- Herne Bay Pier (remains) is in Kent, England.
- Mostly demolished — pier head remains offshore
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Herne Bay Pier (remains)
Herne Bay Pier is a pier reduced to its shoreward stub and an isolated pier head standing offshore, a haunting relic of a once-grand Victorian pier. The shoreward end now hosts a sports centre and amusements, while the stranded pier head is visible at low tide.
The story of Herne Bay Pier (remains)
The original Herne Bay Pier was opened in 1832, designed by Thomas Telford and built by the Herne Bay Pier Company at 3,610 feet, making it the second-longest pier in England at the time after Southend. The pier was extended in 1899 with a pier head pavilion and theatre. The pier was sectioned during the Second World War, and in 1978 a violent storm destroyed the middle section, cutting off the pier head and leaving it stranded offshore. The shoreward stub was saved and a sports centre built on it, but the pier head has remained isolated and slowly deteriorating, visible only from the shore.
Visiting with care
The shoreward stub is open year-round with a sports centre, amusements and a café. The stranded pier head can be viewed from the seafront at low tide, and locals sometimes organise boat trips to view it from the water. Do not attempt to walk out to the pier head — the middle section is gone.
Interesting facts
- The original 1832 pier, designed by Thomas Telford, was 3,610 feet long.
- A 1978 storm destroyed the middle section, stranding the pier head offshore.
- The shoreward stub now houses a sports centre and amusements.
- The pier head remains visible at low tide, slowly deteriorating.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.