[2] Tankerton-on-Sea was a commercial development by the Tankerton Estate Company in the late 19th century, and was designed with a grid of streets leading from the shoreline.

[4][5] In 1926 John Adam Derham was shot in a bungalow called 'Stella Maris' in Tankerton in a quarrel with his former friend and fellow Old Etonian Francis Austin Smith.

Smith, who was defended by Sir Edward Marshall Hall, was tried for murder, but found not guilty, though he was sentenced to 12 months hard labour on a lesser charge.

[8] The slopes to the shore are a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) because they support a population of Fisher's estuarine moth, Gortyna borelii lunata, whose sole larval food-plant is the large umbellifer hog's fennel (Peucedanum officinale) which grows well there.

The little wooden beach huts at the base of the slopes are currently highly desirable, and notable owners have included Tracey Emin, who sold hers to Charles Saatchi for £75,000.

The industry of employment of residents was 17% retail, 10.9% manufacturing, 8.2% construction, 9.9% real estate, 13% health and social work, 13.2% education, 6.9% transport and communications, 5.9% public administration, 4.2% hotels and restaurants, 4% finance, 1.2% agriculture and 5.6% other.