-
Wow this look like an absolute corker of a ride, I hadn’t considered the east coast tbh so this looks lush! My plan so far was the downslink to Horsham then along to Chichester, looping up to the new forest with a train back.
Qebrus-
I've ridden it maybe 5 or 6 times and it's always a joy. Also after Faversham there's not tons of civilisation - you could always jump on a train from either there or Rochester to give yourself more time around the seaside towns.
You pass several isolated beaches away from the madding crowds (there's a good one at Seasalter, just past the Sportsman pub for a secluded swim), and the stretch at Sandgate has some empty stretches.
It's not flat - the climb out of Folkestone, and the one in Dover are both challenging, but they're small blips on an otherwise fairly flattish route.
honk
Oasts and Coasts would make a good 3 day tour - I'd probably stop in or near Rye on day 1,
Deal / Margate / Whitstable on the North Kent Coast end of Day 2, back in to London day 3.
Plenty of micropubs once you hit the Kent coast. Not that much before Rye, good cafes in Uckfield. Swimming-wise, obviously the sea but you do cross the River Medway once or twice too.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13274014