The seaside resorts of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, situated on the north-eastern coast of Kent deliver great-value, quality attractions and first-class facilities. All are easily reached from London and mainland Europe via good road, rail and ferry services.
The Georgian and Victorian resorts each offer their own distinctive character and perfect escapism surrounded by miles of glorious coastline and 15 sandy beaches and bays
2015 sees the opening of Dreamland, “the UK’s original Pleasure Park” with historic rides, classic side shows, eateries and evocative spaces, set within a landscape capable of hosting national festivals and major events.
2015 also marks the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo when hundreds of ‘little ships’ set out from Ramsgate Royal Harbour and Margate to rescue troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 and one of them, the motor yacht Sundowner, can be seen today. Between the 20th and 25th May join in the commemoration taking place in Ramsgate and Margate including tea dances, Big Band Concerts, performances and 60 visiting ‘Little Ships’ retracing the journey from 1940
Turner Contemporary
Take a step back in time to discover what life was like in a network of underground tunnels, home to 1000s of people during WWII at the Ramsgate Tunnels.
The area is rich in history and heritage with strong links to great names. Charles Dickens loved to holiday in Broadstairs and described it as ‘Our English watering place’. The author is celebrated with the annual June Broadstairs Dickens Festival. Augustus Pugin, designer of the interiors of the Houses of Parliament, lived here in the house he designed ‘The Grange’. Open days are held throughout the year and next door St Augustine’s church is home to the family vault. The internationally acclaimed Turner Contemporary in Margate is named after the famous artist JMW Turner, who frequently visited the town and described the skies here as ‘the loveliest in Europe’. 2015 exhibitions at the gallery include ‘Self – featuring Van Dyck’s last self-portrait’, ‘Carlos Amorales’ and ‘Grayson Perry’.
For all big and little kids Hornby Visitor Centre, at the global headquarters of Hornby, features fascinating displays about some of the nation’s best loved toys; Horny, Scalextric, Airfix and Corgi.
Ramsgate Royal Harbour
In the surrounding villages, Birchington ishome to one of the areas hidden treasures; Quex Park Estate, with a stately home, 1800 acres of countryside and the unique Powell-Cotton Museum displaying the work of Victorian explorer, collector and conservationist Major Percy Powell-Cotton. Gallery 6 contains a handling collection and allows you the chance to interact with the museum collections
Whilst at Manston (one of the nation’s earliest aerodromes) you will find the free Spitfire and Hurricane Museum, home to fine examples of these fighter aircraft which served the RAF so well in many areas of battle both at home and overseas
An entertaining and busy calendar of events across Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate provide year round entertainment – art exhibitions, music festivals, food and drink fairs, sporting events and heritage open days.
To find our more including itinerary suggestions visit our website www.visitthanet.co.uk/groups
