Your Guide To Sheppey: Where to Stay, Eat, Drink & Explore
The insideGUIDE to Sheppey
With scenic nature walks, award-winning beaches and fossil hunting adventures, Sheppey is home to a world of wilderness adventure and unrivalled exploration.
Across the river Swale, surrounded by natural landscapes and stretching across the Thames Estuary, the Isle of Sheppey has a wealth of wildlife and is steeped in rich history, with a number of cultural sites and award-winning beaches.
Dating back to the Neolithic period, through the centuries, the island has played a critical role, taking on Viking sieges and river pirates. Most notably, Sheppey was the birthplace of British aviation in the 20th-century, with an important role through both of the World Wars.
The island is now brimming with adventurous trails, historic sites and natural wonders, boasting a number of places to visit through the month of July, with trips both on land and across the water.
In the height of the summer, July offers a chance to explore the Isle of Sheppey at its finest, with an array of stunning beaches to enjoy a refreshing swim or escape the chaos and find peace in the natural landscape. WORDS BY EMILY STURGEON
“I feel lucky to live and work on Sheppey, having both the coast and the wildlife. Minster Beach is my favourite; it’s family-friendly and a short walk from Banks restaurant, which has a beautiful menu and views across the island. I work at Elmley Nature Reserve planning weddings and events in nature. Elmley is such a special place with big skies and incredible wildlife.”
Stephanie Kitching, weddings & events coordinator, Elmley Nature Reserve
TOP SHEPPEY PICKS
Top Heritage
A treasure trove of local history, visit a thousand-year-old gatehouse, Grade I listed and adjacent to the historic Minster Abbey. The museum displays local artefacts and fossils found on the island.
Top Beach
Minster Leas
An award-winning sandy and shingle beach, recognised for its calm and inviting atmosphere. With a wide promenade, it is a perfect setting for locals and visitors alike, offering a family-friendly appeal.
Top Ice Cream
A local’s favourite, this beachside café sits next to Laysdown Coastal Park, perfect for nature-lovers and tourists alike. With a wide menu, you can enjoy soft-scoop ice cream while taking in the coastal views.
SUMPTUOUS STAYS
Elmley Nature Reserve
Escape into nature at Elmley; with over three thousand acres of stunning wilderness, you can find pure relaxation in the Kingshill Farmhouse, a lovingly restored 17th-century farmhouse, sleeping up to 12 guests, perfect for families and friends.
Surrounded by open fields and wetland reserves, the five cottages located on The Harty Estate feel like a home from home. Take in the relaxing scenery of the natural landscape and enjoy a sense of escapism.
Sandy Toes Beach House
Canopy and Stars offer a cosy hideaway set on Shellbeach. The beach house is an off-grid accommodation, perfect to escape to for a few days, with a fully-equipped kitchen, two double bedrooms and a raised deck to relax and take in the sea views.
TOP ISLAND PUBS
The Flying Dutchman
An award-winning micropub, specialising in craft beers, real ale and high-quality wines. Alongside a wide selection of delicious food, with stone-baked pizzas, the pub is dog-friendly and perfect for a little tipple.
A charming local pub in Queensborough, known for its delicious standout dishes that are celebrated for their high quality and generous portion sizes, paired with a welcoming atmosphere and being dog-friendly.
Known as the oldest surviving public house found in the historic dockyard area of Bluetown in Sheerness. With a modern style that still leans into its nautical heritage, the pub has a rooftop terrace and a wide selection of lagers, ciders, wines and spirits.
TOP COFFEE BREAKS
Stones Garden Centre
Your go-to coffee spot, Bosuns, offers a wide selection of delicious cakes and barista coffee. With friendly service and only a short walk away from the River Swale, hosting a variety of wildlife.
A family-run garden centre, which specialises in boxus, topiary and tree ferns, with a newly built coffee shop, built within a barn house. It serves a range of speciality lunches, freshly ground coffee and a selection of moreish cakes.
The Coffee Lounge at Island Works
Near the dockyards of Sheerness, you will find the modern coworking space of Island Works. Found inside the famous Sheerness Dockyard Church, The Coffee Lounge is a public space open to all, with skilful baristas and freshly made sandwiches.
DIVINE DINING
Sul-Mare
Serving fresh, seasonal dishes with high-quality ingredients from Kentish suppliers. From gourmet burgers to fresh steaks, the open-plan kitchen offers an immersive experience, along with al fresco dining to take in the stunning views of the island.
West Street Tapas
Serving authentic Spanish tapas at Queenborough Harbour, with a wide selection of cold and hot dishes to be enjoyed with a selection of Spanish beers, ciders and wines.
Enjoy an authentic taste of Italy in Sheerness, set in a relaxed, refined dining experience. Indulge in a range of dishes made from high-quality ingredients, from pasta, pizzas, risottos and Milanese.
CULTURAL HOTSPOT
Jet Stream Tour Boat
Discover Sheppey’s role in the pioneering days of aviation, explore the birthplace of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and learn about the island’s vital role in WWII. With fascinating wartime stories and an array of historical artefacts to uncover.
Embark on a boat tour from Queensborough Harbour; choose from a variety of tour options, from an island tour and a Queenborough to Southend Day Trip to birdwatching cruises, or discover the remains of SS Richard Montgomery, with a wealth of hidden treasures off the coast of Sheerness.
OUT-DOORSY SPOTS
Bartons Point Coastal Park
Set across 40 acres of stunning parkland, discover salt-water lakes, water sports, bird watching and Sheppey’s Cycle Route. The park is perfect for a family day out, with an adventure playground and miniature steam railway.
Originally a recreation ground for the Royal Navy, the site has since developed into an 18-hole links-style course, suitable for all abilities. It proudly held the 2024 England Golf South East Seniors’ Championship, along with regular inter-county matches.
Backing onto the sea wall on the far side of Leysdown Beach, the open grass space is perfect for dog walkers, picnics and those seeking panoramic views of the North Atlantic Sea.
MUST-VISIT SPOTS
Brambledown Farm Shop
A family-run farm shop, selling an assortment of organic, fresh produce, ranging from vegetables and fruit to high-quality meats. Praised for their welcoming, friendly atmosphere and beloved resident cat, Brambles.
Seal Watching
At low tide, enjoy spotting seals across the Swale Estuary, with particular hotspots across the Swale National Nature Reserve. Observe common seals and occasionally Atlantic grey seals on the mudflats.
Run by dedicated volunteers since 1975, the theatre started as a small church in 1891. Later established as an entertainment centre, with regular events throughout the year, from quiz nights to tribute acts.
