Birchington-on-Sea, Kent`s largest village, is situated on the Isle of Thanet in the North East of the county within easy reach of the M2. The present-day community of around 14,000 people is centred on the square and its parish church, with its origins in the 12th century. The sea shore includes sandy bays, rock pools and paddling pools.

Birchington is part of the Thanet district and forms the civil parish of Birchington. It lies on the coast facing the North Sea, east of the Thames Estuary, between the seaside resorts of Herne Bay and Margate.

As a seaside resort, the village is a notable tourist and retirement destination. The village's Minnis Bay is a family beach with attractions such as sailing, windsurfing, a paddling pool and coastal walking routes. Its three smaller beaches are surrounded by chalk cliffs, cliff stacks and caves.

The village was first recorded in 1240. Its parish church, All Saints, dates to the 13th century and its churchyard is the burial place of the 19th-century Pre-Raphaelite artist, Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Quex Park, a local 19th century manor house, is home to the Powell Cotton Museum and a twelve-bell tower built for change ringing. The museum contains a large collection of stuffed exotic animals collected by the late Major Powell-Cotton on his travels in Africa, and also houses artifacts unearthed in and around Birchington by his daughter, the late Antoinette Powell-Cotton, a keen archeologist. In addition being outside the village Quex Park has become popular for both its Farmers Market and hosting both Classical and popular music festivals in the summer months.