A list of the UK’s most underrated destinations includes a pretty seaside town just a couple of hours from the capital, and it has plenty to enjoy on a day out from a historic pier to a castle built by Henry VIII
With warm weather and a promise of another bank holiday on the way, you may be thinking of escaping the city for a weekend by the coast.
While there are many seaside towns that are easy to reach from London, you might be bored of the usual day trips to spots such as Margate, Whitstable, and Southend. Condé Nast Traveller recently released a list of its top underrated UK destinations, and the location it voted best for a weekend by the coast is a town you may have previously overlooked.
Deal in Kent can be found roughly midway between Dover and Margate, yet isn’t as well known as its neighbours. Condé Nast said: “While other towns on the Kent coast have made their way to the limelight in recent years – from Folkestone to Margate – charming Deal still flies under the radar.” adding that it was: “Perfect for a low-key weekend at the seaside”.
Deal has a long pebble beach with a flat promenade that’s perfect for seafront strolls. The beachfront has classic seaside vibes. You’ll see rows of Victorian and Georgian homes, amusement arcades, fish and chip shops, and charmingly old-school hotels. At the heart of the beach is Deal Pier, over 300 metres long so you can walk out and see incredible views across the Strait of Dover.
Deal Castle, built around 1540 by Henry VIII, is well worth a visit. This impressive fortress was created to guard against invasions on British soil, and you can climb the battlements for incredible views across the sea. If you don’t suffer from claustrophobia, you can explore the Rounds, a series of narrow passageways running along the outer bastions where defenders of the castle could wait with their guns drawn.
Back in town, there is a maze of narrow, winding streets, full of unique independent shops, colorful art galleries, and chic cafés. You’ll find shops selling handmade items, vintage and charity shops, and artisanal food stores, all adding to the town’s character.
Visit the Deal Timeball Tower to learn more about the history of the town. Once a Georgian-era naval tower, it’s now a charming local museum, focused on the importance of the navy in Deal. There’s also the small Deal Museum, which manages to pack in lots of artifacts of the town’s past, and includes a boatyard with maritime equipment.
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Kent Museum of the Moving Image is another small and quirky museum that charts the history of moving images from the days of candlelit lantern performances to modern cinema. You can see equipment used throughout the years to create these spectacles, and the museum is a must-visit for film buffs.
Deal has a number of accommodation options if you want to stay for the weekend, from classic seaside hotels to Airbnbs. The Royal Hotel on the seafront has a variety of rooms, some with balconies, with prices from £120 a night. Or stay at the Waterfront Hotel close to the beach, a cosy B&B with rooms from £75 a night.
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