Bike Hire in Whitstable

Explore Whitstable, the coast and Canterbury by bike.

Easy, friendly bike hire ideally situated at the start of the Crab & Winkle Way to Canterbury and the coastal Oyster Bay Trail.

Adult bikes from £25 a day · Helmets & locks included.

How it Works

Easy to book. Personal service when you arrive.

  • Phone calendar icon

    Book Online

    Choose your bikes and collection day, then book and pay securely online. Simple.

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    Collect & Get Set

    We’ll have your bikes ready for you. We’ll make sure everything fits comfortably, set you up with helmets and locks, and talk you through your bikes before you set off.

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    Routes & Ride

    We’ll help you choose the best route for your day, with advice from people who know the area and ride the routes themselves. Before you set off, you’ll have a map, plenty of local knowledge and the confidence to know exactly where you’re going.

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    Return

    Simply bring your bikes back to our Whitstable base at the end of your ride. If you need any help when you’re out, we’re only a phone call away.

Where We Are

The perfect starting point for Whitstable’s two great cycle routes.

Our hire base sits at the Whitstable end of the Crab & Winkle Way to Canterbury and the Oyster Bay Trail along the coast towards Herne Bay and Reculver.

That means you can collect your bikes, get set up and head straight off on either route — inland through the woods towards Canterbury or down to the coast for the Oyster Bay Trail.

We’re also just a few minutes‘ walk from Whitstable town centre, Whitstable Station and the seafront.

 

Bay Bike Hire (Whitstable)
The Old Coal Yard
Belmont Rd
Whitstable
CT5 1QP

What3words: ///poetic.earlobe.ambitions

Opening Times (pre-booking highly recommended)

Monday : 10am to 6pm
Tuesday : 10am to 6pm
Wednesday : 10am to 6pm
Thursday : 10am to 6pm
Friday : 10am to 6pm
Saturday : 10am to 6pm
Sunday : 10am to 6pm

We always recommend pre-booking to avoid disappointment. Please book online or contact us to arrange your hire.

Meet…The Bay Cruiser

Robust. Practical. Comfortable.
Perfect for riding our coastal trails

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Bell: Easy-to-operate bell on the left-hand grip.
Grip Shift: Ergonomic comfortable grips with 3-speed grip-shift gear selector.
Saddle: Easy-to-operate pneumatically adjustable saddle height. Suitable for riders from 5'0" to 6'3".
Gears: 3-speed instant-change Shimano Nexus or Sturmey-Archer hub gears give you the range to cruise along the coastal trail or climb hills with ease.
Tyres: Puncture-resistant tyres.
Basket: Our bikes come equipped with a front basket.
Stand: Easily park the bike with its sturdy kickstand.
Frame: Lightweight aluminium step-over frame.
Brakes: Ultra-reliable and responsive roller brakes.

Our Prices

Flexible Day Hire · Collect any time from 10am and return by 6pm. Helmets & locks included.

Cruiser bike
Premium hybrid
E-bike
Kids’ bike
Child seat
Tag-along
Toddler trailer
Dog trailer

£25
£34
£50
£20
£8
£16
£16
£20

Where will you ride?

Explore Whitstable, Canterbury and the stunning Kent coast on miles of scenic, largely traffic-free cycle routes.

From an easy ride along the coast to a day out on the Crab & Winkle Way, we’ll help you find the perfect route.

Popular Routes

  • Coastal cycling trail

    Oyster Bay Trail

    Whitstable → Herne Bay → Reculver
    Easy coastal riding with sea views, cafés and plenty of places to stop.

    1h – 1.5h
    9.3mi / 15km

  • Woodland cycling trail

    Crab & Winkle Way

    Whitstable → Canterbury
    Traffic-free woodland riding along one of Kent’s best-known cycle routes.

    1h – 1.5h
    7.5mi / 12km

  • viking coastal trail

    Viking Coast & Beyond

    Margate → Broadstairs → Ramsgate
    For a bigger day out, continue east and connect with the Viking Coastal Trail

    2h – 3h (to Margate)
    17.7mi / 28.5km (to Margate)

Stay Safe

  • Always check your hire bike before riding for any defects. Test the brakes and check for punctures.

  • Whilst helmets are not legally required in the UK, we recommend that all riders wear helmets and all our bikes are offered with pre-sanitised helmets. It is the responsibility of the rider to ensure the helmet is in good condition and fits snugly and is secured tightly to your head.

  • Follow the rules of the road and local authority route signage. It’s important to let other road users know where you are going. Make clear and deliberate signals when changing lanes, turning off or slowing down.

  • When using shared cycle and pedestrian paths, give pedestrians right of way. Use your bell to warn others of your approach and ride at a safe speed and be ready to stop.

FAQs

  • Yes, we provide helmets for every customer. We do not charge for helmets, they are included in the hire.

  • We provide bike locks to secure the bikes, which must be used. Whilst these locks are a deterrent, they do not guarantee the bike will be safe from theft or loss. You are solely responsible for any loss or damage to the bike during the hire period - if the bike is stolen, damaged or lost, including where you have used a lock supplied by us, you will be required to pay the full replacement or repair cost of the bike to us. We therefore recommend you do not leave the bike unattended. 

  • We are only open by appointment so please pre-book online or call 07733 147506.

  • The lead booker must be over 18 years old and present during collection. We do not hire to under-18s without a responsible adult.

  • No, sorry. Currently bikes are only available for collection from our Whitstable base.

  • If you'd like to collect a bike outside of our collection hours please contact us. We will do our best to help if at all possible.

  • We will do our best to meet your requirements. If you would like to book for a large group (6 or more) then please contact us.

  • Please contact us to let us know what product you'd like to hire and we will let you know if we can accommodate your request. We are continually adapting and adding to our stock and are keen to meet customers' needs.

  • No, sorry. We only offer cycling products for hire.

  • Unfortunately we do not currently offer cycle maintenance.

  • No, sorry. We only hire out our accessories, such as child seats, trailers and tag-alongs with our adult bikes.

  • If you are running late for either collections or returns then please let us know via our contact us page. We will work with you to make sure you still can collect or return your bike wherever possible.

  • If your bike suffers any sort of fault then please do not ride the bike and contact us.

    Bikes are supplied with highly puncture-resistant tyres, making punctures very rare. We offer all hirers repair kits and guidance in the unlikely event of a puncture.

  • Our Whitstable base is conveniently located in the Old Coal Yard, 250m from the Crab & Winkle Way, 600m from the seafront and Whitstable station.

    We recommend using the Charity Parking on weekends and holidays in Whitstable Junior School, just a short walk away. Or on other days there is on-street parking in the nearby streets (check local signage for restrictions).

  • Yes, you can take your bike on the train, subject to space being available. Please don’t obstruct doorways or aisles, lock it to any part of the train or leave it unattended.

    If your bike is in a wheelchair space, you must remove it if a passenger using a wheelchair needs it.

    There are multiple stations a short distance from the coastal trail. Stations include: Chestfield & Swalecliffe, Herne Bay, Birchington-on-Sea, Westgate-on-Sea and Margate.

    Alternatively ask us about our circular route incorporating the Crab & Winkle Way, Blean Woods, Herne Bay and the coastal Oyster Bay trail.

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