This seaside town in Thanet, east Kent, is a wonderfully popular destination for day trips and spa weekends. Easy to get to on major transport links, Ramsgate has everything a mini break should offer - sea, sand and sociable things to do.
Close to Margate and Broadstairs, Ramsgate is famous for its coastline. Just two hours by car from London or one hour and 30 minutes by train, there are 16 beaches listed in and around the town, ranging from Ramsgate Main Sands, which is adjacent to the Royal Harbour (the only Royal Harbour in the UK) and marina and provides lots of opportunities for ice cream or fish and chips; to the likes of Botany Bay closer to Broadstairs, perfect for kayaking, canoeing, swimming, sunbathing, fossil hunting, and kite-flying.
Traditional seaside escapades are very much part of the Ramsgate experience, whether it’s sandcastle building or sea swimming. It’s a great destination for families and groups of friends, who love to explore the Ramsgate Tunnels from World War Two or spot the blue plaques for Vincent van Gogh, Charles Darwin, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Karl Marx throughout the town. Romantic strolls through the Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve are also a treat or simply exploring the shops, restaurants and cafes.
Those visiting Kent on a spa day or break should certainly include a trip to Ramsgate as part of their stay. Spa days at nearby Bannatyne Spa Broadstairs are a lovely way to include pampering alongside other activities, or if you’re enjoying a longer stay a little further away at the likes of Best Western Plus Dover Marina Hotel & Spa, it makes for a superb day trip.