2026 Ramsgate Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in September)

It is easy to think of Vincent van Gogh only as the great painter of sunflowers, stars and swirling skies. Yet before he became an artist, he spent a short but fascinating period of his young life in Ramsgate. In April 1876, aged just 23, Vincent arrived in Ramsgate to work as an assistant teacher at William Port Stokes’s boys’ boarding school. He was given food and accommodation rather than a salary. There were 24 boys, aged between 10 and 14, and Vincent taught them French and German, as well as arithmetic, quizzes and dictation. He also encouraged them to read. He lived nearby at 11 Spencer Square, sharing a house with another teacher and four of the boys. From the school, he could see the sea, and Ramsgate’s coastline clearly made an impression on him. On his very first days there, he described the seaside as beautiful and wrote about the harbour, ships and the simple yellow-brick houses along the coast. Vincent was also an enthusiastic teacher outside the classroom. He regularly took the boys for walks along the coast, even in difficult weather. On one memorable walk towards Pegwell Bay, he described the landscape to his brother Theo: “the sea, as calm as a pond, reflecting the delicate grey sky” The walk took them through fields and hedgerows before reaching the shore, where Vincent noticed the chalk, shells, wind-bent hawthorn trees and the changing light over the sea. There was a playful side to him too. Vincent once built a sandcastle with the boys, which reminded him of doing the same with his brother Theo when they were children. These small moments give us a glimpse of the young man behind the later legend of Van Gogh. His letters from Ramsgate also reveal how deeply religious he had become at this stage of his life. Writing to Theo on 12 May 1876, he spoke of the spiritual longing he saw around him: “There’s such a yearning for Religion among the people in those big cities.” He also wrote movingly about how, despite the pressures of modern city life, a deeper longing remained within people. Perhaps most poignantly, Vincent’s Ramsgate letters show a young man searching for his purpose. He had left the art trade and was trying teaching, while increasingly feeling called towards religious work. Later that year, after moving to Isleworth, he would teach Sunday school and preach. So when walking through Ramsgate today, it is fascinating to imagine Vincent here in 1876: a young Dutchman with little money, living beside the sea, teaching boys, walking the coast, reading, writing to Theo and looking at the landscape with the intensity that would eventually become the vision of one of the world’s greatest artists. Ramsgate was not yet the Van Gogh of the museums. It was the Ramsgate of a young man still becoming Vincent van Gogh. #VanGogh #VincentVanGogh #VanGoghInRamsgate #Ramsgate #KentCoast #PegwellBay #VanGoghLetters #ArtHistory #VanGoghHistory #BritishArtHistory #DutchArt #TravelMemories #RamsgateHistory #VanGoghInEngland

Ramsgate Harbour We really enjoyed spending time around Ramsgate Harbour. It’s the kind of place where you can have a simple walk by the sea, watch the boats coming in and out, grab something to eat and enjoy the views but once you know the history, you start looking at the harbour in a completely different way. The harbour started being built in 1749, after a violent storm showed just how badly ships needed somewhere safe to shelter. Over the years it was developed by some of the best engineers of the time, including John Smeaton and the Rennies. The harbour we see today is the result of all those different stages of building and improvement. One thing we found really interesting is how Ramsgate changed because of the harbour. It helped the town grow from a small fishing community into an important port and later a popular seaside resort. By the 19th century, people were coming to Ramsgate for holidays, helped even more by the arrival of the railway in 1846. And there’s a lovely royal connection too. King George IV visited Ramsgate and sailed from the harbour in 1821. After his visit, the harbour was given the title “Royal Harbour” making it the only harbour in the UK to have that designation. We also found the wartime history quite moving. During the First World War, Ramsgate Harbour was used by the Dover Patrol, and during the Second World War it played an important part in the Dunkirk evacuation. Small boats based around Ramsgate helped bring soldiers back from France, with around 42,000 men arriving at Ramsgate during the evacuation. Standing there today, with the boats in the marina and people enjoying the waterfront, it’s hard to imagine everything that happened here. The same harbour that is now somewhere for us to relax and enjoy the sea was once a busy working port and an important place during wartime. There are layers of history everywhere you look. We could enjoy the sea and the atmosphere, but also stop and think about the people, ships and events that shaped this place over hundreds of years. #ramsgate #ramsgateHarbour #RoyalHarbour #ramsgatekent #visitramsgate #kentcoast #kenttravel #maritimehistory #britishhistory #dunkirk #ww2history #napoleonicwars #seasidetown #KentSeaside #explorekent #uktravel #familytravel #travelreview #travelmemories #historylovers Posted: Just now

We visited the Ramsgate Tunnels and, honestly, it was one of those places that stays with you after you leave. From the outside, you would never guess that underneath the town there is a huge network of tunnels with such an important story. The tunnels were originally part of the railway, with the main railway tunnel dating back to 1863. But during the Second World War, they were turned into deep air-raid shelters for the people of Ramsgate. The tunnels were designed to protect up to 60,000 people, which gives you an idea of just how seriously the town was preparing for war. What really hit us was learning what life was actually like down there. Ramsgate was heavily bombed because of its location and importance during the war. On 24 August 1940, around 500 bombs were dropped on the town in just five minutes. Many homes were destroyed, and some families ended up living underground because they had nowhere else to go. The tunnels became almost like a little town underneath Ramsgate. There were shops, cafés, canteens, a hospital, places to socialise and even entertainment. More than 300 families eventually lived down there for periods of time. Walking through the tunnels ourselves made that history feel much more real. It’s quite different reading about the Blitz in a book compared with actually standing underground where families once waited out the air raids. The tunnels are cool, dark and uneven in places, and you can really imagine how different it must have felt during an air raid, with people waiting and wondering what was happening above them. We also visited the Tunnel Museum, where there are displays about Ramsgate during both World Wars, the construction of the tunnels and everyday life on the Home Front. For us, the most important part of the visit was remembering the ordinary people who lived through those years. They weren't soldiers on a battlefield — they were families, children, shopkeepers and workers trying to carry on with everyday life while bombs were falling above them. That’s why we would definitely recommend seeing the tunnels. It isn't just about looking at an old tunnel. It gives you a much better understanding of what life was like for people in Ramsgate during the war and how the town came together to protect its residents. We came away feeling that this is a part of Ramsgate's history that really deserves to be remembered. #RamsgateTunnels #Ramsgate #RamsgateKent #WW2History #WorldWarTwo #WartimeHistory #HomeFront #BritishHistory #KentHistory #HistoryLovers #WarHistory #ExploreKent #VisitRamsgate #KentTravel #FamilyDayOut #FamilyHistory #TravelReview #HiddenHistory #UKHistory #ExploreEngland

We really enjoyed our visit to Ramsgate, but finding out about Vincent van Gogh’s time here made the trip even more interesting. It’s easy to forget that before he became one of the world’s most famous artists, he was once a young man trying to find his way in life. Van Gogh came to Ramsgate in April 1876, aged just 22, and worked as an assistant teacher at William Port Stokes’ boys’ school. He stayed at 11 Spencer Square, with the school nearby on Royal Road. There were 24 boys at the school, aged between 10 and 14, and Van Gogh taught them subjects including French and German. What I found lovely was hearing about what he did with the boys outside the classroom. He would take them down to the beach, even when the weather wasn't perfect. They played on Ramsgate Main Sands, and on one occasion Van Gogh actually helped the boys build a sandcastle. In a letter to his brother Theo on 21 April 1876, he wrote: “We go to the beach often; this morning I helped the boys build a sand-castle like those we made in the garden at Zundert.” I love that quote because it makes him feel much more real. You can picture him standing on the beach with a group of schoolboys, building a sandcastle and remembering doing exactly the same thing with his brother Theo when he was younger. He also clearly enjoyed the sea around Ramsgate. Shortly after arriving, he wrote to his family about taking a walk by the sea, saying simply: “it’s beautiful there.” He described the harbour, the ships and the stone jetties where people could walk, and said that further out, where the sea was more open, “that’s beautiful.” When we were walking around Ramsgate, I kept thinking about that. The harbour and the sea are obviously not exactly the same as they were in 1876, but there is still something special about standing by the water and knowing that Van Gogh walked around these same streets and looked out at this same coastline. He even made small drawings of the view from the school, including View of Royal Road, Ramsgate, showing how much the place caught his attention. For us, this made Ramsgate more than just a nice seaside visit. We could enjoy the beach and harbour, but at the same time we were walking through a small part of Van Gogh’s early story — before the paintings, before the fame, when he was simply a young teacher living in a seaside town. #Ramsgate #RamsgateKent #VanGogh #VincentVanGogh #VanGoghInEngland #VanGoghRamsgate #RamsgateMainSands #KentCoast #KentTravel #ArtHistory #VanGoghTrail #BritishHistory #SeasideHistory #ExploreKent #UKTravel #FamilyTravel #TravelReview #TravelMemories #HistoryLovers #ExploreEngland

We had a wonderful day with Leyla on a private customized tour of Istanbul, where we visited Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar. She also accompanied us to a carpet shop and helped us make a purchase. Beyond showing us her beautiful city, she saved us a tremendous amount of time by helping us skip the very long lines. I highly recommend her, she's amazing! :)

summer mornings Ramsgate

Ramsgate Beach

Ramsgate Beach

“Where the boats rest and the sea breathes slow.”

“Sunrise over Ramsgate streets—where the day begins quietly, but beautifully.”

Sunset in Ramsgate💞

#hellochristmas ,great little hotel. in ramsgate kent. staff was helpful and friendly. room had everything in it for a comfortable stay.we visited the ramsgate tunnels.fantastic history.well worth a visit. we also went out to the local restaurant.great food, local fish, and chips, beautiful.

my partner and I. had a great evening staying at the albian hotel ramsgate. £100 including breakfast. what a bargain. Hotel room had great views of the main sands of ramsgate. Nice and clean room. only one issue. the bed mattress was at a slant.so it felt like you were going to slip off it in your sleep.the bed was quite high.shame because it's a fantastic hotel.i would definitely stay again

#travel ramsgate I love this Side

#ramsgate is a very attractive and loving side

📍 Itinerary Overview 🚩 Sightseeing Route 🏖️ Must-Visit Attractions 🚇 Transportation 📷 Photo Spots 🍜 Local Cuisine 🏠 Accommodation 1.Albion House at Ramsgate 💡 Tips

An ideal weekend getaway or day trip from London, Ramsgate has beautiful views over the royal harbour, as well as a small sandy beach for those looking for a more traditional seaside vibe. Margate and Broadstairs are a couple of stops away on the train if you’re looking for bigger beaches, plus the vintage shopping vibe of Margate. Ramsgate is also home to a unique Wetherspoons in the old royal pavilion - the biggest in the country! #ramsgate #kent #seaside #coast #beach #Englishbeach

#seascapes Ramsgate Harbour is incredibly beautiful and popular.

old style hotel but very neat and sparkling clean , helpful and always happy to help staff! Thanks 🙏🏼

here's a little English seaside small town of Ramsgate. with loads of fun and park and seaside retreats !

Forget polite seaside nostalgia—Ramsgate is **Kent’s most intriguing coastal paradox**, where Georgian elegance collides with pirate history, and a working harbor hums beside vintage vinyl shops. This isn’t just a town; it’s a **salty, slightly unkempt love letter to maritime adventure**. · -- ### **Why Ramsgate Seduces (and Surprises)** ⚓ **A Harbor with Stories to Tell** · **Royal Harbour**: The only UK harbor granted "Royal" status (by George IV in 1821), where **fishing trawlers** unload their catch beside superyachts. Don’t miss the **smokehouse shacks** selling oak-fired kippers. · **Pegwell Bay**: A **wild, marshy coastline** where Viking longships first landed—now a prime spot for oyster foraging at low tide. 🏛️ **Architectural Drama & Hidden Tunnels** · **The Grange**: Augustus Pugin’s Gothic Revival mansion (the architect of Big Ben), a **medieval fantasy** with secret chapels and sea views. · **Ramsgate Tunnels**: A **maze of WWII shelters** carved into chalk cliffs, now hosting eerie sound-and-light shows about the town’s Blitz survival. 🍴 **Food with Grit & Glamour** · **The Empire Room**: A **faded ballroom turned brasserie**, serving champagne and oysters under chandeliers. · **Peter’s Fish Factory**: A no-frills **harborside shack** where the haddock is fresher than the graffiti outside. · **Vinyl Head Records**: Browse rare LPs, then grab a craft beer at **The Ravensgate Arms** next door. · -- ### **Secrets Only the Rugged Coast Lovers Know** · **The Microclimate Mystery**: Ramsgate gets **more sunshine than anywhere else in Kent**—hence the palm trees on East Cliff. · **The Ramsgate Sands Murder**: A notorious 1860s crime that inspired Dickens’ unfinished novel *The Mystery of Edwin Drood*. · **Best Sunset Spot**: **The View Point** near the lighthouse, where the whole harbor turns gold. · *Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)** "Where Regency dandies once promenaded, and punk bands now play in smuggler’s caves." · Insider Move: Take the **Ramsgate to Ostend ferry** for a day trip to Belgium—because why not?* 🚢🍟 · -- · "Ramsgate doesn’t do twee—it does *real*, with a side of sea spray and a dash of defiance."* · (Note: Stay at **The Royal Harbour Hotel**—ask for Room 12, where Turner once slept.)* 🎨🌊

Absolutely beautiful, clean beach with soft sand and the biggest wetherspoons in the country. Not too crowded and well maintained. The walk next to the chalk cliffs were breathtaking. Great temperature to have a swim and also do all kinds of water sports. The Ramsgate tunnels were incredible with all kinds of information and history. Tours last one and a half hours and it's best to be in comfortable shoes. We stayed at Spencer Court Hotel for two nights which was nice and quaint. Walking distance from the beach and decently priced. The breakfast there was perfect and the service was amazing. Overall, a great weekend away.

|Ramsgate to Margate Hike. London Surroundings | Ramsgate to Margate Hike RamsgateMargate Ramsgate to Margate Hike 16.04 km Moderate difficulty ★★★ Coastal hikes are a different kind of experience compared to the tranquility of forest trails. The vastness of the coastline and the roar of the sea bring a sense of openness. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a walk by the sea and let your mind relax and heal. LondonRamsgate From Charing Cross station in London, you can take a train to Ramsgate, enjoying the countryside scenery of southeast England along the way. The journey takes about two hours. It is recommended to purchase a round-trip ticket. You can return to London from Margate (the end point). After arriving in Ramsgate, the first stop of the hike is High Street. From High Street, there is a gentle slope. At the end of the slope, turn around and you will see the docks by the sea and the elevated highway built with red bricks. If you are a fan of Hayao Miyazaki, this sunny scene will remind you of something familiar. Royal Victoria Pavilion Following the map, you will see the Royal Victoria Pavilion, an iconic building. Ramsgate Tunnel Passing by some ice cream shops and seaside apartments, you will then reach the historic Ramsgate Tunnel. This tunnel was originally built as an air raid shelter during World War II to protect local residents from air raids. Dumpton Gap Coming out of the tunnel, continue forward. When the weather is good, you can often see people with children and dogs walking or cycling leisurely on Dumpton Gap beach, enjoying the sunshine and the beach. Viking Bay Then you will arrive at Viking Bay in Broadstairs. This beach is known for its traditional British seaside town atmosphere. The colorful beach huts are lined up along the promenade, adding a lot of vitality to the beach. Kingsgate BayBotany Bay This section is the most stunning part of the hike. The famous white cliffs of Dover appear before your eyes. During World War II, British pilots saw these cliffs from afar and knew they were about to return home. Walpole BayLand Raft Continue hiking to Walpole Bay. At low tide, a large area of beach is exposed, where you can explore rock pools and tidal pools. Margate Finally, the end point of the hike is Margate. The Turner Contemporary art gallery in the town is a highlight. It showcases modern art and is named after the famous British landscape painter J.M.W. Turner. This hike from Ramsgate to Margate is full of discoveries at every step.

You never have to go far to enjoy lovely seaside views #beachlife #Ramsgate