Deal Seafront

Deal's seafront is where you actually feel the Channel at your back - no gimmicks, no theme park nonsense, just proper seaside. The shingle beach stretches for miles, backed by a promenade that's seen better days but has genuine character. The pier juts out into the water like it's been there since Queen Victoria's time (it basically has - Victorian engineering at its finest), and it's the kind of place where you can still buy a stick of rock and feel only slightly ridiculous.

This is ideal if you're after long walks rather than adrenaline. The seafront works brilliantly as the hub of a week-long stay at any of the nearby camps - Kingsdown Camping and Ham Hideaway Glamping are both under four miles away, making it an easy morning or afternoon outing. Families will spend a good hour or two here; older kids might want the pier, younger ones will be happy enough with the shingle and rockpools. Serious walkers should push along towards the Downs - the cliffs inland are where the real views are.

Parking's reasonable, the promenade cafes won't break the bank, and there's enough going on (fishing boats, the occasional sailboat race) to hold your attention without demanding anything from you. It's not flashy. It won't leave you breathless. But if you're camping locally and want a no-fuss seaside walk without leaving Deal proper, this does exactly what it says on the tin.