PaulB, be careful with your trip to Whitstable, when you see what they've got to offer you might not want to come back
.
If you want a pub lunch avoid the expensive places near the beach and try the Ship Centurion on the High Street, great real ale pub with a German twist and the landlord's a real character. And take a cool bag to bring back some fresh fish.
I agree with what Kevin says above, we've found the HS train is great for days out in London and onward travel north but it needs to be seen to be working the other way as well. It's weird to see a repeat of the arguments against that we had 20 years or so ago being repeated for the proposed link to Birmingham, at this rate we should have a decent rail system by about 2500.