Portal:Kent/Featured article/7

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Herne Bay is a seaside town on the north coast of Kent, with a population of around 35,000. It neighbours the ancient villages of Herne and Reculver and is part of the City of Canterbury district. It is 2 miles (3 km) east of Whitstable.

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 few decades due to the increase in foreign travel and the prevention of the town's redevelopment due to regular flooding. However, the recent renovation of the seafront, following improvements to sea defences, is expected to re-establish the town as a popular seaside resort.

Herne Bay's seafront is home to the world's first free-standing purpose-built clock tower, built in 1837, and until 1978, the town had the second-longest pier in the United Kingdom.