Beyond the historic town of Deal, with its award-winning High Street and three miles of seafront promenade, pier, paddling pool, band stand and castles are many attractions.

Amongst many broadsheet accolades, in 2014 The Times named Deal as one of the top 30 recommended weekend retreats. The Cinque Ports town was shortlisted for its two English Heritage castles, Kent’s first Conservation Area (Middle Street) and fine shops and restaurants and The Telegraph named Deal as High Street of the Year 2014 from a field of 500 entries.

Nearby is the medieval town of Sandwich and the beautiful and historic city of Canterbury.

Enjoy days out at the zoo or RSPB reserve and of course the wonderful Kent countryside. A day trip to France is only a 45 minute crossing away. Bring back fabulous cheese and wine to enjoy in the evening, and catch mackerel from Deal pier for the BBQ on the decking, overlooking the sea.

Eating and Shopping

There are numerous eateries to suit all tastes and budgets from traditional seafront fish ‘n’ chips, to family favourites and up market restaurants for a special celebration. If you don’t feel like cooking there are some excellent takeaways too.

Canterbury city centre offers the most varied shopping experience with all the high street brand names set within the historic city walls and overlooked by Canterbury Cathedral. Westwood Cross near Margate has free parking and a more contained and accessible shopping experience with an attached large cinema complex, and the Designer Outlet at Ashford offers discounted designer brands and boasts the largest living wall in Europe, cheap parking and changing places. Deal itself has a myriad of artisan shops selling everything from cheeses, original artwork to fashion and hosting a farmers market on Wednesdays and a larger Saturday market offering homemade pasties, pasta, breads and more.

What to do around Kent

Visiting Deal? Here are our suggestions to make your stay all the more enjoyable.

• Fishing from Deal pier or boat hire

• Walking; cliff walking, promenading, circular routes. Find out more here.

• Bird watching at Sandwich RSPB or Dungeness RSPB

• Golfing at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club (0.5 miles), Princes Golf Club (10 miles), Royal St George’s (8 miles) Kingsdown & Walmer Golf Club (5 miles) and others

• Seal watching, boat trips, rib tours and sailing from Dover and Ramsgate

• Day trip to France; with easy access to shopping in CitiEurope, Nausicca sea life centre Boulogne or the fashionable Le Touquet

• Zoos at Howletts, Port Lympe, Wingham Wildlife Park, Wildwood

• Castles at Deal, Walmer and Dover

• Canterbury Cathedral

• Leeds Castle, Maidstone

• Deal Regatta week last week of July including fun fair, carnival, fireworks, coastguard display

• Music on Deal bandstand on Sundays through the summer

• Walmer paddling pool

• Turner Gallery Margate

• Cycling along seafront at Deal, Reculver to Minnis, the Crab and Winkle Way Canterbury or Fowlmead cycling track (with bike hire). Accessible cycling with Wheelability Minnis Bay

• Visit the sandy Thanet Beaches hiring a beach buggy from Beach within Reach

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