Hastings, Whitstable or somewhere else?

[FridasUnibrow]

Hi, just looking for some advice on coastal towns in the SE.
I'm currently looking to book a week away in April. Having explored Cornwall, Devon and Dorset I'm looking for somewhere either in Kent or Sussex as it's an area we haven't yet been.
DH and I will have our 19 yr old son with us so we are looking for a town on the coast preferably with galleries (for me) boats/harbour (for DH) and bars (for DS) In the past we've really enjoyed holidays in St. Ives, Whitby and Swanage to give an idea of what we like.

If anyone knows this area it would be great to hear your thoughts...

Avoid folkestone and dover

Whitstable is beautiful....anywhere along that part of the coastline really...including Herne Bay

Hastings is awful, I live about 20 miles away and have worked there in the past. Tons of crime, drugs etc, not somewhere you would really want to be based.
Supposedly up and coming but I can't see it.
My favourite places are Swanage, Poole, Whitstable, Hithe.

Broadstairs/ramsgate and Margate.
Turner gallery in Margate for you, royal harbour in ramsgate for dh and bars aplenty in all 3 towns. Broadstairs is a great place to stay with fab restaurants and old fashioned ice cream parlours.

Dover castle a short drive away (30 mins) for a bit of history and Canterbury for the cathedral and shopping.

Broadstairs is lovely with Turner Contemporary in nearby Nargate.

Margate!

Hythe is lovely though!!

Oh yes....Hythe and Broadstairs....beautiful. Also Westgate. ...tho I haven't been for ages. Agree with a pp re Hastings

Whistable is lovely, you can have a trip to Canterbury too. Broadstairs also very nice with Turner in Margate as a bonus.

Thank you all for your insight on the area, it looks like Hastings is a no go then!
Loving the look of Whitstable so will look for a cottage there I think, plus Margate is close enough for a trip to visit the Turner Contemporary which has been on my to-do list for a while.

Whitstable- so lovely.

Try West Wittering/Chichester. Pallant gallery is good. Chichester Harbour has lots of boats from little fishing boats to smart yachts. Nice small ferries too.
Not Hastings.
Broadstairs is nice.
Whitstable is nice but small.

My friend stayed here and loved it.

www.ivanhoehouse.co.uk