk we had climbed up to the cliffs and got a lovely view of the bay with its fine sandy beach surrounded by chalk cliffs. The beach is reached via a shallow flight of steps and had limited toilet facilities, there is also a public house with a restaurant nearby.”

And another adding: “Lovely beach and the only facility is toilets and nearby parking which suits us absolutely. Soft sand and sheltered areas.”

What is so special about it?

It was used as a film location in a few productions such as BBC’s D-Day: The Last Heroes, BBC drama True Love, Tamil action drama Thaandavam and a few more. It was also featured in music videos including Shawn Mendes’ song “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”.

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Article Source: Kent Live