Littlestone-on-Sea

The seafront at Littlestone-on-Sea feels properly old-school Kent - a long shingle beach backed by a parade of Victorian and Edwardian villas that have seen better decades but retain a certain faded charm. This is where New Romney's tourists traditionally drift when the weather permits, and it's the sort of place where you'll spot families actually paddling in the sea rather than just taking photos.

The main draw is straightforward: a wide beach with decent walks along the shingle, some rock pools if the tide's right, and the kind of coastal air that makes you remember why you bothered leaving home. There's a golf club here too, if that's your thing. The seafront road has a few cafés and fish-and-chip shops, though nothing remarkable - this isn't Hastings or Rye with their gift shops and galleries.

It works well for families wanting a proper beach day without the crush of busier resorts. Walkers get something out of the coastal path, and if you're staying at one of the caravan parks - New Romney Caravan Park is just up the road, or Parkdean Resorts Romney Sands is barely over a mile away - you've got an easy evening stroll on your doorstep. Don't come expecting excitement or attractions. Come for the beach, the relative peace, and the genuine seaside feeling that's increasingly rare along this stretch of coast.