Herne Bay Pier — Attraction in Canterbury

First Pier (1832):

The story begins in 1830 when two London businessmen constructed a landing stage to connect to the shore. This pier extended far enough that even during low tide, passenger trips could dock at all times, making it convenient for visitors to this popular bathing resort.

Designed by Thomas Telford, the first wooden pier was an impressive 3,613 feet (1,101 meters) long12. It cost £50,000 (equivalent to £4.6 million in 2023) and was completed in 1832.

The pier featured a sail-powered car called Neptune’s Car, which ran the entire length, carrying passengers and baggage. When the wind was insufficient, pier employees physically pushed the trolley.

Unfortunately, the first pier faced challenges due to damage caused by the toredo worm and winter storms. London steamers ceased operating in 1862, leading to its eventual closure. In 1871, the pier was sold for scrap. Second Pier (1899):

The second pier, known as the Herne Bay Pavilion Pier, was constructed in 1899. It was a remarkable 3,787 feet (1,154 meters) long and served as a landing stage for passenger steamers.

Notably, this pier appeared in the opening sequence of Ken Russell’s first feature film, French Dressing.

Tragically, the second pier met its end during a storm in 1978 and was dismantled in 1980. Today, only a stub with a sports center remains at the landward end, while part of the landing stage remains isolated at sea!

Third Pier (Current Stub):

The remnants of the third pier stand as a testament to its storied past. Although no longer the grand structure it once was, it continues to evoke memories of Herne Bay’s maritime heritage.

The modern structure has also had a chequered past including a time when someone broke in to the newly created stalls and vandalised them and stole stock and cash!

Herne bay Pier is a must-see for any visitor in the area. There are some rides that are fun to take in and drinking and food huts that offer many options, it's difficult to pick one because they're all delicious! The atmosphere is really fun. There are huts filled with unique products for sale as well as seaside souvenirs. In the summer time, there are occasions when there is live music that is available to attend.

A charming Herne bay pier with everything for every person. A great place to go Crab Catching with your children! Plenty of reasonable restaurants that have something for everyone , and even amusement stand-ups. A charming traditional seaside town , with vibrant beach huts that line the shoreline, and some have distinctive designs.

One of the best things about Herne Bay Pier is its retail village. This village has an area for 30 small businesses that are operating their business at this beautiful pier. In this retail village, there are many stalls where you will find clothes, craftworks, paintings, household stuff, and jewellery. Also, the prices for the stuff at these stalls are pocket-friendly.

When I first visited in the 1980's there was a rollerskating rink on the pier!

VISIT DATE: SUN 26/10/2025 VISIT TIME: 12:00 - 13:00

Herne Bay Pier is a traditional seaside attraction, featuring a long promenade, huts along the enclosed, right-hand side housing stalls selling various trinkets and other lovely items, hot drinks and snacks. You can also get pizza, burgers, ice cream and even alcohol, with some establishments on the uncovered side.

There is a section you can fish off (lines and buckets for crabbing are available to hire) and, at the end of the pier, there are a number of amusements, including a classic carousel.

On the day we visited, as it was coming up to Halloween, there was a ghost hunt for children to participate in, which was to raise funds for the pier. For a small donation, you got a piece of paper ABs had to look round for the pictures of the ghosts which had been put up at various points along the pier. If you found them all, you got given a small gift bag containing sweets. This was great fun for my daughter and we successfully found all the ghosts, working as a team.

Unfortunately, we chose to visit on an incredibly cold day, with rain, so I didn’t enjoy the experience as much as I would have on a sunny day, but it was still nice to visit and the cold obviously doesn’t bother some people as we even saw people taking a swim next to the pier!

The pier is free to enter, is fully accessible, but the enclosed walkway can be a bit crowded at times.

Parking available in a number of places nearby, but as this is a busy town, check in advance about when and where you can park as restrictions apply during the week.

Be sure to check out the lovely bench just before the pier, which is a tribute to Andy Johnson, and also the fantastic “Telly-Go-Round”, to the right as you exit the pier.

Visited here at the end of May on a Sunday , come here about five times a year . As you drive down the road to the pier plenty of parking meters on the right hand side of the road . Just a bit further along you have a car park on the beach near the clock tower . This one is number plate recognition and you just put your details and pay in the way out. Plenty of lovely shops to visit on the pier in the stalls , a market stall just at the front normally sells fresh Kent strawberries or cherries on a Sunday . You have a little shop on the right that sells all the crabbing lines and bucket and spades. On the left of the pier you will find a lovely little place for ice creams and milkshakes and somewhere to sit and watch the world go by. You have a number of different stalls for food , fish and chips, Thai, burgers , wood fire oven pizza , fresh fish in a tub . Also at the end of the pier are a few fairground stalls and rides for small children. No fee to enter the pier and just a lovely atmosphere for all. Just as you exit the pier you have a few amusements for the children which is always fun and a small cafe in one of them that I have always had excellent service from and a great price for families . If you do visit you can also park down some side turnings a few roads back from the sea for free.