Road trip days out from London: east

Heading out to the A2 from Shooters Hill Road past the southern edges of Greenwich Park or meeting the A2 coming from north of the river via the Blackwall Tunnel, there’s no escaping the series of traffic lights. But fairly soon, the East Rochester Way becomes a dual carriageway, with Dartford and Gravesend between you and the Thames.

Before you cross the Medway, with Rochester way down below you, the A2 becomes the M2. From here, things speed along a little faster and to your right you get a chance to enjoy the leafier landscape of Kent opening up before you. After about 25 miles, leave the M2 and take the A299, heading towards the coast while the A2 itself turns down towards Canterbury.

The first place you reach of great note along the A299 is Seasalter. This tiny place is the setting on the marshes of the Michelin-starred Sportsman Pub. Book for lunch (noon to 2pm, Tuesday to Saturday) or make a reservation for dinner on your way back (7pm-9pm). Local oysters and fish feature on an excellent menu which always includes three meat and three fish mains, as well as a vegetarian dish, and, whilst the Michelin accolade is deserved, this place has no fancy pretensions.

The Sportsman, Faversham Road, Seasalter, Kent, CT5 4BP.

Back on the A299, continue east a short distance to Whitstable. Turning left when you follow signs down the hill into the fishing town, you hit the high street as you pass under the railway bridge.

For decades this has been a popular weekend retreat for boho Londoners, drawn by the oyster bars and the laidback not-quite-seaside charm, and these days, Harbour Street is crammed with little boutiques and gift shops selling arty, fashionable items with a London price tag. And yet the high street itself is down to earth. Pick up a few cuts of meat and a disposable barbecue set from the butchers shop and head to the pebble beach to cook your own lunch, or sample the celebrated Whitstable oysters from one of the many seafood stands.

You can wend your way along the coast to Margate via Herne Bay, but to make the most of your day, head for Margate via the bypass.

What you do in Margate is a matter of taste. That said, most art lovers we know who come to this old-school seaside town for the modern art gallery on Harbour Arm certainly wouldn’t turn their nose up at a ride on the rollercoaster in Dreamland and there’s definitely time to do the arty Margate and the touristy Margate in one day. JMW Turner was inspired by the light and the seascapes on this part of the Kent coast and spent a lot of time here. Named after the artist, this gallery, right on the seafront with a vast window looking out onto the water, presents many major exhibitions by contemporary artists. Free to visit, it’s a stunning space.

Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HG.

Linger longer and see where a stroll takes you. Just behind the gallery, the streets lead to the Old Town, with its warren of lanes full of old pubs and vintage stores. If you follow the road along to the beach, you’re in proper ice cream and sun block seaside territory – with Dreamland funfair and adventure park (recently reinvented and reopened) just behind you.

Take the A255 heading south again towards the A299, but before reaching the outskirts of town, turn left onto the B2052 and follow signs to Botany Bay. Nicknamed after the Australian bay because smugglers here often ended up being transported to the New World if they were caught, Botany Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches on this coast, complete with white chalk stacks standing tall on the sands.

From here, if you still have the energy, venture further around the coast to charming Broadstairs (great for cake shops and ice cream parlours), or head home via the A299 and the M2.