Louisa Bay
Tucked away next to Viking Bay, Louisa Bay may be the smaller and less-frequented of the four main coves close to the town, but its ideal location provides a respite for locals and holiday-makers who wish to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the main sands without sacrificing facilities and amenities.
Despite the appeal of being semi-secluded, Louisa Bay Café provides a respite at the centre of the bay and boasts sea views over the coastline. Serving ice cream, coffee and a range of hot and cold food and drinks, there are also tables available and sun umbrellas are provided.
Toilets are available at Viking Bay, just a few minutes walk along the sea wall. There is also a tap next to the café for washing off sandy toes for the journey home.
Your first glimpse of this beach in Broadstairs could be via the slope found next to the Grand Mansions apartment building – a hotel until the 1950s and once home to a coach house, swimming pool and ballroom. Another way to have your first glimpse could be from the seawall as you walk around from Viking Bay. Replacing overgrown shrubbery, local volunteers have planted a sea of wild flowers to line the beds leading to the bay.
Glimpses of the water and a heady breeze of sea air mingle together as you approach the sands under the Louisa Gap Bridge, a replica overpass replacing the original wrought iron structure built by Victorian engineer Thomas Crampton – whose flint tower still stands opposite the Broadstairs railway station and now houses a volunteer-led museum, great for train-loving children with its traditional model sets.
