Enjoying Thanet
Location
The Kentish countryside of rolling hills, woodlands and
attractive villages is within easy reach, as are miles of coastline
varying from sandy beaches to towering cliffs. The
county of Kent also offers a rich
array of historic attractions
and magnifi cent buildings.
Shopping
Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs each has comprehensive
shopping facilities. Many major High Street names are represented
in the District and there is also a huge choice of independent
shopping opportunities. Out of town shopping centres at Westwood,
including the recently completed Westwood Cross development with
anchor stores, Debenhams, M & S & Next, are equidistant
from the main towns offering hypermarket style food shopping along
with retail warehouses & high street names.
Larger shopping centres are available
at the Cathedral City of Canterbury (26km/16m) the Whitefriars
complex, the County Town of Maidstone (72km/45m), and Bluewater,
Dartford (92km/ 62m), Europe’s largest shopping complex.
History and
Heritage
The Romans landed within Thanet’s
boundaries, the
Vikings invaded its shores and it was
the UK’s first host
to Christianity. Amongst the famous
who have visited are
(Queen Victoria who holidayed at
Broadstairs, King George
IV who bestowed a Royal order on
Ramsgate Harbour),
artists (Van Gogh stayed in Ramsgate
and Turner’s local
sunsets and seascapes hang in the Tate
and Royal
Collection) and authors (Charles
Dickens wrote many novels
in Broadstairs).
Arts and Culture
In addition to an excellent selection
of cuisine, Thanet offers
cinemas, theatres, night-clubs and
casinos. The Marlowe
Theatre at nearby Canterbury stages a
comprehensive
programme of touring shows from
London’s West End plus
ballet, orchestral concerts and live
theatre.
The area began to develop into the
place we know today in the early 18th century, with the creation of
a harbour in Ramsgate and the recognition of the power of the
healing waters off the coast of Margate, which led to the town
becoming the country’s first seaside resort. At around the same
time, Broadstairs was attracting interest through Charles Dickens’
regular visits to the town
Tourism grew rapidly from the mid 19th century over the next 100
years, with the industry going into slow decline from the 1950’s
onwards, due to foreign package holidays. The cumulative effect
over many years had a considerable impact on Thanet’s economic
position, with unemployment levels reaching a high of 18% in the
early 1990’s.
Since then, work has been undertaken by the Council and its
partners to regenerate the area, with a concentration on the area’s
culture and heritage. In particular, this would focus on Margate,
building on its links with Turner, and on revitalising Ramsgate’s
maritime past with investment into the Royal Harbour Marina and
town centre.
This concentration on culture led to
Margate being named amongst the top 20 most creative towns in the
country and in the top 10 towns of 2007 to watch in the future.
Broadstairs fortunately escaped the worst of the area’s economic
problems and continued to prosper.
In recent years, the emphasis has been – and continues to be –
on preserving the character of this popular seaside
destination.
Sport
The coastal environment of Thanet offers numerous opportunities
to enjoy open air recreation. In addition to bracing clifftop and
promenade walks, footpaths criss-cross the farmland. There are
several equestrian centres, an
indoor bowling centre and some of the South East’s finest
bowling greens. Pitches and courts for many outdoor sports
are available throughout the District for private and club
hire. Indoor recreation includes a full range of sports’
halls,
gymnasia, health suites and heated indoor swimming pools.
Golf
Thanet has one 9-hole and three 18-hole golf courses, North
Foreland at Broadstairs, St Augustines, at Cliffsend and Westgate
and Birchington at Westgate. There are a further two 18-hole
courses close by at Sandwich including the famous Royal St.
George’s, host to the British Open Championships. The Stonelees
Golf Centre at Ramsgate offers quality par 3 and executive courses
and a state of the art golf simulator. Driving range facilities are
available at Stonelees and Greensole, Manston.
Watersports and Beaches
The 20-mile (32km) coastline encourages watersports and there
are clubs and designated areas for jetskiing, waterskiing,
windsurfi ng and scuba diving. Sea angling is popular from piers,
promenades and boats. Golden sands range from quiet bays to busy
beaches. Water quality is excellent and Minnis Bay, Birchington
Westgate Bay & Westbrok Bays in Margate beaches, have all
gained European Blue Flag awards.
Sailing
Ramsgate Marina within the historic Royal Harbour provides
excellent permanent and visitor mooring facilities with 607 berths,
comprising 140 outer berths, 467 inner berths. A further 209 berths
with 24 hr access, visitors facilities including electricity and
fresh water supplies were opened September 2000. The Royal Temple
Yacht Club overlooks the marina. Broadstairs has more limited
facilities for harbour mooring and a well-established sailing club
as does Margate.