Herne Bay is a seaside town situated on the north coast of Kent in South East England. It is located approximately 6 miles (10 km) north of Canterbury and 4 miles (6 km) east of Whitstable. The town neighbors the ancient villages of Herne and Reculver.
Administratively, Herne Bay is part of the City of Canterbury local government district, though it remains a distinct town separated from Canterbury by countryside. Notable landmarks include its seafront, which features the world's first freestanding purpose-built Clock Tower, constructed in 1837. Additionally, from the late Victorian period until 1978, the town was home to the second-longest pier in the United Kingdom.