This beach is said to be one of the most underrated in Britain as tourists opt for more popular seaside town just two miles away. Botany Bay Beach in Broadstairs, Kent, is described as a “hidden gem” that offers stunning views across the Kent coast and famous white chalk cliffs.

The beach is home to rock pools perfect for exploring, as well as plenty of sand for families opting for a relaxing beach day.

And despite its somewhat remote location, there is a hotel that overlooks the beach, as well as a cafe and restaurant that provides food and drinks year round.

But the beach is often overlooked due to its close proximity to Margate – a popular seaside town home to a large sandy beach and numerous attractions. DfLs (down from Londoners) are known to flock to this little nook of east Kent as soon as the sun starts shining. 

The limited parking available can also put some people off, with mostly residential streets with ‘Permit Holders Only’ parking.

Palm Bay Avenue is home to around 200 free parking spaces, with a short cliff-top walk to Botany Bay Beach. It has also received the prestigious Blue Flag award for its cleanliness, ensuring the perfect family-friendly spot for a beachside getaway.

Travellers also rave about their visit, with one person on TripAdvisor calling it “superb”.

But it is important to note that the beach is home to a naturist section, though this is tucked away along the dunes. One person who visited in March wrote: “Beautiful beach and worth the drive. Impressive photo opportunities around the white stacks and dogs allowed. We were able to park outside the entrance to the beach and it was very easy to access.”

Beautiful beach and worth the drive. Impressive photo opportunities around the white stacks and dogs allowed. We were able to park outside the entrance to the beach and it was very easy to access.

Another who visited and stayed at the hotel overlooking the beach wrote: “It was worth paying a bit extra for the sea view and we were rewarded with a magnificent morning view from our room. Anyway the beach itself was much quieter than in summer. We took advantage of a rare sunny late autumn day and headed to the naturist beach area for a swim.

“The water’s surprisingly warm. I suspect it gets a lot colder as winter progresses but we lasted 15 minutes swim before returning shivering to the hotel for a much needed hot chocolate. Two nights away with change from £350, no kids and a skinny dip to boot.”

A third said: “Very beautiful and picturesque landscape. Lovely walk on the cliffs, nice area to have a picnic. Very sandy beach and clear waters. Stunning chalk stacks.”