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10 reasons to visit the Borough of Swale

Swale has so much to offer to visitors, from 'Blue Flag' (2022) award-winning beaches on the Isle of Sheppey, to the busy historic market towns of Faversham, Sheerness and Sittingbourne. We have produced a list of 10 reasons why a visit to Swale is a must for everyone...

1. Award Winning Beaches

Swale is home to four beautiful beaches (Sheerness and Minster holding the coveted Blue Flag Award and Leysdown the Seaside Award)that offer a touch of traditional seaside charm! They cannot only be enjoyed for bathing during the Summer months, but throughout the Winter season they guarantee the most stunning scenery, making them a perfect walking route all year round!

2. Homes and Gardens

Swale has a wealth of beautiful homes and stunning picturesque gardens for you to leisurely explore. With a variety of options from ten acre gardens and woodlands walks to a neo-classical house and extensive clock museum, the Home and Gardens in Swale are not to missed.

3. Experience Swale 

The bustling towns of Faversham, Sheppey and Sittingbourne feature a number of nationally famous attractions and give the Borough its unique character and charm. From Theatres and Cinemas to Nature Reserves and Country Parks, Swale has something to experience for everyone! 

4. Outstanding Countryside

Swale is part of the 'Garden of England' where you can experience a variety of landscapes supporting a rich abundance of wildlife. The Borough's stunning countryside has so much to offer from local produce and rural attractions to country parks and many special landscapes to explore.

5. Great Food and Drink

Across Swale, you are able to enjoy locally produced food at a range of eateries. There are a variety of traditional pubs, including England's oldest brewery, plenty of coffee shops offering delicious afternoon tea, and a whole host of restaurants serving international cuisine!

6. Step Back in Time

Swale really is a hidden treasure and is home to significant maritime and aviation history together with a trail of historic churches and buildings. There are plenty of museums and heritage attractions to be explored as well as bookable guided walks in each of the three towns.

7. Birdwatching on Breath-taking Marshlands

Swale is home to some of the most popular bird watching reserves in the southeast including Oare Marshes Nature Reserve and Elmley National Nature Reserve. Both offer an abundance of wildlife and are the perfect opportunity to simply relax in the magnificent scenery. 

 

8. Healthy and Active in Swale 

Swale's natural landscape provides us with plenty of  opportunities to spend time outdoors. Be it exploring our beaches, having a family day out at a local park or taking advantage of our cycling and walking routes, you are definitely able to enjoy staying health and active in our Borough! 

9. Market Days and Shopping

Swale's town centres and High Streets all offer a great range of local stores as well as top retailers. You will also find plenty of traditional street markets along with a number of specialist markets too offering exciting shopping destinations, and many of our villages have lovely farm shops which sell a range of local produce.  Look out for details of special events too in and around our town centres!

10. Join us

Swale has excellent connections to London St Pancras as well as from Faversham and Sittingbourne to the rest of Kent. It also has impressive links to Europe via the ferry or Channel Tunnel. The Borough is just an hour from London and within easy reach of many of the counties regional attractions via the A2, A249, M2 and M20 road links.

The official tourism website for the Swale area North Kent.