Herne Bay

Herne Bay
Town
Herne Bay, seafront
Herne Bay is located in Kent
Herne Bay
Herne Bay
Location within Kent
Area10.79 km2 (4.17 sq mi)
Population38,563 (2011 Census)
• Density3,574/km2 (9,260/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTR177681
• London67mi
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHERNE BAY
Postcode districtCT6
Dialling code01227
PoliceKent
FireKent
AmbulanceSouth East Coast
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Kent
51°22′N 1°08′E / 51.37°N 1.13°E / 51.37; 1.13

Herne Bay /hɜːrn/ is a seaside town on the north coast of Kent in South East England. It is 6 miles (10 km) north of Canterbury and 4 miles (6 km) east of Whitstable. It neighbours the ancient villages of Herne and Reculver and is part of the City of Canterbury local government district, although it remains a separate town with countryside between it and Canterbury. Herne Bay's seafront is home to the world's first freestanding purpose-built Clock Tower, built in 1837. From the late Victorian period until 1978, the town had the second-longest pier in the United Kingdom.[1]

The town began as a small shipping community, receiving goods and passengers from London en route to Canterbury and Dover. The town rose to prominence as a seaside resort during the early 19th century after the building of a pleasure pier and promenade by a group of London investors, and reached its heyday in the late Victorian era. Its popularity as a holiday destination has declined over the past decades, due to the increase in foreign travel and to a lesser degree exposure to flooding that has prevented the town's redevelopment. In 2011 the town had a population of 38,563. 1

  1. ^ Herne Bay Pier Archived 4 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine at www.theheritagetrail.co.uk (accessed 7 July 2008)