Tides
Whitstable tide times
High and low water off Whitstable for today and the next two days, worked out live each time the page opens, with the sea temperature, sunrise and sunset, and when The Street at Tankerton is next uncovered.
Checked and updated on 10 October 2026
High and low water
Modelled for Whitstable Bay · not for navigationLoading tide times
Tide times and sea temperature: Open-Meteo marine model for the sea off Whitstable, worked out afresh each time this page opens, with heights against mean sea level. Sunrise and sunset from the Open-Meteo forecast for Whitstable. For anything on the water, use the official Admiralty EasyTide.
The Street at Tankerton
The Street: next low water --. The shingle spit runs about half a mile out from Tankerton beach and is only uncovered around low tide. The tide comes back fast and from both sides, and people are cut off every year, so turn back early and never swim near it. In an emergency call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
The tide and the beach
The tide shapes the day here. High water brings the sea up the shingle; low water uncovers the mudflats and The Street at Tankerton. Swimming and kayaking are best when the tide is in, and paddleboards and inflatables can be carried out quickly on a falling tide with an offshore wind.
Swimming
Tankerton and West Beach, Whitstable's two designated bathing waters, were both rated Excellent by the Environment Agency for 2025. Lifeguards patrol Tankerton from May to September only; the town beach and West Beach are not patrolled. Swimming is best when the tide is in.
Safety
The tides catch people out every year, especially on The Street, and Whitstable RNLI had answered 43 calls by early August 2026. In an emergency at sea or on the shore, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
Common questions
Worth knowing
When can you walk out on The Street at Tankerton?
The Street, a natural shingle spit about half a mile long, is only uncovered around low tide. The tide comes back quickly from both sides and people are cut off every year, so check the tide times first, turn back early and do not swim near it. In an emergency at sea or on the shore, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
Is the sea at Whitstable good for swimming?
Tankerton and West Beach, Whitstable's two designated bathing waters, were both rated Excellent by the Environment Agency for 2025. Lifeguards patrol Tankerton from May to September only; the town beach and West Beach are not patrolled. Swimming is best when the tide is in.
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