Celebrities like a weekend break, just like the rest of us, and because Whitstable is only just over 1 hour from London, it is the perfect destination for a quiet weekend away.

One of the town’s most famous celebrity residents was Peter Cushing, of Dracula and Star Wars fame, who made Whitstable his home in 1959. The locals adored him and he could regularly be seen in The Tudor Tea Rooms, Geoff Laurens Antiques and VC Jones Fish and Chip Shop (all on Harbour Street). In 1990 the town named a section of the sea wall after him (just along the beach from the Oyster Stores) and he donated a love bench on behalf of himself and his wife. You can still sit and take in the scene that he adored painting at Cushing’s View.

More recent celebs to move to Whitstable have included Janet Street Porter and Harry Hill, and Masterchef’s Greg Wallace, Suggs and David Essex have links with the town too. Keith Brymer Jones, from the Great Pottery Throwdown, also has a studio in the town and Sandi Toksvig and Fay Ripley can often be seen shopping in Whitstable’s independent stores.

Popular places to spot a celebrity include The Old Neptune Pub (their Facebook page has regular updates of the landlord with star studded clientele), Harbour St (catch them browsing the boutique shops) and VC Jones (used for photo shoots and TV spots by a multitude of celebs over the years). Alternatively, you may just catch Orlando Bloom or Vic Reeves hanging out on the beach or in the Harbour.

Keep your eyes peeled and your cameras ready!