Days out · Coast
The Kent coast by taxi: Whitstable, Margate, Broadstairs and Camber
Which beach for which day, what to do when you get there, and a fixed price for the whole car from south-east London.
Fixed prices from Bromley (Dartford is a little less)
| Journey | Saloon (sedan) (3) | Executive | MPV (6) | 9-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bromley → Whitstable | £101 | £149 | £133 | £166 |
| Bromley → Margate (Broadstairs similar) | £135 | £183 | £167 | £200 |
| Bromley → Brighton | £88 | £149 | £133 | £166 |
| Bromley → Camber Sands | £141 | £189 | £172 | £205 |
| Dartford → Whitstable | £87 | £135 | £118 | £151 |
| Dartford → Margate | £116 | £164 | £147 | £180 |
Weekday 09:00, one way, per car, VAT included, at the time of writing. Weekend prices are the same: no surge.
Whitstable and Herne Bay
Oysters and a pint at the Old Neptune with your feet in the shingle, the harbour market, the Crab & Winkle Way if anyone wants a walk. Whitstable is small and fills up by noon on a sunny Saturday; a 09:00 pickup from Bromley has you there for 10:15. Herne Bay, ten minutes east, has the pier, the bandstand and fewer people.
Margate and Broadstairs
Margate is the day for teenagers: Dreamland's rides and the vintage arcade, the Turner Contemporary, the old town's vintage shops, and the main sands. Broadstairs, ten minutes on, is Viking Bay, sandcastles, Morelli's ice cream and the Dickens connections: the better choice with under-tens. Do both in one day with a drop in Margate and a pickup in Broadstairs at 17:00.
Camber Sands and Brighton
Camber is the only proper dune beach in the south-east, 90 minutes from Bromley, with the car park at the sand; go on a weekday in term time and you have it to yourself. Brighton is an hour and a quarter down the M23: the Lanes, the pier, the Pavilion and the best fish and chips on the coast. Sunday evenings back up the A23; leave the beach before 16:00 or after 19:00.
When to go
- May, June, September: warm, quieter, parking easy.
- July and August weekends: leave by 09:00 or go midweek.
- Winter: Whitstable and Broadstairs are still good for a walk and lunch; Dreamland is closed midweek.
Questions
How long is Bromley to Whitstable by taxi?
About 60 to 70 minutes via the A2 and M2 on a weekday, 80 to 90 on a summer Saturday morning.
Can we bring a dog?
Yes in an MPV with notice; most Kent beaches allow dogs outside May to September, some all year.
Can the driver wait at the beach?
Yes by the hour, or book a return for a set time; there are car parks at every beach on this page.
Is there a night premium if we stay for dinner?
No. The fare is fixed at any hour.