Seasalter Tourist Information

The village of Seasalter can be found on the north coast of Kent, facing the Isle of Sheppey across the mouth of the River Swale. It is located five miles north of historic Canterbury, between Whitstable and Faversham.

Seasalter, as it name implies, was an important centre for the production of salt as far back as the Iron Age and it was raided by Vikings due to its prosperity. By 1086 it was recorded in the Domesday Book as belonging to the “kitchen of the Archbishop” of Canterbury.

A Saxon church once stood beyond the site of the Blue Anchor pub but it was washed away, along with a huge chunk of the coastline, in the great storm of 1099. A replacement church was built on higher ground in the 12th century and was dedicated to St Alphege in memory of the 11th century Archbishop of Canterbury. It can still be visited. A larger church was built on the High Street in 1844 as the town expanded, also dedicated to St Alphege.

At the western end of the village on the Faversham Road the Sportsman pub is like a welcoming lighthouse as visitors approach across the flat marshes. There has been an inn there since 1642.

The pub has an interesting history and was used as a billet for the London Irish Rifles First Battalion during World War II. They engaged the crew of a German airplane which crashed in 1940. The Battle on Graveney Marsh became the last military conflict involving a foreign enemy to take place on British soil.

The London Irish Rifles Regimental Association marked the 70th anniversary of the event in 2010 by unveiling a plaque which can be seen on the walls of the pub.

Present Day Seasalter

Seasalter has developed as a pleasant residential town of just under 7,000 residents. It has a pebble beach and a flat landscape with narrow lanes crossing the Seasalter Levels and marshes in the surrounding area.

The village has some local shops and amenities, including the aforementioned Sportsman pub. Now well-known for its excellent cuisine, the pub's restaurant is Michelin star rated.

In particular the village is known for its superb oysters. Whitstable's Oyster Fishery still supplies local businesses with prime oysters from the oyster beds which lie about one mile offshore and are visible at low tide.

Things to do in Seasalter

Seasalter has a Sailing Club with a clubhouse which hosts many races of catamarans on the Swale River Estuary. There is also a Water Ski Club with a launch to take advantage of the town's coastal location.

The nearby sandy beaches at Westgate-on-Sea are popular with families for sunbathing, swimming and typical beach activities.

There is a railway which passes through Seasalter but currently the nearest railway station is at Whitstable. However there are plenty of buses which stop in the village en route to Whitstable, Faversham and Canterbury making it easy to explore the area even without a car.

Seasalter has a number of famous residents including Harry Hill and Janet Street-Porter who have holiday homes in the village. The late actor Peter Cushing, who played Baron Frankenstein in Hammer films, lived in Joy Lane.