More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A survey has revealed the best and worst-rated seaside towns in Kent - with some ranking higher than tourist favourites including Brighton.
In an annual poll by consumer choice website Which?, more than 4,000 readers were asked to rate seaside areas across the country based on their beach, attractions, scenery, peace and quiet, and value for money.
However, the review was restricted to a limited number, so many coastal areas were not ranked at all, such as those on the Isle of Sheppey.
The survey - which rated 'more than 100' tourist hot-spots across the UK - saw Dungeness voted the best seaside town in Kent.
As well as receiving ratings out of five stars in each of the five categories, towns were given an average nightly hotel rate, and an overall town score.
Renowned for its wide, open landscape, it scored a full five stars for its "peace and quiet", as well as four stars for both its beach and scenery.
With a score of 78%, Dungeness came just 16 places behind St Mawes in Cornwall - a tiny town with a population of less than 1,000, which came top in the country, scoring 85%.
It beat other popular seaside spots including Whitby and Brighton, the latter of which came in with 66%.
Whitstable came second in Kent, with 73% - scoring three stars in every category, albeit just two stars for its shingle beach.
Hot on its heels was Deal, with 72% - achieving four stars in all areas, but again just two stars for its beach.
According to the results, a night at a hotel in Dungeness would set you back £125; Whitstable £127, but a night in Deal just £79.
Next up was Broadstairs, which scored a respectable 70%, including four stars for its beach, quietness, and scenery.
It was followed by Herne Bay, with 62% and Folkestone, with 61%.
Herne Bay scored just two stars for its beach, but made up for this with a four-star rating for its peace and quiet. Meanwhile, Folkestone scored three stars for its beach, but just two in terms of its value for money.
Coming in last in the survey were Thanet tourist favourites.
Ramsgate managed to just nudge ahead of Margate, with a score of 59%. Although it only recived two stars for its beach, attractions and quietness, it scored three stars for its scenery and value.
Coming in last in Kent, with a score of just 55%, was Margate.
The town, famous for attractions such as Dreamland, which has hit the headlines recently after photos showed huge crowds of thousands of people packed onto its beaches during the lockdown, received just a one-star rating for its quietness, along with two stars for its value for money and scenery.
Skegness took the title of the UK's worst-rated seaside town in the survey, with a customer score of 44%. It scored one star out of five in all categories but one.
