Why Deal?

• The food scene is genuinely exceptional for a town this size.  Between the varied independant offering they cover every occasion from a morning coffee to a special occasion dinner.
• The beach runs the full length of the town’s seafront and beyond — wide, open and entirely without the commercial clutter of busier resorts. Deal beach is the kind of place where you find a spot with a windbreak and a picnic and stay considerably longer than you planned.
• The history is woven into every street. Deal Castle  sits at the southern end of the seafront. The Timeball Tower tells the story of Deal’s maritime past. The Georgian architecture along the seafront is among the finest on the Kent coast.
• The walks start from the front door. North to Sandwich along the Saxon Shore Way. South through Walmer to Kingsdown and the clifftops. Every direction offers something worth walking to.
• The Saturday market brings the town together every week with stalls that reminds you Kent is still the Garden of England.

A Forelands Day in Deal:  The way we’d spend it:

Every Foreland Cottages guest receives a list of our tried and tested local loves near their property,  so you can find your own version.  In the meantime, this is our suggestion:

• Early morning: Walk to the beach before the town wakes up. The light at that hour is worth getting up for.
• Mid-morning:  Coffee at Middle Street Coffee or Hut 55 on Walmer beach if the sun is out.
• Late morning: Wander the high street and old lanes. Browse Filbert’s Deli for provisions. Find something in one of the boutiques you didn’t know you needed.
• Lunch:  Deal Pier Kitchen for wonderful food with a sea view
• Afternoon:  Back to the cottage. A book, the garden, a game of something. The coast teaches you to slow down.
• Evening:  Dinner at The Rose or 81 Beach Street. A glass at Le Pinardier afterwards. Walk home along the seafront.

find out more

On the map

Deal sits at the heart of the Foreland Cottages coastline. From here you can easily reach:

• Walmer → — a short walk south, with the castle gardens, the green and Hut 55 on the beach
• Kingsdown → — a 4-mile coastal walk or short drive, with the wildflowers and the Zetland Arms
• Sandwich Bay → — a short drive north, with private dunes, the nature reserve and Royal St George’s
• St Margaret’s Bay → — a 15-minute drive, with the White Cliffs, the lighthouse and The Coastguard

FAQs

How far is Deal from London?
Direct trains from London St Pancras reach Deal in around 90 minutes on the fastest Southeastern services. By car it’s approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic.

What is Deal beach like?
Deal has a long pebble beach running the full length of the town seafront. It’s open, clean and uncrowded by the standards of most Kent resorts. Dogs are welcome year-round. The beach shelves fairly steeply so sea shoes are recommended for swimming.

Is Deal good for families?
Excellent. The beach, the coastal path, Betteshanger Park, Felderland Farm and Deal’s independent high street all make it a genuinely good family destination. Several of our Deal cottages are well suited to families.

Is there parking in Deal?
Yes — Deal has several car parks and on-street parking within easy reach of the town centre. Saturday mornings can be busy due to the market. Download the Ringo app before you travel for easy parking payment.

Can I walk from Deal to nearby villages?
Absolutely. The coastal path south to Walmer and Kingsdown is flat and beautiful — about 4 miles to Kingsdown. The Saxon Shore Way north to Sandwich is 6.3 miles. Both are among the best coastal walks on the Kent coast.