There was a time when the Isle of Thanet, and Margate in particular, would have seen
thousands of holidaymakers arriving every week for their annual holidays. The advent of
the package holiday to Europe began driving nails in the coffin of the traditional British
seaside holiday, and now the majority of holidaymakers who come here are of the older
generation, many on coach breaks.
But don’t discount this area, for it still has much to offer the visitor. Aside from the cliff
top walks and marvellous beaches, Thanet has a
number of interesting places to see. Quex House
and museum, and the Shell Grotto, are two of the
more unusual options (see below), but others such
as Sarre Windmill, and Manston’s Battle of Britain
Museum should not be missed.
The towns, too, can be pleasant places to explore,
especially Broadstairs with its quaint narrow streets
and pictureque bays. Margate’s famous broad sandy
beach now has a new neighbour in the long awaited
Turner Contemporary Art Centre, and in Ramsgate the
bustling Royal Harbour always has something to watch,
as you relax on the cliff top promenades above.
Thanet really was once an island, separated from the
rest of Kent by the Wantsum Channel. Although now
silted up, the route of it still provides some agreeable
countryside, as well as the imposing remains of two
Roman Forts that once guarded it’s estuarys.
thousands of holidaymakers arriving every week for their annual holidays. The advent of
the package holiday to Europe began driving nails in the coffin of the traditional British
seaside holiday, and now the majority of holidaymakers who come here are of the older
generation, many on coach breaks.
But don’t discount this area, for it still has much to offer the visitor. Aside from the cliff
top walks and marvellous beaches, Thanet has a
number of interesting places to see. Quex House
and museum, and the Shell Grotto, are two of the
more unusual options (see below), but others such
as Sarre Windmill, and Manston’s Battle of Britain
Museum should not be missed.
The towns, too, can be pleasant places to explore,
especially Broadstairs with its quaint narrow streets
and pictureque bays. Margate’s famous broad sandy
beach now has a new neighbour in the long awaited
Turner Contemporary Art Centre, and in Ramsgate the
bustling Royal Harbour always has something to watch,
as you relax on the cliff top promenades above.
Thanet really was once an island, separated from the
rest of Kent by the Wantsum Channel. Although now
silted up, the route of it still provides some agreeable
countryside, as well as the imposing remains of two
Roman Forts that once guarded it’s estuarys.
