24 Hour Guide: Things to do in Deal Kent [2023]

I thought it was about time I escaped London for a couple of days. I scanned the internet and Instagram for somewhere I could drive to easily from London and breath in some fresh air and seaside views. My friend and I decided packed up the car and drove to the seaside town of Deal in Kent.

Deal is a town in Kent, England, which lies where the North Sea and the English Channel meet, 8 miles north-east of Dover and 8 miles south of Ramsgate. It is a former fishing, mining and garrison town whose history is closely linked to the anchorage in the Downs. 

The town of Deal is very pretty, think Brighton on a much smaller scale and with less trendy people more pensioners. (This is by no means a negative in my eyes). It is perfect for a make-up free, relaxing break.

There are so many things to do in Deal Kent…

We drove from Balham, SW London to Deal in just under 2 hours. We decided to stay at The Rose. During such an uncertain time, we were keen to stay somewhere which would be sure to implement safety and COVID measures. It felt almost normal checking in, other than the staff wearing masks and the hand sanitiser on display with the antique furniture. (The new normal right?!)

The Rose is a kitsch hotel just set back from the seafront. It has an electric mix of fabrics, furniture and some bold colours in the bedroom which are ever so stylish. It is the perfect spot for some rest and relaxation. Our room had a stand-alone bath that dreams are made of! The hallways even have bars filled with coffee, tea and whisky in case you fancy a little nightcap.

We arrived in Deal at around 10 am and parked in the local car park which was about 3 minutes walk from the hotel. The car park is £6 a day and takes card payments. We couldn’t check into the hotel until 3 pm, so decided to make the most of it being a beautiful day and walked to Dover, along the coast and stopping for a truly life-changing tuna and cucumber doorstep sandwich and a packet of crisps from the Band Stand Café.

The walk to Dover takes around 2 hours at a moderate pace, but the view is so beautiful that you don’t even realise how far you’ve walked (my apple watch did though!). En route back we stopped at the Zetland Arms for an Aperol, taking in the views and enjoying the fresh air!

We could then check into the Hotel; the process was seamless. The staff have implemented a one-way system throughout the hotel and the rooms and reception area have plenty of hand sanitiser.

We had both our evening meal and breakfast at the Hotel. That’s not to say that there aren’t many lovely restaurants in Deal, but with things as they are, we decided to play it safe. The food was delicious though and the Hotel was taking part in the ‘Eat out to Help Out’ Scheme.

I would recommend the crab doughnuts highly and of course, you can’t have a trip to the seaside without having a portion of chips! The breakfast was included in our hotel stay and you could order anything off the menu.

Its worth noting that a lot of the shops in Deal are closed on a Monday and Tuesday, so check this beforehand. We ended up driving to Broadstairs to check out the sandy beaches and have a Morellis ice cream.

If you decide to go, I would recommend packing some comfy shoes, SPF and a healthy appetite for fish, chips and ice cream!

Top 10 Things to do in Deal

1. Rent bikes and pedal around its old town’s winding streets,
2. Take a stroll down the long pier.
3. Visit Deal castle, built by order of Henry VIII, the castle is a rich part of British History. They are currently taking bookings to reduce numbers due to COVID.
4. Check out the Hoxton for unique home wear pieces like beautifully scented candles and bespoke Moroccan rugs.
5. Deal has many galleries too, so why not admire the local artwork.
6. From Deal, you can drive or get the bus to Broadstairs if you fancy a sandy beach and a Morelli’s ice cream! It is worth mentioning that the car park is around £12 for the day.
7. You can walk to Dover in around 1hour 30 minutes (depending on your pace of course), the walk takes you right along the coast and on a clear day, you can see France. The route takes you along the seafront and then up to the top of the cliffs. The views are simply dreamy on a summers day and there are a few pubs on en route where you can stop for a well-deserved refreshment aka Aperol! Then you can either walk back or catch a bus back to Deal.
8. Fish and Chips on the Beach – there are dozens of chippy’s in Deal, the best is Middle Street Fish bar, but do check opening times as these change daily.
9. Visit Frog and Scot for culinary magic, this lively French bistro has been awarded a Michelin Star. The blackboard changed daily, their simple dishes let the ingredients do the talking.
10. Watch the sunset from the beach – as well as chippy’s Deal isn’t short on pubs either. So why not grab a take away drink, find a spot on the beach and watch the sun go down. I cannot think of a better way to spend an evening.

Author Bio: Alice is 26 and lives in Balham. She enjoys nothing more than requesting annual leave days and planning trips for herself and her friend! Alice’s favourite place to travel in the UK is Scotland for nostalgic reasons, ever since she was a child, her family would pack up the car and start the 9-hour journey to Scotland whilst listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks. Now she loves to travel further afield. In only a couple of years, she has visited Bali, India and South America whilst squeezing in a few European and UK city breaks in where she can.

If you on a bigger trip exploring more of Europe check out my guides to France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom.

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

To book flights, I always use flight search engine Skyscanner, I regularly use the Everywhere tool to find the cheapest places to travel. It’s how I get to travel so much all around the world. I find it the easiest way to compare flight prices across airlines and get the best deals. 

Accommodation

For accommodation, I usually book most of my hotels or hostels through Booking.com. I love using this platform as it provides me with some amazing deals for accommodation all around the world. Or if you prefer, I also recommend using Airbnb. If you haven’t signed up with Airbnb already, you can use this link to get £25 off your first visit!

Travel Insurance

Picking travel insurance that covers you in all eventualities is an essential part of planning a trip for every single person. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. You never know what’s around the corner. 

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Sophie X