Dog-Friendly Beaches in Kent 2026

While much of Kent’s coastline welcomes four-legged visitors, summer restrictions mean not every beach is open to dogs year-round. Many beaches limit dog access between 1st May and 30th September, so knowing where to go makes all the difference. This guide highlights the best dog-friendly spots in Kent – with details on year-round access, seasonal restrictions, and outright bans. Find the best dog-friendly beaches in Kent – all year round, and discover seasonal rules.

It’s All About Dogs With See Kent!

 Also, see our Beaches & Dogs Safety in Kent for tips. Check out our Dogs & Fireworks – How To Keep Pets Calm feature for those fur babies who don’t like the sounds, sights and smells of fireworks and loud noises. By Wendy Copping

Dog Friendly Beaches – All Year Round

🐕 Allowed All Year 

BROADSTAIRS
Dumpton Gap – a popular dog-friendly beach in Kent, with a seasonal cafe and facilities, where dogs are allowed all year, off lead. 
Kingsgate Bay – walk down the many steps to this quiet beach that allows dogs all year round. No facilities.

MARGATE
Palm Bay – with its tidal pool, this sandy beach is accessible by two steep slopes.
Sacketts Gap – just along from Palm Bay.
Fulsom Rock – just before you head towards the harbour arm, and the beach is visible at low tide only.

RAMSGATE
Western Undercliff – situated next to the Port of Ramsgate, and is very popular all year round with locals. The lower half of the beach is rocky with a chalk reef that extends towards Pegwell Bay, but sandy beaches are nearer the port side. It is sectioned with access via steps or a slope. Access to the lower promenade is via the Royal Harbour Approach Road for free parking along the beach (but very busy in peak season), and there are several sloped walkways from the top of the promenade to the lower promenade. Or a wide set of steps at the top of the cliff accessed from Screaming Alley.
Eastcliff – a smaller beach just along from the main sands, this sandy beach with rock pools is a popular tidal bay accessible by walking down the slope or steps from the clifftop. Pay and display parking by the beach, some free parking and pay and display available on the cliff top, but very busy in peak season

BIRCHINGTON
Minnis Bay Northern Seawall – allows dogs all year round, as do Epple Bay and Grenham Bay.

SANDWICH BAY
The bay is a dog-friendly beach in Kent; however, please note that they are not allowed on the mudflats and salt marshes. Also, dogs must be kept on a lead on the Princes Bay Golf Course Dunes Path. Sandwich Bay is a private beach; admission charges apply.

DEAL & DOVER 
Shakespeare Beach – a shingle beach that is a little-known gem popular with swimmers, with the shortest distance between the UK and France. You can walk down the western side of the port near Dover Marina to the beach, or for more of a workout, there are more than 100 steps down to the beach, so a good workout for you and your pooch!
Shakespeare Cliff Beach – just along from Shakespeare Beach, this beach has deep rock pools, accessible at low tide, and is another doggy delight of a beach.

WALMER BEACH
This shingle beach, just along from Deal, is another dog-friendly beach in Kent. It is a wide expanse with Walmer Castle as its backdrop. It has some great views and is fairly secluded, so plenty of space for them to run after their ball.

FOLKESTONE
The sandy beach to the right of Sunny Sands by the harbour and the pebble beach to the right of the Harbour Arm are dog-friendly all year long. Take the zig-zag path to the secluded Warren Beach. According to Folkelife, from Wear Bay Road, you can access walks from just below The Pavilion. To get to The Warren from the top of the cliff, paths lead down through the 350 metre-high cliffs to the seafront. The walk down to the beach will take you through the cliff habitat, with stunning views.

DUNGENESS BEACH
A firm favourite with See Kent’s editor and their pooch Archer. This shingle beach is so atmospheric, with accessible planks in places for easier access. It is a day for great views and sights, including the Dungeness nuclear power station and two lighthouses; one of which you can visit, Dungeness Lighthouse. With its unique desert habitat, coastguards’ cottages and repurposed 19th-Century railway carriages, the buildings are dotted around. You can also see Prospect Cottage, once owned by filmmaker Derek Jarman; his famous garden is open for guided tours of Prospect Cottage, though booking in advance is essential.

WHITSTABLE & HERNE BAY
Reculver Beach – near Herne Bay, is a shingle beach with the stunning backdrop of the Reculver Towers. Wooden groynes separate it and are along the Saxon Shore Way, with a promenade.
Herne Bay Beach – shingle beach near the pier in parts; however, from Herne Bay pier heading west to Lane End, dogs are not allowed on the beach and must be kept on a lead on the promenade.
Tankerton Beach – long stretches for great walks, though level with Pier Avenue West to The Street, dogs are not allowed on the beach and must be kept on a lead on the promenade.
Whitstable’s West Beach – shingle beach between Whitstable town centre and neighbouring Seasalter. Divided by wooden groynes, this is a picturesque stretch, home to the town’s iconic oyster farms.
Hampton Pier West Beach – near Herne Bay Pier, this shingle beach is the main dog-friendly beach for the town and has a promenade with a pay and display car park nearby.
Seasalter Beach – along from Whitstable heading towards Faversham, is a gem of a dog-friendly beach in Kent.

ISLE OF SHEPPEY
Minster Shingle Bank Beach– raised shingle area offers great views across the Estuary, and is popular for water sports.

MEDWAY
The Isle of Grain Beach – you can see the fort in the water, which is a fascinating local treasure that looks out on the Thames and the North Sea as it is on the confluence of the rivers Medway and Thames.

🚫🐕

DOG RESTRICTIONS

Dogs Allowed, But Must Be Kept On A Lead

FOLKESTONE & HYTHE 
Mermaids Beach, Folkestone – opposite the Lower Leas Coastal Park, ideal for a swim, sunbathing and picnics, though take your flip-flops as this is a pebble beach.
Sandgate/Seabrook – Sandgate Castle to Seabrook BP Garage.
DOVER
Dover Seafront – dogs are to be kept on leads all year round on the promenade and grassed areas, including Marine Parade and Granville Gardens, from the junction at Union Street roundabout to the roundabout at Jubilee Way, off the A20.

Dogs Allowed, But On Leads During Restricted Hours

From the 1st of May to the 30th of September, dogs must be kept on a lead between 10am and 6pm

THANET
The very popular Louisa Bay, Broadstairs, is a sandy beach next to the main Broadstairs beach, Viking Bay, with a seasonal cafe.
Walpole Bay, Margate, with its rock pool, is another favourite for dog owners. This sandy beach is popular for dog walkers all year round.
Westbrook Bay, Margate, is a designated water ski area and a popular beach with locals.
DEAL
Deal Beach – dogs on leads are permitted on the pier and the promenade between Deal Castle & Sandown Castle all year round, but not on the beach from Deal Castle to Sandown Castle from 1st May to 30th September between 9am and 6pm.

Dogs Not Allowed During Restricted Hours

Dogs are not allowed on the beach from the 1st of May to the 30th of September between 10am and 6pm

THANET
Botany Bay, Broadstairs, sandy, unspoilt bay with white chalk stacks and cliffs surrounding it and is accessible via either steps or a steep slope.
Joss Bay, Broadstairs, is described as a surfer’s paradise, so great for those board-surfing pooches! Lots of exposed sand when the tide is in, but take care walking, as the beach will get cut off at both ends at high tide.
Stone Bay, Broadstairs, is a quieter beach that is popular with families and good for a quieter location.
West Bay, Westgate, is a tidal bay with rock pools.
St Mildred’s Bay, Westgate, is a sandy bay with a promenade and tidal pool. A small amount of beach remains at high tide, except on spring tides when completely covered.

No Dogs Allowed During the Summer Season

From the 1st of May to the 30th of September – NO dogs allowed at any time

THANET
Ramsgate Main Sands – banned
Viking Bay, Broadstairs – banned
Margate Main Sands – banned
Minnis Bay – banned
SANDWICH
Pegwell Bay & mudflats & saltmarsh – banned
FOLKESTONE & HYTHE 
Sandgate – on certain stretches, dogs are restricted
Hythe Beach – banned from Twiss Road to St. Leonard’s Road
Dymchurch Beach – banned from Sycamore Gardens to Martello Car Park
St Mary’s Bay – banned from the Fairway to the river outfall
Greatstone Beach – banned from the Jolly Fisherman car park through to 17 The Parade and 114 The Parade through to 172 The Parade.
WHITSTABLE & HERNE BAY
Herne Bay Central – from Herne Bay pier heading west to Lane End, dogs are not allowed on the beach and must be kept on a lead on the promenade.
Tankerton Beach, Whitstable – level with Pier Avenue West to The Street, dogs are not allowed on the beach and must be kept on a lead on the promenade.
ISLE OF SHEPPEY
Sheerness – not allowed on the beach from an imaginary line at 90 degrees from the centre point of the headland Jacobs Bank (adjacent to Beach Street Car Park) eastward to an imaginary line at 90 degrees from the west side of the steps leading over the sea wall immediately to the east of Sheerness Swimming Pool.
Minster Leas – not allowed on the beach from an imaginary line at 90 degrees from the east side of the Lifeguard Station on the seafront opposite the Playa Public House eastwards to an imaginary line at 90 degrees from the west side of the vehicle ramp leading to the beach, opposite the Little Oyster Café, 4 Sea Side Avenue.
Leysdown on Sea – not allowed on the beach from an imaginary line at 90 degrees from Stokes Amusements, eastwards to an imaginary line at 90 degrees from the west of the beach steps opposite the small roundabout at the seaward end of The Promenade Road.

KEEP DOGS SAVE

Dog owners are responsible for their dogs at all times. Please clean up after your fur babies, and yourselves, and check the weather and tides to keep the beach safe – check out our Beaches & Dogs Safety in Kent for top tips.

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Picture Credit: Top to bottom Anastasiya Badun at unsplash.com and See Kent.

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