Birchington

Settlement in Kent Thanet

England

Birchington

Birchington-on-Sea is a charming coastal village located in the district of Thanet, Kent, England. Situated on the northeast coast of Kent, it lies between the popular seaside towns of Margate and Herne Bay. With a population of around 10,000, Birchington is a relatively small but bustling community that offers a pleasant and peaceful coastal lifestyle.

The village is well-known for its beautiful stretch of sandy beach, which attracts both locals and tourists during the summer months. The beach is ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and various water sports activities. Additionally, the promenade provides a picturesque setting for leisurely walks and enjoying panoramic sea views.

Birchington offers a range of amenities, including a variety of shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants. The high street is home to a number of independent boutiques and local businesses, providing residents with convenient access to everyday essentials. The village also boasts several recreational facilities, including a golf course, tennis courts, and a leisure center.

Transport links are excellent, with regular train services connecting Birchington to London and other major cities. The nearby A28 road provides easy access to the wider county of Kent, as well as the nearby towns of Canterbury and Dover.

Birchington also has a rich history, with notable landmarks such as the 13th-century All Saints Church and the historic Quex House and Gardens. The village hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including the Quex Park Summer Maize Maze and the Birchington Carnival.

Overall, Birchington is a picturesque coastal village that offers a tranquil and friendly atmosphere, making it an appealing place to live or visit for those seeking a coastal retreat.

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Birchington Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.371657/1.300781 or Grid Reference TR2968. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Seashore near Birchington

This piece of land is entirely under the sea when the tide is in. When out it consists mostly of rock pools.

Hywel Williams

Seashore near Birchington

Apart from a very small piece of track and this set of steps, this square is completely submerged at high tide.

Hywel Williams

looking across Westgate Bay towards Epple Bay

Rick Ryder

A Colourful View of the Sea at Grenham Bay

This photo really does look worthy to be made into a watercolour painting! The sea really reflects the azure colour of the sky on a sunny day, but on a day where the sea is very clear, it is also possible to see the sandbanks and seaweed density beneath the surface! The beach is Grenham Bay in Birchington, with the view looking north out to sea from the grassland area adjacent to the promenade. If one looks east from here, one can see an excellent view of Westgate Bay, and even the large tower block on Margate seafront!

Robert Lamb

View of Westgate from Grenham Bay

West of Birchington and around a blind bend on the Thanet Coastal Path near Grenham Bay brings this excellent view of Westgate-on-Sea (just a mile or two to the east). The beach huts along the promenade are clearly visible, as are a number of houses, apartments and hotels. The photographer's location is just inside the bottom edge of the gridsquare looking east.

Robert Lamb

View of Reculver Towers from Grenham Bay

Looking in the opposite direction to my view of Westgate, an equally substantial, albeit misty, view of Reculver Towers (the Roman fort, which is now reduced to ruin, about 5 miles west from Birchington) can be seen. If one walks further west along the Thanet Coastal Path towards Minnis Bay, a view of the abandoned Herne Bay pier (which was destroyed in the 1987 Great Storm) can also be seen as a faint black dot on the horizon, as well as the Isle of Sheppey. However, it was bitterly cold, so I stopped here with the view of Reculver! View taken from the same location as the view of Westgate, but looking west.

Robert Lamb

Wind farm out to sea off Herne Bay

In 2005, a wind farm of 30 wind turbines was constructed on the horizon off Herne Bay in order to produce electricity in a sustainable manner for thousands of homes across all the towns within Canterbury City Council territory (Herne Bay, Whitstable, Canterbury etc). The wind farm can be seen from many miles around, particularly from the Thanet Coastal Path between Minnis Bay and Grenham Bay in Birchington. I cannot locate the wind farm exactly, since the gridsquare it is in is entirely submerged, however, it is somewhere north-east of Grenham Bay and thus north of Herne Bay. The photographer's position is just inside the bottom edge of the gridsquare looking north-east from the Thanet Coastal Path at Grenham Bay.

Robert Lamb

In Epple Bay looking east

Looking towards Margate and Westgate, with steep chalk cliffs on sides of bay. At lowtide, flat dangerous rocks (covered in common bladderwrack) and a small beach is exposed.

David Anstiss

Rock Pool in Epple Bay

Showing common bladderwracks and mussels.

David Anstiss

Sea Wall Promenade looking west

On Beresford Gap beach, at low tide. Reculver Tower is just visible on right of photo.

David Anstiss

Beresford Gap at low tide

Beach is reserved for powerboats and waterskiing. Bathing and fishing are forbidden. Used by Birchington Waterski and Wakeboarding Club. For more info see Link

David Anstiss

Grenham Bay

N Chadwick

Wave cut platform between Grenham Bay & Minnis Bay just emerging

N Chadwick

Rip Rap, Grenham Bay

Rip Rap or Rock armour is used extensively around the coastline as a defence against coastal erosion. It consists of piling large boulders on top of each other to create a reef. Sometimes they are piled up against a sea wall. They work by absorbing wave energy. Often the boulders are granite or another tough rock.

N Chadwick