Thanet: Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs
These three towns on the Thanet Peninsula - the eastern tip of Kent - feature some of England's finest sandy beaches, including
Joss Bay
, home to surfers, and
Botany Bay
, famous for its cliffs and rocks. chalk.
The only royal port in the United Kingdom,
Ramsgate
seduces with its beautiful marina and festive pubs.
Margate
attracts a young, cool and arty audience, not least thanks to the Turner Contemporary Museum, the location where the painter of light captured his sunsets.
Between the two,
Broadstairs
is more peaceful and refined.
You can visit the house where Dickens lived.
A little taste of Italy in Margate, the fresh pasta from the family osteria Bottega Caruso.
Normandy Hoche
Some of our favorite places are the Bottega Caruso deli-osteria in Margate and Tartar Frigate, for excellent seafood at Broadstairs.
OR SLEEP ?
In
Margate
, the Sands Hotel.
Cozy, modern, facing the central beach.
From € 134 per night.
In
Broadstairs
, the slightly less central Yarrow Hotel has very comfortable rooms and one of the best restaurants around.
From 156 € per night.
In
Ramsgate
, the Albion House, overlooking the harbor, once housed Princess Victoria.
From 184 € per night.
EXCURSIONS
Go back in time in
Sandwich
, an enchanting medieval town, and in
Reculver
, admire the ruins of the Church of Saint Mary (7th century) facing the sea.
Folkestone
The old-fashioned charm of the Leas in Folkestone.
Visit Kent
Arriving at
Folkestone
station or harbor
, its charm is not immediately obvious.
Then, we discover a bustling seaside resort, dotted with Victorian treasures, starting with
The Leas
, a coastal promenade, made up of alleys and flower gardens.
The city is dotted with outdoor works of art.
We can spot a sculpture by Antony Gormley under the pier of the Harbor Arm, a former railway terminus, dotted with bars and restaurants.
And for shopping and a drink, head to the old town, renamed the
Creative Quarter
.
Lunch with your feet in the water at the starry Rocksalt.
Rocksalt
Fancy some fish?
Book at the Starry Rocksalt, or sample Chummy's take-out marine delicacies and picnic on Sunny Sands Beach.
OR SLEEP ?
The Grand, prestigious hotel, overlooking the Leas, where Agatha Christie wrote
The Crime of the Orient Express
.
Double room from € 182 per night.
EXCURSION
Cape Dungeness reveals an apocalyptic setting with its pebbles as far as the eye can see and its old nuclear power station.
Hop on an old steam train to discover this UFO.
Deal
The flowery facade of King's Head in Deal.
The King's Head Deal
Pastel Georgian houses adorning a pebble beach where fishing boats paddle:
Deal
is a postcard, miraculously calm.
After visiting its Tudor Castle, a 16th-century rose-window-shaped fortress, stroll through its art galleries and independent boutiques on the pretty High Street.
Have a drink at the pretty Kings Head pub, and have lunch on delicious
fish & chips
at the Middle Street Fish Bar.
Do you miss France?
You can see it from the pier on a clear day, or savor it at Pinardier and Frog and Scot, Benoit Dezecot's wine bar and restaurant.
OR SLEEP ?
The Royal Hotel for a wake-up call facing the sea. Double room from 133 € per night.
EXCURSION
Walmer, one of the greatest castles in England.
English Heritage
One of Her Majesty's favorite places, Walmer Castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens.
Whitstable
Whitstable the oyster farm is nicknamed the Pearl of Kent.
Visit Kent
At the mouth of the Thames Estuary, oyster lovers feast on
Whitstable
, nicknamed the 'Pearl of Kent'.
In this matter, you can trust The Whitstable Oyster Company, which specializes in grilled oysters with truffle butter and champagne!
Whitstable is also the meeting place for bargain hunters and vintage enthusiasts.
Visit Kent
Whitstable is rather chic, but its log cabins that sell and serve seafood by the water - like the popular Lobster Shack - give it a rustic feel.
When you're sated, take a stroll down the main street, which is teeming with antique shops and small independent shops.
Then head to the pebble beach and its multicolored cabins, not to mention a stopover at the
on the beach pub
, The Old Neptune.
OR SLEEP ?
At the family-run Hotel Continental, located on the seafront. Double room from € 123 per night.
The hotel also rents fisherman's huts.
EXCURSIONS
The River Stour in Canterbury, lined with medieval Westgate Towers and lush gardens.
Visit Canterbury
For a bit of culture, head to
Canterbury to
discover its famous cathedral and the lovely
Westgate Gardens
on the River Stour.
If you prefer the great outdoors, explore Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey.
Change of scenery guaranteed!
Go
By car
The
Eurotunnel
Channel Tunnel
connects Calais to Folkestone in 30 minutes.
The
ferry
P & O Ferries and DFDS Dover to Calais or Dunkirk leave.
They also take pedestrians and are generally more economical.
1h30 crossing.
By train
Departing from Paris or Lille, some Eurostars for London stop at Ashford International in central Kent under normal circumstances.
Then, connections allow you to quickly reach the coast (Folkestone in 15 minutes).
Currently, it is possible to use your Eurostar ticket on Southeastern trains to reach Ashford.
These trains connect the Kent coast to London stations at St Pancras, London Bridge, Charing Cross, Waterloo East and Victoria in an average of 1.5 hours.
Move
The cities mentioned above are a 20-30 minute drive or train ride from each other, five for Thanet.
The latter have a network of regular buses, including number 8, which connects them to each other and to Canterbury.
If you like to walk, follow the Saxon Shore Way along the cliffs or the North Downs Way, through the Kent Downs Nature Park.
These two trails are punctuated with key sites.
