There’s so much More to Explore…
The More to Explore campaign, funded by the government’s Welcome Back Fund, aims to encourage visitors and residents to look beyond the beautiful bays and beaches of the Isle of Thanet. The campaign is about exploring; discovering the experiences that each of our towns and villages has to offer. By promoting travel between our towns, the campaign drives increased footfall which will lead to people spending more time and money in the area. This then helps to support the local economy and our small, independent businesses.
Signage in and around Thanet’s seafronts and town centres, encourages movement between places. Your new favourite place could be just around the corner…
The Isle of Thanet is dotted with small independent businesses, ideal for finding that perfect gift. Many also have online shops and you can discover Shop Local Gems here. #ShopLocal
Each of our towns has wonderful attractions on offer, and an enormous variety of places to eat and drink. There are exciting new experiences to enrich your visit, right across the district.
Margate
The perfect mix of seaside traditions – sandy beaches, fish n’ chips, seafood stalls and shore-side rides, with a hip new twist.
Tour Turner Contemporary – an acclaimed international art gallery where collections range from edgy and challenging to accessible and fun. Rejuvenated Margate is home to Dreamland – an iconic amusement park, reimagined to deliver a world-class entertainment venue. Home to vintage rides including the UK’s oldest wooden roller coaster, Dreamland delivers all the fun of the festival with pop-up entertainment, art installations, live music, street food and a plethora of bars and restaurants.You’ll find something for everyone.
Explore Margate and you’ll see why it’s the capital of British cool: a regenerated Old Town and harbour arm packed with hipster hangouts, buzzy cafes and retro shops. Explore Margate beyond the shore as you follow the coast to Cliftonville’s Northdown Road, an international mix of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, vintage finds and more.
If the great outdoors is your thing, feel the breeze in your hair on a clifftop walk at Palm Bay, or dip your toes in the water at the Walpole Bay tidal pool. The Oval Bandstand is home to a monthly farmers market where many local producers sell their wares.
The town so beloved by JMW Turner and Tracey Emin now attracts artists, galleries and innovative businesses. Find out about the town’s history at Margate Museum and the Tudor House or relive your childhood at Hornby Visitor Centre.
In Margate, you’ll discover the Margate Caves, a Shell Grotto, Crab Museum, and adventure golf, ending the day with a stroll on the sand under romantic sunset skies. Everything that has delighted generations is now re-invented with a retro vibe.
Broadstairs and St Peter’s
In addition to Broadstairs’ seven sandy beaches and bucket loads of seaside charm, you’ll find fishermen’s cottages, cliff top walks and independent shops lining unspoilt streets. The town was Charles Dickens’ favourite holiday spot, and his legacy includes
Bleak House (external viewing only) and the Dickens House Museum. Nearby you’ll find the multi-award winning St Peter’s Village Tours, led by volunteers in costume.
Broadstairs is a haven for foodies, with eateries including smart restaurants, quaint cafés and authentic 1950s ice cream parlours.
Learn about buses, trams and railways at Crampton Tower Museum or do battle at Lillyputt Mini Golf. Why not end your day with a performance at the Sarah Thorne Theatre or a film at the tiny Palace Cinema?
Ramsgate
Ramsgate’s historic waterfront has a lively cosmopolitan feel. Take a seat at an alfresco café, sip a drink and watch the yachts bobbing in the picturesque marina – this Cinque Port is home to the only Royal Harbour in the country, with sandy bays alongside a working marina.
But there’s more…Ramsgate’s exquisite architecture brings together the Italianate Glasshouse, Georgian terraces and regency villas. Discover buildings designed by pioneering Victorian architect Augustus Pugin, at The Grange and at St Augustine’s Church, home to the shrine of St Augustine.
Learn about the unique Ramsgate Meridian at the Ramsgate Maritime Museum, as well as the steam tug Cervia and Sundowner – one of the Dunkirk ‘little ships’. History fans can don a hard hat and join an underground tour of the WWII-era Ramsgate Tunnels, or delve into the history of computers at The Micro Museum.
Take a boat trip from Ramsgate harbour to watch seals in their natural habitat; get adventurous exploring by bike, walking or canoeing with Active Ramsgate or marvel at work by talented local artists in Ramsgate’s galleries.
Westgate-on-Sea
A charming Victorian town, steeped in heritage with quaint shops beyond its fantastic beach hut-lined bays. Enjoy a friendly welcome from local businesses, cafes and bars set beneath Victorian canopies.
Grab a bucket of popcorn and enjoy a film at the Carlton, an independent cinema featuring the latest releases, plus a sound system and prices to rival any multiplex.
Explore Westgate-on-Sea further.
Birchington-on-Sea
Where coast meets countryside, the large coastal village boasting Minnis Bay, a glorious expansive beach, home to windsurfers and sailors. Explore the Viking Coastal Trail, by walking or cycling to nearby Reculver with the coast on one side and countryside on the other.
Away from the coast, explore an internationally acclaimed hidden gem – the beautiful Quex House and Gardens. The Powell-Cotton Museum is filled with African and Asian natural history and cultural objects, all situated on the Quex Park estate. You’ll also find a myriad of smaller attractions there, including children’s soft play area, adventure golf, farmers’ market, boutique cafe and more.
All Saints Church in The Square is the resting place of Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882), whose grave is marked in the churchyard with a Celtic Cross designed by Ford Madox Brown. Rossetti helped to found the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, and was known as an artist and poet. The church boasts a memorial stained glass window, which shows Dante’s unfinished painting of the Passover in the Holy Family.
Birchington Library is also home to a small heritage trust museum.
