British Beaches

Visitor information for every beach in the UK

"Ask me no more: the moon may draw the sea"

Minnis Bay

(Birchington Beach)

Kent, England


Rate this beach!
Approximate Location Map

Use two fingers to pan or zoom the map

Minnis Bay is a popular family-friendly beach located in the village of Birchington-on-Sea, in an area known as the Isle of Thanet, on the Kent Coast. .

Minnis Bay is a long sandy bay backed by grassland, farmland, and cliffs, making it a safe and popular destination for families. The beach offers a range of activities, including sailing, windsurfing, paddling, kayaking, and beach games. There is a sailing club and a zoned area for boats, windsurfers, and kite boarders.

The beach has a wide range of amenities, including free car parking, toilets, a children's play area, a picnic area, a kiosk for ice creams, and a cafe on the promenade. There are also opportunities for kite boarding lessons, seal watching trips, cycling routes, and coastal walks. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and ball games on the beach, and there is a paddling pool for youngsters. The beach is patrolled by RNLI Lifeguards during the summer.

Minnis Bay is located east of the Thames Estuary, facing the North Sea midway between Herne Bay and Margate. The area is served by an open-top bus in summer, and visitors can also bring bicycles and ride along the Viking Coastal Trail to Margate. The beach is almost flat and bordered by sand dunes, making it ideal for walking and sunbathing.

There are several options for food and drink at Minnis Bay, including the Minnis Bay Bar & Brasserie, which offers meals overlooking the seafront, and the Windshack Cafe, which serves snacks further along the beach.

Dogs are banned from the beach in summer, and beach wheelchairs are available for visitors with mobility needs. The beach has been listed as one of Britain's best beaches, and it is a great place to watch the sun set into the sea.

Minnis Bay is adjacent to the Kent Coastline Walk and the Viking Coastal Trail.

Bay Sand Rock

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 79%
Max temperature 17°C
feels like 18°C
Wind 24mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 57%
Min temperature 12°C
feels like 13°C
Wind 18mph

The tide at Minnis Bay is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 3:17 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 9:36 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near Minnis Bay

Things to do and see in the area

Quex Park and The Powell-Cotton Museum (1.6 miles)
Carlton Cinema (2.3 miles)
The RAF Manston History Museum (3.5 miles)
Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum (3.5 miles)
Reculver Towers and Roman Fort (4 miles)
Margate Museum (4.3 miles)
CTRL ALT ESC Technology Based Escape Rooms (4.6 miles)
The Escapement - Margate Escape Rooms (4.7 miles)
Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve (5.1 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Birchington, Margate

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: TR286696

Coordinates: 51°22'48"N 1°17'2"E

Mapcode: GBR VYJ.FGD

What 3 Words: hotels.rollover.copes

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

County: Kent

Country: England

Local Authority: Thanet

Parish: Birchington

Nearest postcode: CT7 9QR

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

(Or après-beach. Or pre-beach. Or, just because you might want stuff)

Visitor information for Minnis Bay, Kent, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

British Beaches is a Good Stuff website.

216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:15:57 +0100