The seaside town of Broadstairs and the adjoining village of St. Peter's sit on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, facing the North Sea. It’s famed for sheltered sandy bays such as Viking Bay, white chalk cliffs and the headland at North Foreland, which together make for compact, picturesque coastline popular with swimmers, sailors and walkers.
Once a fishing and smuggling community, the area has strong literary links - Charles Dickens stayed at what is known locally as Bleak House - and today tourism, hospitality and local retail (including the nearby Westwood Cross) drive the economy alongside a substantial commuter and retirement population; the town also keeps a lively cultural calendar with the Broadstairs Folk Week, Dickens-themed events, small galleries and a convivial seaside social scene.