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Hampton Pier West Beach

Kent, England


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Hampton Pier West Beach is a rural pebble beach located in the Herne Bay area of Kent, approximately 4 miles east of Whitstable.

Hampton Pier West Beach is characterised by a rural pebble beach with a slipway, which is available for use about 2 hours either side of high tide, leading down to semi-hard mud. The beach is lined with pretty-coloured beach huts and is backed by the Spa Esplanade. At low tide, a wide area of mudflats can be seen, and small, picturesque fishing boats are often dotted around the foreshore.

The beach stretches east from Hampton Pier to Herne Bay Pier and is situated in an area that has undergone regeneration, earning it the nickname "Islington-on-Sea" among locals. The harbour and Clock Tower are located to the east of the beach. Parking can be found close to Hampton Pier, and it is an easy walk from the beach to Herne Bay, which offers a range of amenities and attractions, including a pier and traditional seaside entertainment.

Herne Bay Beach, which is located nearby, is an award-winning beach and a popular family seaside destination on the Kent Coast. The beach is mostly shingle, with wooden groynes giving way to sandy mudflats at low tide, and is a popular bathing area for families during the summer holidays. The beach is dog-friendly, with a small restricted area just to the left of the Pier in the summer.

Beach huts can be found at the western end of the beach, towards Hampton Pier. During the holiday season, traditional seaside entertainment, including Brass Bands, tea dances, and children's entertainers such as Punch and Judy, can be enjoyed at the bandstand on Central Parade.

Hampton Pier West Beach is adjacent to the Kent Coastline Walk.

Sand Shingle

Weather and tides for Thursday 17 July

Today
Chance of rain 6%
Max temp. 24°C
(feels like 24°C)
Wind 9mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 5%
Min temp. 17°C
(feels like 17°C)
Wind 7mph

The tide at Hampton Pier West Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 5:44 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 12:11 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   19.7°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Food available Toilets Slipway
  • Popular Activities

    Bird watching Boating Fishing Sunbathing Yachting
  • Features

    Country park Pier Visitor centre Yacht club
  • Parking

    Parking available off Central Parade, near the pier, or to the west of the beach off Spa Esplanade.

  • Dogs

    Dogs are not allowed on the beach between 1st May and 30th September and must be kept on leads on promenades. Please check signs for seasonal restrictions.

  • Lifeguard

    No lifeguard cover at this beach

  • Water Quality

    Water quality not measured here

    Water quality not measured here

Recommended holiday cottages near Hampton Pier West Beach

Things to do and see in the area

The Tankerton Arms (2.8 miles)
Tankerton Slopes (2.9 miles)
Reculver Towers and Roman Fort (3.6 miles)
Whitstable Harbour (3.7 miles)
Playhouse Theatre Whitstable (3.8 miles)
The Black Dog (3.8 miles)
Whitstable Town Centre (3.8 miles)
Whitstable SUP (4.1 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Hampton, Herne Bay

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: TR164682

County: Kent

Country: England

Local Authority: Canterbury

Nearest postcode: CT6 8RW

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

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Visitor information for Hampton Pier West Beach, Kent, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.9.170 Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:31:02 +0100