Escape to the Isle of Thanet
The Isle of Thanet is around 40 square miles (103.30 square km) with coast on three sides at the most north-easterly edge of Kent, the Garden of England.
Historically the isle was separated from the mainland by a significant waterway, the Wantsum Channel.
Today it takes just 75 minutes from London’s St. Pancras International aboard Southeastern’s HS1, the country’s only high-speed rail service. Rail services link the isle to other London stations and mainland Europe (Eurostar) via Ashford International. Cross-Channel services are available from the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel Folkestone.
The isle is also easily accessible via excellent road links to the national motorway network. More detailed information can be found here
The Isle’s three resorts - Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate - have award-winning, golden sandy beaches, stunning chalk cliffs and mainline railway stations. They are geographically so close to each other but their personalities could not be more different.
Why visit?
Londoners have been escaping to the Isle of Thanet for more than 200 years ... for the laidback seaside vibe ... breathtaking sandy beaches ... fresh sea air... and romantic Turner skies …
Here at the very edge of the Garden of England, three Georgian and Victorian resorts, each with its own distinctive character – Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate – cluster around the bays at the far end of a peninsula.
There’s a quirky and convivial feel to these harbour towns, with their friendly creative scene, their remarkable 18th and 19th century architecture, their classic seaside heritage, their eclectic attractions and events, their galleries and music venues large and small, and their special one-off places to eat, drink, shop and stay, year round.
Miles of low chalk cliffs edge the peninsula, sheltering a string of secluded, unspoilt sandy bays. Chalk rockpools, chalk stacks and rare chalk reefs teem with wildlife. These are the closest surfing beaches to the capital city: a popular choice with south-east boarders.
Artists, writers and musicians – from Van Gogh and TS Eliot to Bob & Roberta Smith and the Libertines – have long been inspired by this almost-island and continue to be drawn here. Turner said Thanet had “the loveliest skies in all Europe” ... for Dickens Broadstairs was “the freshest, freest place” ... and Tracey Emin declares in pink neon on Margate seafront: “I never stopped loving you”.
The Isle’s a historic landing place steeped in symbolism for the story of Britain ... the first Saxons Hengist and Horsa arrived and settled here ... and St Augustine first stepped onto these shores on his way to nearby Canterbury.
For this is the furthest south east you can go in Britain ... almost touching mainland Europe ... yet these days only 75 minutes from central London …
And now with Turner Contemporary and Dreamland, and high-speed trains from the capital ... a new generation is discovering this original seaside escape.
Thanet Visitor Economy and Thanet People
Thanet Visitor Economy
- 4.6 million visitors each year
- 8,257 jobs
- Contributes £349 million to the local economy each year (Cambridge Model Economic Impact survey 2023).
Thanet People
- Thanet population: 140,600 (ONS Census 2021)
- Mean age: 45 years (ONS Census 2021)
Our public and media relations activities support and add value to our marketing plan – raising awareness of Thanet as a year round quality day trip and short break destination with spectacular coastal landscapes, outstanding attractions and experiences to delight a wide range of interests.
Our tourism image library is a valuable source of high quality images supporting both local businesses and media coverage. The Image Library includes photos of our beaches and bays, towns and villages, attractions, venues, businesses, landmarks and events.
The tourism team’s many PR activities include:
- Producing media briefings and press releases highlighting seasonal activities, new attractions, special events and ad hoc stories for local, regional and national consumer and tourism/travel trade media – print, broadcast and online.
- Responding to media enquiries and providing further information, briefings and contact points
- Hosting requested media visits to Thanet including suggesting appropriate itineraries, booking visits and accommodation
- Working in partnership with Visit Kent, and other tourism organisations such as VisitEngland, VisitBritain and National Coastal Tourism Academy to bring more national and international journalists to the district
- Liaising with local partners – including Thanet tourism, leisure and hospitality businesses – to help in hosting group and individual media visits according to specific interests
- Preparing bespoke press packs for events and media visits to include themed information, range of attractions available, admission passes, addresses, contact points and appropriate images
- Monitoring media coverage in house and through direct contact with media representatives www.visitthanet.co.uk/press/
- Supporting Thanet District Council’s Film Office with enquiries. To find out more about locations and requesting to film click here
For further information about PR activities growing tourism for Thanet, contact Julie Edwards tel: 01843 577671 or email: Julie.edwards@thanet.gov.uk
