This picturesque seaside town in Kent ranked among the best in the country in a recent consumer survey, despite missing three major tourist must-haves
A hamlet in Kent has been named among the best seaside ‘towns’ in the country, despite it lacking some of the key features you’d expect when visiting a coastal gem.
The UK consumer champion, Which?, released its annual list of the best seaside towns across the country. Unsurprisingly, the top spot went to Bamburgh in Northumberland for the fifth year in a row.
However, Dungeness in Kent, which is part of the Folkestone and Hythe district, received an honourable mention from people who took part in a survey which determined the leader-board.
The seaside town received an overall destination score of 78 percent, ranking seventh on Which’s list.
READ MORE: UK seaside town boasts Victorian charm and £66 hotels but there’s a catch
The survey results were based on the experiences of 3,800 people over the last year, with ranking criteria including the quality of beaches, scenery, food and drink, offerings, accommodation, tourist attractions and value for money.
What does Dungeness actually lack?
Dungeness received multiple four and five-star ratings, which accounts for its high ranking. The town earned four stars for scenery, parking and value for money, and five stars for peace and quiet.
Peace and quiet, and scenery is what draws many visitors to the hamlet. Its location is completely out of the way, which means people who turn up are visiting for a reason. With old shipwrecks scattered along the shoreline, the vast open space is a haven for photographers.
But three areas in which Dungeness could not be ranked are seafront pier, accommodation and shopping. Dungeness does not have a seafront pier, nor does it have any hotels or major shopping boutiques. In fact the town is known for being sparse and isolated.
That does not mean you cannot – or should not – visit the town. Dungeness has holiday homes that you can rent to stay close to the beach or you can stay in a nearby town and conveniently visit the seaside resort for just the day.
Again, what Dungeness may lack in typical accommodations and shopping it more than makes up for in tranquillity. Dungeness Beach is one of the best places to experience the serenity of the area. And it’s not a place where you’ll find scores of sun-seeking families on a hot sunny day, but rather a place of peace and quiet.
A vast shingle beach home to an incredible lighthouse, Dungeness Beach is a beloved local destination. One TripAdvisor, many reviewers highlighted the photogenic nature of the area – saying it is a great place for artists.
“What a lovely place to visit great things to photograph and peaceful, so peaceful,” wrote one reviewer who awarded the beach five-stars.
Another commented on the artistic inspiration the area provided, but highlighted the poor accessibility. “The beach and area is a walking destination but also one of curiosity if you are into artistic exploration.
“Not suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter people, but, saying that, if you go to the Nature/Bird sanctuary then you can have a fabulous day out,” wrote another reviewer. “But the beach is a separate visit,and at the time I wasn’t aware of that, being a mobility scooter person the beach was inaccessible, [the] main road was the only place to go.”