Broadstairs is a small seaside town of sandy bays, from Viking Bay in the centre to Stone Bay, Joss Bay and Kingsgate Bay, with Dickens House Museum on the seafront.
Image: Dickens House MuseumThis seafront cottage in Broadstairs inspired the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield and now celebrates Dickens' long love of the town. Volunteers show visitors round letters and belongings of the author, including his writing box, alongside Phiz prints, Victorian costume and Dickens memorabilia. It is small and best combined with a walk along the bay.
Image: Lillyputt MinigolfLillyputt is a heritage mini golf course on Victoria Parade in Broadstairs, based on Arnold Palmer's original designs and set among beautifully kept gardens, windmill included. After your round, the Tea Garden Cafe serves hot and cold food, ice cream and its toasted teacakes. It suits families and couples, there is no need to book, and a round plus tea fills an hour or two.
Image: Visit ThanetViking Bay is the horseshoe-shaped sandy beach at the heart of Broadstairs, the seaside town Charles Dickens chose for his holidays. Spend the day building sandcastles, swimming in lifeguarded water or trying the surf school, with a boardwalk, café, beach shops and deckchair hire on hand. It is a classic family seaside day.
Image: Visit ThanetLouisa Bay is a small, sheltered beach a short walk from Viking Bay in Broadstairs, and one of the town's best spots for rockpooling. There is a cafe on the promenade and beach chalets along the front. It suits families with young children who want a quieter hour or two by the sea.
Image: Visit ThanetStone Bay is a quieter, cliff-backed beach just north of Broadstairs town centre, best known for rock pooling. Explore the pools at low tide, hire a beach chalet, then stroll the promenade to Viking Bay and the town. It suits families with young children for a few hours.
Image: Visit ThanetDumpton Gap is a quiet sandy bay between Broadstairs and Ramsgate with a promenade and kiosk. It is one of the best starting points for a low tide walk along the foot of the cliffs to Ramsgate. Come for a calmer beach day with children or dogs, or a couple of hours walking the shore.
Image: Revolution Skatepark & Climbing CentreRevolution in Broadstairs pairs a big indoor skatepark, spread across three warehouses of ramps, with a climbing centre for bouldering, roped walls, auto-belay, lead climbing and an abseil tower. Skateboarders, scooter riders, skaters and BMXers ride in 2-hour sessions, and there is a skate, surf and climb shop plus a snack bar with viewing areas. It suits active children, teens and families, with lessons and holiday camps for beginners.
Image: Visit ThanetJoss Bay is a 200 metre sandy bay near Broadstairs, best known as Thanet's top surfing beach and holder of a Blue Flag and Seaside Award for 2026. Families can build sandcastles, rockpool, bounce at the seasonal Kids Corner and grab snacks from the cafe. It is easy to spend half a day here in summer.
Image: Visit ThanetKingsgate Bay is a secluded 150 metre sandy cove below Kingsgate Castle, with some of the best sea caves in Thanet. It is calm and quiet compared with its busier neighbours, and dogs are welcome all year. Allow an hour or two, and pair it with a walk to Joss Bay or Botany Bay.
Image: Ramsgate TunnelsRamsgate Tunnels runs guided explorer tours through the town's Second World War deep shelter network, which grew out of a Victorian railway tunnel. Tours begin with a short film, then go deep underground to tell how the shelters protected Ramsgate's people. It suits families with older children, teens and history fans, and takes around 90 minutes.
Image: Visit ThanetRamsgate Main Sands is a long sandy beach right beside the Royal Harbour and marina, with a continental feel. Spend the day on the sand, then try the arcades, kiosks and al fresco restaurants along the front. It is an easy half day for families.
Image: Thanet District CouncilNorthdown Park in Cliftonville was once the grounds of Georgian Northdown House, and still has formal walled gardens near the house. Further north there is open space, natural woodland and a children's play area. It is a handy free stop for families and dog walkers for an hour or so.
Image: Ellington ParkEllington Park is a 12 acre Victorian park in Ramsgate with over 400 trees, restored in 2021 with a new cafe, playground, terrace and bandstand. Children have two play areas and a trim trail, while the volunteer-run wildlife garden and bookshop add a gentle community feel. It suits families for an easy hour or two.
Image: AirHopAirHop Westwood Cross is an indoor adventure and trampoline park at the Westwood Cross shopping centre. Jump across interconnecting trampolines and giant inflatables, play laser tag or try the Robokeeper and Strike Arena games. It suits families with toddlers through to teens, and a session takes one to two hours.
Photo: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0Botany Bay is a sandy cove between Margate and Broadstairs, framed by white chalk cliffs and dramatic chalk stacks. Explore the rock pools and hunt for fossils, and at low tide walk round to Kingsgate Bay. There is a kiosk on the beach and seasonal lifeguards in summer.
Image: WonderWorks MargateThe WonderWorks is Hornby's model-making attraction in its old Margate factory, home to the Hornby, Scalextric, Airfix and Corgi brands. Wander past detailed model railway layouts, try out the controls, race on the Scalextric circuits and browse the shop and café. It is an affordable hour or two for families and model fans, and handy on a rainy day.
Photo: Barry Marsh from London, England, CC0Margate's only working smock mill, built in 1845 by John Holman of Canterbury and run by volunteers from the Drapers Windmill Trust. It stands on a hill on the Turner and Dickens Walk between Margate and Broadstairs.
Image: Visit ThanetWalpole Bay in Cliftonville is a long sandy beach best known for its large tidal pool, a favourite with Margate's sea swimmers. Explore the rock pools at low tide, take a dip in the tidal pool and warm up afterwards in the community sauna by the water. It suits swimmers, rock poolers and anyone after a quieter stretch of Margate coast.
Image: BroadstairsThe Broadstairs Dickens Festival runs over one weekend in June 2027 in the seaside town of Broadstairs. Visitors can see costumed characters, a Victorian Fayre and theatrical displays, with local eateries joining in. It suits families and anyone interested in Dickens and Victorian life.
Image: Broadstairs & St Peter's Town CouncilBroadstairs and St Peter's Town Council's Christmas market at the historic Pierremont Hall, with traders, artisans and food vendors, plus live music.
Image: Broadstairs & St Peter's Town CouncilBroadstairs and St Peter's Town Council's bonfire night celebration on the sand at Viking Bay, with live music by the bandstand before a fireworks display over the sea from Viking Fireworks.
Image: Happy Reading Children's BookshopA Sunday book club for children aged 8 to 11 at Happy Reading Children's Bookshop in Broadstairs, led by Nicci. The session explores Wandthorn Woods through The Rambler's Curse, the first book in a new trilogy by Mikey Please. Booking is required, and the event page gives the times.
Image: Happy Reading Children's BookshopChildren's author Claire Linney reads from her Time Tub Travellers book, Roman Rescue, at Happy Reading Children's Bookshop in Broadstairs on 24 October 2026, during the October half term. The event is aimed at children aged seven and over and their families. Booking is required through the event's Eventbrite page, where times and prices are listed.
Image: Happy Reading Children's BookshopAuthor and illustrator Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow visit Happy Reading Children's Bookshop in Broadstairs on 29 October 2026, for children aged 3 to 6. The event is aimed at families and features the creators of the bestselling 'If I had a...' series. Booking is required, and times are listed on the event page.
Image: Happy Reading Children's BookshopA children's author event with Daria Hugg at Happy Reading Children's Bookshop in Broadstairs on 30 October 2026. It combines an interactive storytime with a creative mini book-making workshop inspired by nature, poetry and imagination. It suits families with children aged 5 to 8, and booking is required.
Image: Happy Reading Children's BookshopA creative workshop with children's author and illustrator Kate Willis-Crowley, who writes as Inky Willis, held on Halloween at Happy Reading Children's Bookshop in Broadstairs. The session is aimed at children aged 8 to 11 and centres on dark tales and strange creatures. Booking is required through the event page.
Image: WonderWorks MargateModelling Monday is a weekly free session at The WonderWorks in Margate, running from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Attendees can bring their own model project, such as Airfix kits, military models, cars, planes, trains or figures, and work at a modelling workstation. An on-hand model maker offers hints and advice, and the session suits both beginners and experienced modellers.
Image: Dickens House MuseumThis seafront cottage in Broadstairs inspired the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield and now celebrates Dickens' long love of the town. Volunteers show visitors round letters and belongings of the author, including his writing box, alongside Phiz prints, Victorian costume and Dickens memorabilia. It is small and best combined with a walk along the bay.
Image: Revolution Skatepark & Climbing CentreRevolution in Broadstairs pairs a big indoor skatepark, spread across three warehouses of ramps, with a climbing centre for bouldering, roped walls, auto-belay, lead climbing and an abseil tower. Skateboarders, scooter riders, skaters and BMXers ride in 2-hour sessions, and there is a skate, surf and climb shop plus a snack bar with viewing areas. It suits active children, teens and families, with lessons and holiday camps for beginners.
Image: Ramsgate TunnelsRamsgate Tunnels runs guided explorer tours through the town's Second World War deep shelter network, which grew out of a Victorian railway tunnel. Tours begin with a short film, then go deep underground to tell how the shelters protected Ramsgate's people. It suits families with older children, teens and history fans, and takes around 90 minutes.
Image: AirHopAirHop Westwood Cross is an indoor adventure and trampoline park at the Westwood Cross shopping centre. Jump across interconnecting trampolines and giant inflatables, play laser tag or try the Robokeeper and Strike Arena games. It suits families with toddlers through to teens, and a session takes one to two hours.
Image: WonderWorks MargateThe WonderWorks is Hornby's model-making attraction in its old Margate factory, home to the Hornby, Scalextric, Airfix and Corgi brands. Wander past detailed model railway layouts, try out the controls, race on the Scalextric circuits and browse the shop and café. It is an affordable hour or two for families and model fans, and handy on a rainy day.
Photo: Barry Marsh from London, England, CC0Margate's only working smock mill, built in 1845 by John Holman of Canterbury and run by volunteers from the Drapers Windmill Trust. It stands on a hill on the Turner and Dickens Walk between Margate and Broadstairs.
Image: Visit ThanetViking Bay is the horseshoe-shaped sandy beach at the heart of Broadstairs, the seaside town Charles Dickens chose for his holidays. Spend the day building sandcastles, swimming in lifeguarded water or trying the surf school, with a boardwalk, café, beach shops and deckchair hire on hand. It is a classic family seaside day.
Image: Visit ThanetLouisa Bay is a small, sheltered beach a short walk from Viking Bay in Broadstairs, and one of the town's best spots for rockpooling. There is a cafe on the promenade and beach chalets along the front. It suits families with young children who want a quieter hour or two by the sea.
Image: Visit ThanetStone Bay is a quieter, cliff-backed beach just north of Broadstairs town centre, best known for rock pooling. Explore the pools at low tide, hire a beach chalet, then stroll the promenade to Viking Bay and the town. It suits families with young children for a few hours.
Image: Visit ThanetDumpton Gap is a quiet sandy bay between Broadstairs and Ramsgate with a promenade and kiosk. It is one of the best starting points for a low tide walk along the foot of the cliffs to Ramsgate. Come for a calmer beach day with children or dogs, or a couple of hours walking the shore.
Image: Visit ThanetJoss Bay is a 200 metre sandy bay near Broadstairs, best known as Thanet's top surfing beach and holder of a Blue Flag and Seaside Award for 2026. Families can build sandcastles, rockpool, bounce at the seasonal Kids Corner and grab snacks from the cafe. It is easy to spend half a day here in summer.
Image: Visit ThanetKingsgate Bay is a secluded 150 metre sandy cove below Kingsgate Castle, with some of the best sea caves in Thanet. It is calm and quiet compared with its busier neighbours, and dogs are welcome all year. Allow an hour or two, and pair it with a walk to Joss Bay or Botany Bay.
The rest of the 35 places we list within 10 km, closest first.
