If Botany Bay is the showpiece, Kingsgate Bay is the quiet one next door. A small sandy cove tucked into a gap in the chalk, reached down a flight of steps, with Kingsgate Castle looking down from the headland and a chalk arch at the southern end that catches every photographer who finds the place.
The bay and the castle
Kingsgate Bay sits a short walk south of Botany Bay, the next cove along the cliffs. It is smaller and more sheltered, and because it takes a little effort to reach it is usually far quieter than its neighbour even in high summer. The chalk arch at the south end of the beach is the landmark — you can walk through it at low tide.
Above the bay stands Kingsgate Castle, a folly built in the 1760s for Lord Holland, Henry Fox. It was never a real fortress; it was built as an ornament to the landscape, and today it is private residential apartments rather than an attraction. It is not open to the public, but it gives the bay its unmistakable backdrop.
Where it is and how to get there
The bay is off Kingsgate Avenue, a five-minute walk from Botany Bay Beach House. Access to the sand is down a flight of steps from the clifftop, close to a clifftop pub that does food and a pint with a wide view over the sea. There is limited street parking near the top; on foot it is an easy stroll along the clifftop from the house or from Botany Bay.
Tides and safety
A tidal cove — check before you go down
Kingsgate Bay is enclosed by chalk and gets cut off at high tide; the sand shrinks to nothing as the water rises. The arch and the walk round to Botany Bay are only possible around low tide. There is no lifeguard cover here, so keep an eye on the water and the time, stay clear of the cliff base, and do not get trapped on the wrong side of the arch on a rising tide.
Facilities
| Sand | Sheltered crescent of soft sand at low and mid tide |
|---|---|
| Lifeguards | None — take care, especially with children and the tide |
| Food and drink | A pub sits on the clifftop above |
| Parking | Limited street parking near the clifftop |
| Access | Steps down from the clifftop — not step-free |
Dogs
Kingsgate Bay is the most dog-friendly beach within easy reach of the house. Dogs are welcome all year round, and the only restriction is that they must be kept on a lead between 10am and 6pm from 1 May to 30 September. That makes it the obvious choice for a summer-daytime beach walk with a dog, when neighbouring Botany Bay and Joss Bay are closed to dogs in the middle of the day.
What it's good for
Quiet. The steps and the lack of a car park keep the crowds down. It is the place to come when Botany Bay is busy.
Photographs. The arch and the castle in one frame, best in soft morning or evening light at low tide.
Dog walks. The most relaxed summer-daytime dog rules of any beach nearby.
Nearby beaches
Kingsgate Bay questions
Can you take dogs to Kingsgate Bay?
Yes — dogs are welcome all year, and only need to be on a lead between 10am and 6pm from 1 May to 30 September. It is the most dog-friendly beach near the house in summer.
What is the castle above the bay?
Kingsgate Castle, a folly built in the 1760s for Lord Holland. It is now private apartments and not open to visitors, but it makes the bay's distinctive backdrop.
Is the bay cut off at high tide?
Yes. It is a small tidal cove and the sand disappears at high water. Visit on a low or falling tide, and do not get caught on the far side of the arch as the tide turns.