With its beautiful beaches and clifftop walks, culinary and music festivals, plus its links to the novels of Charles Dickens, Broadstairs is truly special

1. Stagecoach and rail

Crampton Tower housed the town’s first public water supply and was built by the famous Victorian engineer, Thomas Russell Crampton. Today it’s a museum where you can see an original stagecoach, six working model railway layouts, diagrams of his inventions and a gallery of images and information. This brilliant local man was the first to lay an effective telegraph cable under the channel. www.cramptontower.co.uk

2. Music and fun

Broadstairs annual Folk Week takes place between 6th and 13th August this year. Events are hosted in pubs and other venues all over town and this year there is also a new arena right next to the Broadstairs train station. Headline acts include George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Breabach, The Young’uns and many more. Camping is available and there will be a plethora of unique and exciting workshops that will be taking place during the week too. www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk

3. Baywatch

Viking Bay, below the Promenade, is the largest of the area’s seven bays and boasts a harbour and sailing club. Botany Bay has memorable chalk features and Joss Bay is loved by surfers (if you want to learn, there’s no better place than Joss Bay Surf School, right on the beach). Kingsgate Bay has some of best sea caves in the UK, Stone Bay is long and shallow, sandy Louisa Bay has a promenade and children’s activities, while Dumpton Gap is the most southerly of the bays with a low-tide walking route to Ramsgate.

4. Dickens’ inspiration

Dickens House Museum is where you can see the great writer’s personal items in the house that belonged to his friend Miss Mary Pearson Strong and was the inspiration for Betsy Trotwood’s home in David Copperfield. See Dickens memorabilia, such as his writing box, sideboard and letters, plus costumes, an authentic parlour and prints by Dickens’ principal illustrator, H K Browne. Gift shop for souvenirs.

5. Food and drink

There are some great local restaurants such as Please Sir!, Siam Kitchen, Aqua 43, Harpers Wine Bar and Restaurant and the Tartar Frigate. Good pubs to try include The Charles Dickens, Neptune's Hall and The Magnet.

6. St Peter’s Village

This ancient settlement housed the original seat of local government for the area and has some of the oldest buildings in Thanet. Grade II-listed St Peter’s church has a vast churchyard with the graves of famous local people and many of the dead from both World Wars; there are regular guided tours of this and of the village.

7. See a show

The Sarah Thorne Theatre Company inspired by the eponymous Victorian actress and theatre manager is a group that presents plays, music and theatre all year. Keep an eye out for their latest productions at www.sarahthornetheatre.co.uk

8. Greenery and scenery

Nuckells Gardens is a small Regency garden with an 1800s-style layout of flowers and shrubs; Balmoral Gardens has been a formal landscaped area since 1824. The town’s bandstand area, built in 1951, has concerts and firework displays and nearby is Chandos Gardens, with 1890s-style landscaping. Victoria Gardens has rustic paths, a pergola and an arbour.

9. On the streets

The Promenade fronts Broadstairs, below which is Viking Bay. The very steep High Street is at right angles to the coast road, turning into The Parade further along. Notable roads include Albion Street, with its welcoming little individual shops, and Harbour Street, with art galleries and a square of old cottages beside a wishing well, in addition to the famous York Gate.