You won’t find galleries as big or bougie as Margate’s Turner Contemporary or Deal’s Don’t Walk Walk, but there are plenty of places you can tap into the town’s creative community. Drop into the old-school, community-run Whitstable Museum and Gallery for a display on the late horror-film actor and local lad Peter Cushing, browse limited-edition prints in Chappell Contemporary or discover the work of up-and-coming local craftspeople in the community-run Fishslab Gallery. Keep your eyes peeled for street art, too; local artist Catman is behind the High Street depiction of the Queen on a hoverboard and a dedication to frontline workers on the side of Pilgrims Hospices charity shop.

Stretching 12km, this almost-traffic-free cycling route whisks riders between the oysters of Whitstable Harbour and the cloisters of nearby Canterbury, taking you through one of the Garden of England’s most delightful nature reserves and the popular Clowes Wood en route. Refuel with a farm-to-fork lunch at The Goods Shed food hall in the cathedral city before making your return journey. Prefer to stay on your feet? Opt for the Whitstable Coastal Trail and Oyster Walk to Faversham instead.

Held in July each year, the Whitstable Oyster Festival is the highlight of Kent’s calendar and an event that can be traced back to the 11th century, when locals blessed the waters and gave thanks for their bounty. Expect colourful processions, food fairs and oyster-eating competitions, as well as live music and performances from local entertainers. Don’t miss the building of the grotters on the beach – small domes of oyster shells illuminated by tealights.