The medieval English seaside town overlooked by its famous neighbours with seal colonies and fantastic restaurant scene
IT was just as the boat turned south out of the River Stour estuary that we got our first glimpse of them.
On the sandbanks of the salt channels were dozens of gluttonous seals stretching out in the spring sun, many of the females showing off their pregnant bellies.
Advertisement
4
Have fun on the Kent river
Credit: Alamy
4
A plush room at The Dog At Wingham
Credit: Supplied
We'd joined the River Runner seal cruise from the Quay in
There's loads of fun to be had, with herons, little egrets, kingfishers and oystercatchers to spot with binoculars on the journey down the channel.
It was just one of the highlights from our weekend in Sandwich, which is the most complete medieval town in Britain.
Just over an hour from London by train, this quaint coastal settlement is a hidden gem between the more popular tourist destinations of Margate and
Advertisement
Read More on Travel
Steeped in rich history, it was one of the five historic Cinque Ports. Alongside Hastings, New Romney, Hythe and Dover, these formed an alliance before the
We stopped by the Guildhall museum in the town centre, which is free to enter and is home to some of the town's most prized possessions, including the 'Sandwich gold silks' from the Coronation of King George II in 1727.
The 16th-century building tells the story of the town to the present day and highly informed tour guides from the Sandwich Local History Society can guide you through viewings of the Sandwich Magna Carta from 1300AD and other treasures dating back to the
Stepping outside the museum you'll find yourself in the market square where there are stalls selling freshly baked goods and local arts and crafts.
Advertisement
Most read in Beach holidays
From here you can wander down through a street of independent boutique shops selling clothes and homewares, to St Peter's Church, which is home to a bric-a-brac market full of pre-loved local books, ornaments and toys.
To get a higher view over the town, you can climb the church tower for a £5 donation (£4 for children) or just relax with coffee-and-walnut cake in the courtyard and listen to the bells ring.
I'm a foodie and you've been making a bacon sandwich all wrong
There's an abundance of activities to enjoy in the town itself, too.
We visited the Cat's Eye Carving on Market Street where we had a go at stone-carving with Jurassic limestone.
Advertisement
An class — hosted in the shop — involves a demonstration using traditional stonemasonry tools, before creating your own sculpture to take home.
Just outside the town you'll find Wingham Wildlife Park, which is Kent's fastest-growing zoo.
As well as seeing everything from red pandas to moon bears, you can enjoy one-on-one experiences with animals including giraffes, tigers and tortoises for an extra charge.
Seaside ambience
The village of Wingham, just six miles from Sandwich, was also where we stayed — at much-loved gastro pub The Dog At Wingham.
Advertisement
The eight bedrooms are all individually designed, with exposed brickwork and beams as well as all the modern comforts.
We tried the pub's new a-la- carte menu for spring, with dishes such as devilled crab sourdough, £14, salt-cod and potato fondant, £25, and Kentish lamb, £30.
The pub is very popular so it's recommended to book a spot for dinner.
The breakfasts were great, too, with huge portions to set you up for the day.
Advertisement
And the food in town was equally impressive.
We enjoyed smoked salmon and cream-cheese sandwiches in The Waiting Room cafe, a lovely spot in the centre of town.
4
A chillled ot seal on the beach
Credit: Alamy
4
Jess Wilson on board a boat for a ride
Credit: Supplied
Advertisement
But the highlight of the weekend was without a doubt dinner at The Toll Bridge Restaurant on The Quay.
This was the best restaurant in town, with a lovely seaside ambience and laidback vibe, while the food was Michelin-star quality.
We tried a selection of dishes on the menu including local Kentish mussels cooked in cream and white wine, scallops and homemade fish and chips.
The warm bread and whipped butter with whole roasted garlic bulb was also a highlight, as was the frozen hazelnut parfait with white chocolate wafer.
Advertisement
Top tip — turn up hungry.
GO: SANDWICH
STAYING THERE:
The Dog At Wingham has dinner, bed and breakfast stays from £100pp, per night.
See
OUT & ABOUT:
River Runner boat trips from £25pp, under-threes free (
Stone-carving session, £45pp.
See
Wingham Wildlife Park entry from £20pp.
See
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
English tidal lido right on the beach that you can only visit twice a day
ONE of the prettiest pools in the UK is near a popular seaside town - but you will have to time it well to jump in. Found in the historic fishing village in West Cornwall, Mousehole Rock Pool in Cornwall is open for 24 hours a day, but when you can swim in it depends on whether the tide is in or out. 4 The man-made tidal pool is on the edge of Mousehole in Cornwall Credit: Alamy 4 The pool is open 24 hours a day but is only suitable for swimming at certain times Credit: Alamy Mousehole Rock Pool is a tidal swim spot that you can only visit twice a day - because it's best to go in high tide. During high tide, the pool is exposed to the sea for a few hours on either side, making it accessible for swimming. The pool can drain with the falling tide and will become shallower. The tide varies throughout the year, but in summer, Mousehole usually has two high tides a day - in mid-morning and the evening. Read More on UK Lidos The best time to visit the tidal pool is just after high tide and you can check these with the 7-day tide forecast before going. Mousehole Rock Pool was built in 1969 for the local children to teach them how to swim, and has remained popular ever since. Anyone who ventures there will discover the stunning views across There's also the Rock Pool Cafe Mousehole which has reopened after winter break. Most read in News Travel It's situated above the Mousehole Rock Pool cafe so you can take in the views over the bay. The pool recently went under repairs to plug a leak as it wasn't holding water during low tide. The secret UK beach without the crowds – it has a free sauna and the largest tidal pool in the country 4 Mousehole is a charming village in Cornwall Credit: Alamy The repairs were spearheaded by the Friends of Mousehole Rock Pool. Volunteers with the support of local businesses have already emptied the community pool The first phase of the repair work had been due to start in March 2021 but was delayed. It took place on July 10, 2022 with a second repair day was also held later that year to repair the rock pool and again in 2023. More work is needed to maintain the pool as the plans going forward are to restore the access area for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The village of Mousehole, just less than three miles south of However during the winter, Mousehole is considered one of the most magical place to visit because of its Its annual Christmas lights adorn the harbour, usually from mid December. But there's not just a couple of lights - there's an estimated 7,000 bulbs that light up every evening and around 30,000 tourists head down to the coast to see them each year. And more Plus, 4 The tidal pool in Mousehole fills up during high tide Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
I ditched the UK to live on a cheap island with my kids – I was sick of splashing cash on nursery fees and bills
A MUM has shared how she ditched the UK for sunny Thailand with her kids and husband. Lauren took to social media and shared why she left England and has no regrets in 3 Lauren left the UK and swapped it for sunny Thailand Credit: 3 Now they spend their days island hopping and relaxing by the beach Credit: The mum-of-two revealed that she and her family decided the cost of living and their busy schedule was too much. Instead of putting up with it, they sold their house and bought a one-way ticket to Thailand for a new life. She said: "We didn't leave because we hated the UK. "We left because life started to feel like one long checklist we didn't remember choosing. Wake up. Rush. Work. Nursery. School. Bills. Repeat. READ MORE REAL LIFE STORIES "We wanted more presence, more connection, more sunsets and slow mornings. "So we sold almost everything, booked a one-way ticket, and figured it out as we went. "It's not perfect, but it's ours, and we've never felt more free." Lauren often shared her new life in Thailand on social media and recently shared one of their favourite breakfasts while they stayed in Koh Samui. Most read in Fabulous She headed to one of her favourite food vendors and ordered fried chicken and sticky rice before getting some Thai milk tea. The mum even said that she thought the iced tea was better than English Breakfast tea. 3 The stunning island is perfect for families Credit: Alamy Gobsmacked shoppers watch on as hungry elephant raids Thai store and leaves with trunk full of snacks The mum added: "Hands down they are better than an English breakfast tea. They're sweet, they're icy. They do give you that little tea fix." She said the next step to the perfect breakfast was to locate the nearest beach. "The beach closest to our house here is Chong Mon. And if you are coming to Koh Samui, even just on holiday, I really recommend this area," Lauren said. "It's kind of like a mix between touristy but not too touristy. Moving house hacks 1. Declutter Before You Pack Sort through your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer need. Donate, sell, or recycle items to lighten your load. 2. Create an Inventory Make a list of all your items. This helps keep track of everything and ensures nothing gets lost in the move. 3. Use Quality Packing Materials Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing tape. This will protect your belongings during the move. 4. Label Everything Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking much easier and more organized. 5. Pack a 'First Day' Box Include essentials like toiletries, a change of clothes, snacks, and important documents. This will keep you from rummaging through boxes on your first day. 6. Take Photos of Electronics Setup Before unplugging your electronics, take photos of the wiring setup. This will make it easier to reconnect everything at your new place. 7. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items Pack books and other heavy items in rolling suitcases. This makes them easier to transport and reduces the risk of injury. 8. Colour-Code Your Boxes Use different coloured stickers or markers for each room. This will help movers quickly identify where each box should go in your new home. "The beach here is so good for kids because the water is really shallow." Finally, she and her family sat down on the beach to enjoy their breakfast with a stunning view. The clip went viral on her TikTok account @ People were quick to take to the comments in awe of Lauren's new life. One person wrote: "Living the dream, I would swap my builders' tea in England for yours any day of the week." Another commented: 'I have been following for a while just wanted to say that because of you and your TikTok my future with my kids will look the same!" "I haven't seen your posts for ages, glad you're still enjoying your new life," penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Brekkie on the "Love watching your adventures! We are coming to to Thailand in August and can't wait,' claimed a fifth. Someone else added: 'Such an inspiration."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Pretty European city most Brits won't have heard of gets new cheap flights from the UK
WIZZ Air has unveiled a new route between Birmingham and a pretty European city lots of Bris will have never have heard of. Sibiu is located in central Romania, and is known for its Germanic architecture . 3 Sibiu is located in central Romania Credit: Alamy 3 The city is known for its history and architecture Credit: Alamy Now, Wizz Air will be connecting the city with Birmingham, from October this year. The flights will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays from October 28, with fares starting from £17.99. The flight would take just over three hours. Sibiu has a wealth of different places to explore. Read more on Europe History is evident throughout the city, with remains of medieval walls and towers present, including the 13th-century Council Tower. In the upper town, there is also the Brukenthal Palace - which now houses the Brukenthal National Museum and is full of European paintings. For those who find churches fascinating, then the nearby Evangelical Cathedral is a must with gravestones in its walls. Just outside of the city, is also the Dumbrava Sibiului Natural Park. Most read in News Travel The parkland area stretches over 960 hectares and it is an oak forest with a plethora of wildlife including deer, porcupines and foxes. A beer costs around 11 lei, which is about £1.83 - so relatively cheap. Watch incredible Romania town And the average coffee costs 12.20 lei, which is around £2.03. Food is also cheap, with a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costing £29.12 on average. Olivia Harangozó of Wizz Air said: "We are excited to add this new route to our operations from Birmingham. "Sibiu is one of Europe's hidden gems, and we are delighted to give Brits more opportunities to visit this city and experience its – and Romania's – rich history and vibrant culture." All flights will be operated using the latest-generation Airbus A321neo aircraft. WizzAir also recently announced a new route between Birmingham and Rome, Italy, which is due to commence service on June 16. The flights will operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. One woman Plus, the 3 The city is also relatively cheap Credit: Alamy
