Address: Central Parade, Herne Bay CT6 5JN
Location
Located on the north coast of Kent, Herne Bay is a seaside town situated 6 miles north of Canterbury and 4 miles east of Whitstable.
Herne Bay Pier is free to enter, and offers lots of attractions for visitors of all ages. The Pier opens daily from 8.00 am, and the small shops open at 11.00 am.
Fishing and crab fishing are popular on the pier, and it's free of charge.
History
Herne Bay Pier has gone through many changes since its construction in 1832. The first pier was 1,101 meters in length and was accessed by boat. A sail trolley running on tracks, powered by the wind or manpower when the conditions were not right, ran the length of the pier from the 13th of June 1833, carrying passengers and baggage.
It was followed in 1861 by the railway station, which aided the town's growth into a holiday resort.
The first pier was taken down in 1871 due to fewer people arriving on paddle steam boats, and deterioration from shipworm.
The second pier was constructed in 1873. This pier was made of metal, and at a length of 100 metres was a lot shorter than the original. Although the new pier owners built a wooden theatre, shops, toilets, and ticket office across its entrance in June 1884 it made no money.
In 1891, the owners were granted the right to construct a deep-sea pier. It was completed in 1899, and at 1,154 metres, was the second longest in England. In the first year, the tram fares made £488. The pier was used by paddle steamers until 1963.
Storms from 1978 and 1979 caused the collapse of the central portion of the pier, and its remains were dismantled in 1980. The old pier head can still be seen today, but there are concerns about its strength and the risk of collapse.
What's there?
At Herne Pier, you will find:
Fairground rides and games
Small independent shops
Entertainment stage
Food huts
Parking
There are numerous pay-and-display roadside parking spaces available along Central Parade.
There are 12 disabled parking spaces along the Central Parade in between the pier and clock tower.
Parking is free for blue badge holders.
Neptune car park
Located 500 meters from the pier, the Neptune car park is large and also offers five spaces for overnight motorhome parking. The car park has barriers, and you play when you leave.
There are 6 disabled parking bays.
Prices:
1 hour: £2.70
Maximum fee, all day: £25.00
Overnight: £2.00 (in after 21:00 out by 07:30)
You can sign up online for automatic payments, and there are 2 hours free for blue badge holders. Click Here for more info.
Accessibility
The distance from the roadside parking to the pier ranges from 50 metres, to 500 metres at the furthest point. During off-seasons, I have always been able to park less than 200 metres from the pier.
Herne Bay is ideal for visitors who struggle to walk long distances, with plenty of benches along the seaside paths and on the pier.
The paths are smooth and level, making them accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
There are public toilets located just over 100 metres west of the pier.
Conclusion
Overall, Herne Bay Pier is accessible, and has something to offer, for visitors of all ages and abilities. There are also weekly events held at the stage to the end of the pier.
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