Thanet Table Tennis Centre

Table tennis might not sound like a day out, but Thanet Table Tennis Centre in Birchington is where serious players and curious beginners alike actually spend time. It's a proper sports facility - not a tourist attraction in the traditional sense, but genuinely useful if you're staying nearby and fancy something different from the usual Kent seaside routine.

The centre offers table tennis coaching and open play sessions, so you can either book a lesson or just turn up and rally with whoever's about. It appeals most to families with kids who've caught the ping-pong bug, or to anyone looking for an active indoor option when the weather turns. If you're a regular player, you'll find decent tables and the kind of setup you'd actually want to practise on.

Opening hours and pricing aren't widely published, so call ahead or check locally - places like this often keep details close to their chest. Allow an hour if you're just trying it out, longer if you're booking coaching. It's free to watch, but sessions and court hire will cost.

Birchington itself is modest - all fish and chips shops and caravan parks - but that's rather the point. If you're based at Birchington Vale Holiday Park or The Foxhunter Park, this beats another rainy afternoon staring at the seafront. It won't be a highlight of your trip, but it's a genuine option on a day when everyone needs something different.