Kent’s stunning Blue Flag beach with a tidal pool that’s perfect for swimming and escaping the crowds

Sam Honey
·4-min read
Minnis Bay at sunset
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images/500px Plus/John Lam)


With the promise of a potential heatwave on the way to Kent after a rather dreary start to June, there’s never been a better time to get out and explore our beautiful coastline. With so many beautiful beaches to pick from, working out where is best to soak up some sun and sea is often no easy task.

Arguably one of the biggest factors when deciding on a beach day is the quality of water, particularly when sewage continues to prove a problem along the coast, so if you’re looking for a clean spot to swim, Minnis Bay might just be the one for you. One of six spots along the Kent coast to earn a Blue Flag Award this year for its impressive water quality, this is a real seaside gem found in the quaint village of Birchington-on-Sea.

Managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education, Blue Flag Awards are only presented to “well-managed beaches with excellent water quality and environmental education programmes”. Minnis Bay is nestled midway between Margate and Herne Bay and is a real swimmer’s paradise thanks to its glistening waters and impressive tidal pool.

Read more: Kent seaside town named among the best holiday hotspots in the UK

Read more: Birth of wildcat kittens sparks hope for UK's rarest mammal

The unsung beach is also an incredibly popular spot for water sports, ideal for sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding and kayaking. Best of all, the beach itself features gorgeous golden sands and even during the hottest summer days does not attract the same volume of crowds you can expect in the neighbouring seaside towns.

Blue and yellow wooden beach huts casting long shadows in the sunshine along the promenade at the coast of Minnis Bay, Kent, UK
The beach has proven a real hit with families -Credit:CBCK-Christine/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Minnis Bay is a fantastic spot to bring the kids for a day of building sandcastles and splashing around in the paddling pool, and has seen high praise from families that have visited in the past. Holding a TripAdvisor rating of 4.5 stars from nearly 300 reviews, one past visitor said: “Such a lovely beach. Perfect with little ones, they have areas to wash the sand off.

“The sea is clean, the sand is clean. They have a couple of places to get chips, buckets and spades and other beachy items.” Another happy reviewer called it a ‘hidden gem’ and remarked: “Wonderful bay with great views, sandy and shingle beaches. Lots of water sports activities, but for me it was the wildlife. Especially the wading birds, I just sat as the tide came in and it pushed them within feet of me, wonderful.”

The tidal pool is great for paddling on a hot day
The tidal pool is great for paddling on a hot day -Credit:Pam Fray/Geograph

Keen swimmers will adore spending time in the clean sea which is also frequently mentioned in reviews, and the beach is supported by a lifeguard service ensuring the safety of everyone who stops by. Much like the rest of the surrounding area, the beach is almost completely flat and is bordered by sand dunes.

For the avid cyclists out there, it's worth noting that you can pick up a 3.75 mile section of the Viking Coast Trail from Minnis Bay, and discover some of the beautiful Thanet coastline along the way to Margate Main Sands. Nearby there are plenty of handy amenities that help make your trip as carefree as possible, including free car parking, toilets and a picnic area.

Minnis Bay is a great spot for rock pooling during low tide
Minnis Bay is a great spot for rock pooling during low tide -Credit:Marathon/Geograph

Alongside this, there is a nearby kiosk for ice cream, a café on the promenade, and a restaurant, so you will never be far away from refreshments. The Minnis Bay Bar and Brasserie, owned by Shepherd Neame, overlooks the picture beach, offering beautiful seaside vistas with a side of classic British cuisine, with a speciality for seafood.

Think fish and chips, burgers, grilled tuna, light bites and snacks, plus vegetarian and vegan options, all with a contemporary twist. You can wash your dish of choice down with a selection of wines, beers, ciders, spirits and more.

Before heading out for your beach trip however, it is important to check tide times as during high tide, the majority of Minnis Bay is lost to the sea. When the tide is out, it's the perfect place to do some rock pooling and see what creatures you can discover. You can expect to find crabs, starfish, shrimps and more.

While dogs are unable to visit the beach during the summer, they can play on its sands from October to April
While dogs are unable to visit the beach during the summer, they can play on its sands from October to April -Credit:Getty Images/iStockphoto/CBCK-Christine

Dogs are not allowed on the beach during the peak summer season between May 1 through to September 30. If you don’t fancy driving to the beach yourself then you’re in luck, as Minnis Bay is served by an open-top bus during the summer.

Find out more about things to do in Kent with our free What’s On email HERE.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • A dangerous holiday black market has emerged – and it’s coming to Britain

    A new holiday “black market” has emerged in New York City, and it appears to have taken root in the UK and other parts of Europe.

  • The popular food item banned from airport security even though it's not a liquid

    It's likely many people will be unaware of this rule

  • Here's how much money Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders *actually* make

    In Netflix's 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,' members of the team reveal how much money they make. Here's the deal on their salaries.

  • Gareth Southgate: ‘I am the problem’

    Gareth Southgate has admitted being England’s major problem at the European Championship, plunging his future as manager in doubt beyond the tournament.

  • EasyJet announces flights to this UK city for the first time –with connections from Edinburgh and Liverpool

    Britain’s biggest budget airline will begin flying this winter

  • Huge sinkhole '100ft deep' opens up in middle of Illinois football pitch

    A sinkhole said to be up to 100ft deep and just as wide opened up in the middle of a field of football pitches in the US, swallowing a huge light pole. The collapse, in the centre of Gordon Moore Park in Alton, Illinois, happened above a limestone mine on Wednesday morning, according to local reports. No injuries have been reported and all sports and events have been cancelled for a second day, Alton City Hall said in a post on Facebook, while investigations continue.

  • Emma Raducanu v Daria Kasatkina start time: How to watch Eastbourne online and on TV

    Everything you need to know about the quarter-final at the Wimbledon warm-up event

  • Euro 2024 group stages got more boring with every game – Uefa is to blame

    Congratulations to Slovenia, through to the knockout stages of an international tournament for the first time with their smaller population than Birmingham, two goals and three draws across three matches. Stirring stuff, but irritating for Ukraine in particular, who are going home despite earning four points in the group stage rather than Slovenia’s three.

  • Fire breaks out on world’s largest cruise ship just months after it first set sail

    The Royal Caribbean ship, which can carry more than 5,000 passengers, departed on its maiden voyage in January

  • Rangers address Ibrox venue switch after SPFL release Premiership fixtures

    Rangers have released a statement to supporters regarding the alternative arrangements for their first matches of the new campaign.

  • Emma Raducanu hails victory over Jessica Pegula after ‘going through some stuff’

    Briton saves match point during her first win over a world top-10 player

  • Transfer news LIVE! Gyokeres to Arsenal; Chelsea hijack Dewsbury-Hall deal, Murillo; Spurs want David; Man Utd

    Follow the latest deals, updates, rumours and gossip across the summer window

  • England in dire need of shake-up after India dump them out of T20 World Cup

    A Twenty20 World Cup campaign that never sparked into life for England was comprehensively snuffed out by India in a one-sided semi-final that laid bare the need for change.

  • Everything we know about the new Universal UK theme park

    Universal studios has unveiled plans to build Europe's biggest ever theme park located in the UK just north of London.

  • Anthony Joshua fires shots at Tyson Fury over loss to Oleksandr Usyk: ‘He’s an idiot’

    Joshua was speaking at the press conference for his September clash with Daniel Dubois – an IBF heavyweight title fight at Wembley

  • Man United lining up exciting double swoop as part of '£27m summer deal'

    Manchester United will be hoping to enjoy a successful summer transfer window

  • Why Finns are deadly serious about hobby horsing

    A buzz of excitement crackled through the hushed arena as the rider gripped the reins of her stuffed steed.Welcome to the strangely exacting world of hobby horsing, the Finnish sport guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Immaculately-coiffed equestrians leap athletically over fences just like in horse jumping, going as fast as they can against the clock straddling their stick steeds.Things are more stately in the dressage, with riders trotting their stick horses with intricately decorated stuffed heads before the discerning eyes of the judges.Some 260 riders from 22 countries -- most women and girls aged between 10 and 20 -- turned up to compete at the 11th annual Finnish championship held in the town of Seinajoki.But despite its vast international reach, from the Arctic to Argentina, hobby horsing is a sport that dares not speak its name.- 'Insane' athleticism -Despite its soaring popularity, it is not officially recognised as a proper sport in its birthplace."We have faced so much bullying and judgement," rider Nara Arlin, 24, told AFP."We know what everyone in the hobby horsing has been through... I think that is the main thing that pulls us together."First invented in Finland more than a decade ago, hobby horsing has taken off at a gallop across the globe. "It is growing every year," said Julia Mikkonen, the chair of the Finnish hobby horse association.This year's championship was "the biggest we have had so far", she added.Beyond the whimsy, great strength and skill is required to jump the obstacles while holding the hobby horse. Some top competitors could give elite hurdlers or gymnasts a run for their money."If you jump over obstacles your hip mobility has to be absolutely insane," said Mikkonen, 20, with some fences up to 110 centimetres (3.6 feet) tall. - 10,000 enthusiasts -"Of course we are all dreaming of having a world championship one day," said Mikkonen, who estimates there are around 10,000 hobby horsers globally."I am still a bit breathless but I am happy with my performance", said 19-year-old Jojo Hanninen as she sat down after her dressage event. To succeed in the sport you have to channel your inner centaur, she said."In hobby horsing, my legs are the horse... I am both horse and human," she said. Hanninen's hobby horse is a grey called Toope, with glittery reins and pink ribbons adorning its white mane.- Welcoming community -Competitors go to great lengths with their horses -- which are also exhibited and judged -- modelling and sewing the heads and adorning them with decorations.  "Hobby horses are art," said Arlin, who makes her own.With the cheers of the crowd still ringing in her ears after an impressive show jumping round, she hailed the sport as "the best hobby ever"."You are doing so many things with your hands, brain and the whole body."Like many of her peers, Arlin found hobby horsing through play as a child. "But the older I became, it became more serious," said the rider, who trains by riding real horses, working out in the gym and doing pole dancing.Rainbow flags in the arena reflected the tolerant values underpinning the community.   "Horses are mostly seen as a girls' sport, but that is not correct. Anyone can come no matter what gender," Mikkonen said.   Every enthusiast AFP spoke to praised the welcoming community that kept them devoted to hobby horsing despite the scornful attitudes all encountered at some point."We have each other's backs," said Arlin. ank/po/fg/smw

  • Emma Raducanu v Jessica Pegula LIVE: Tennis result and reaction after Briton’s impressive win at Eastbourne

    Raducanu and fellow Briton Katie Boulter both reached the quarter-finals of the Rothesay International at Devonshire Park

  • Chelsea: What Alexander Isak has said about Newcastle exit amid Blues interest

    Chelsea have reportedly made contact over a huge summer deal

  • Jadon Sancho Manchester United exit could benefit Liverpool as loan possibility emerges

    Liverpool winger Luis Diaz continues to face speculation over his future at Anfield with frequent links with a move to Barcelona.