The quaint seaside town with huge beach, award-winning restaurants and fast trains from London
A SEASIDE town home to amazing restaurants and shops is one of the best places to live in the UK.
The Kent coastline is home to amazing holiday hotspots, such as Whitstable and Margate.
And another amazing town is Deal.
Back in 2022, The Times named it as one of the best places to live in the UK.
Stephen Wakeford, a co-ordinator for Deal With It, which oversees beach cleaning and litter picking, told the newspaper: “It’s all about people coming together to do good things, and have a good time in the process.
“Other communities have that, but it seems more focused here.”
Deal has since been used as the filming location for the ITV drama ‘Liar’.
The main attraction is the brutalist pier, home to the Deal Pier Kitchen at the end with amazing food as well as stunning views over the sea.
There is also Deal Castle and Walmer Castle, both built by Henry VIII and great to explore with families.
Some of the newest additions to the town include The Pelican, a restaurant run by the owners of The Rose Hotel, one of the most well-known hotels in town.
The on-site restaurant serves everything from breakfast to dinner, with highlights being crab doughnuts.
Last year, the new Acordo Lounge, a restaurant and bar, opened, taking the place of the closed-down M&Co.
And Updown Farmhouse restaurant was named as one of the best restaurants in the 2024 National Restaurant Awards.
Serving “rustic” dishes, the 17th century farmhouse also has on-site rooms.
Otherwise the high street is also award-winning, being named High Street of the Year back in 2013 by the Telegraph.
Full of independent sellers, this includes The Hoxton Store and Mileage for souvenirs, along with 123 High Street for gifts.
Dog lovers can try Barkened for animal treats and toys.
Make sure to visit on the weekend as well for Deal’s market which has been running for hundreds of years.
And you’ll find most locals with a pint at the King’s Head in the evenings.
It’s easy to get to as well, with the main train station in the middle of town.
High speed trains take around 1hr25 to London, with other trains to nearby towns including Dover, Ramsgate and Folkestone.
Deal could also soon be home to a huge new water attraction.
What is it like to visit Deal?
The Sun’s Kate Wickers previously visited Deal – here’s what she thought.
“Devoid of vast amusement arcades, for kids keen to push pennies into slots the bijoux Deal Arcade is a family-run gem and there’s also a small children’s pool and pitch and putt near Walmer Green, where during summer months concerts are given from the bandstand.
“The retro Deal Parlour evokes 1960s seaside fun with its knickerbocker glories and chocolate sundaes. For dogs, they even serve a canine ’99.
“For foodies, there’s acclaimed restaurants such as The Rose, 81, and The Dining Club, with Victuals & Co and Frog and Scot (a favourite for oysters, followed by steak frites) listed in the Michelin guide.
“Deal’s 313metre-long brutalist concrete pier, built in 1957, has a stark beauty.
“Stroll along it, past fishermen wearily throwing back dogfish, to The Deal Kitchen, perfect for summer evening sunsets and far-reaching views to France.”
The Seahive has revealed plans to open near Deal at Betteshanger Park.
Along with a huge surf lagoon – the first of its kind in the world – an 120-room hotel could also be included.