Broadstairs Press Pack www.visitthanet.co.uk How to reach Broadstairs?

Broadstairs, one of Thanet’s three main resorts, is easily accessible by car, coach and train. The country’s only high speed train service, HS1, brings travellers from St Pancras, London, to Broadstairs in just 85 minutes. There are regular train and bus services, including the Thanet Loop, to the neighbouring resorts of Margate (3.4m / 5.5km) and Ramsgate (2.3m/ 3.7km). The City of Canterbury is 18.8 miles (30.25km) away and the Port of Dover, with its cross-Channel services to mainland Europe, just 22.6 miles (36.4km) distant.

2 www. visitthanet .co.uk Escape to Broadstairs

• Timeless seaside charm Broadstairs succeeds in more than satisfying the needs of today’s generations of short break, • Seven sand-filled, family-friendly beaches and weekend visitors and daytrippers who flock to its bays, 3 with Blue Flags and 1 with a Seaside beaches. Yet the coastal honeypot retains all the Award charms and features of a traditional seaside • Best surfing beaches in the south east and destination. closest to London Morelli’s, the quintessential 1950s ice cream • Annual Dickens Festival in June, Folk Week in Botany Bay parlour, still stands at the top of the chalk cliffs August and Food Festival in October overlooking the flowers planted along the • Stunning chalk cliffs including caves and promenade and the gently sloping sands and much-photographed stacks at Botany Bay rock pools of Viking Bay. • Cliff top and foreshore strolls, cycling and golf Charles Dickens, one of the town’s most famous former visitors and residents, would easily • Traditional fishing harbour, cobbled and narrow recognise the narrow streets and flint walls in the streets older parts of the town and the streets winding • Classic ice cream parlours and coffee shops down to the small fishing harbour. • Clifftop gardens and bandstand Throughout the summer Fully Booked signs are regularly seen in the windows of the town’s • Quirky independent shops and exciting many guesthouses and B&Bs while self-catering eateries Viking Bay houses and apartments are in great demand. As a resort, and a long-standing favourite destination for people of all ages and interests, Broadstairs has more than held its own and is thriving in the 21st century. The town is now home to more than 24,900 people enjoying the changing delights of the seaside throughout the seasons.

Surfing www. visitthanetbusiness .co.uk 3 Kingsgate Bay Louisa Bay Stone Bay Beaches and bays Picture perfect

Sunseekers, sandcastle builders, surfers, fossil within a short distance of Viking Bay. Blue Flag With its memorable sea views, snug bays and hunters, rock pool enthusiasts and more will be Award 2015. open sands flanked by chalk cliffs, Broadstairs has delighted with the wide choices of beaches and a long tradition of attracting artists and the Viking Bay – a wide horseshoe bay with superb bays to be discovered in Broadstairs. galleries to display their works. sands, tidal pools, beach huts and children’s Botany Bay – Thanet’s most photographed activities and rides as well as surf and belly The Broadstairs Gallery , just a short distance beach with towering chalk stacks and golden boards. Refreshments, including traditional fish ‘n from Viking Bay, features original works by local sands. The bay is a great place for rock pools and chips, ice creams and lollies, are readily available. and international artists alongside limited edition fossil hunting when the tide is out. Blue Flag Seaside Award 2015. prints. Award 2015. www.broadstairsgallery.com Louisa Bay – a small popular bay with Kingsgate Bay – some of the finest examples of refreshments nearby for when the tide is high Artists Vicki Griggs and Kevin Malone provide the sea caves in the country. Secluded sands but cut and the beach is washed clean by the sea. Sand ultimate in bespoke paintings online and a great off at both ends at high tide. Check times and and delightful rock pools. choice for visitors to The Little Art Gallery , tides before setting out. tucked away in Eldon Place just off Harbour Dumpton Gap – quiet sands and rock pools Street. Paintings to see and buy. Joss Bay – a surfer’s paradise with a 200-metre with dramatic chalk cliffs and a great coastline www.arttogo.co.uk long sandy beach surrounded by fields, a golf walk to Ramsgate at low tide. Check times and course and space to play. Blue Flag Award 2015 tides before setting out. Stone Bay – as the tide goes out beautiful sands Discover more of Thanet’s award-winning and superb rock pools are revealed. Hours of fun beaches and bays at www. visitthanet .co.uk/beaches-bays 4 www. visitthanet .co.uk Attractions

Dickens House Museum Lillyput Mini-Golf www.dickensmuseumbroadstairs.co.uk www.minigolfbroadstairs.com A celebration of the life and times of the great A championship designed mini-golf course, British campaigner, journalist and writer set in complete with tea garden. the cottage that was the inspiration for the Helter Skelter home of Miss Betsey Trotwood in David www.helterskelterplaycentres.com Copperfield. Award winning children’s soft play area for Bleak House ages 0-8. www.bleakhousebroadstairs.co.uk Crampton Tower Museum An unmissable Charles Dickens connection perched above Broadstairs’ picturesque harbour offering luxury accommodation and memorable afternoon teas. Dickens spent holidays in the house in the 1850s and 1860s. Crampton Tower Museum www.cramptontower.co.uk Visitors discover the inventiveness of the Victorian engineer Thomas Crampton and his work in Broadstairs and in the development of the railways and communication, he laid the first successful cable for a submarine telegraph Bleak House between Dover and Calais. His tower housed the first waterworks for the resort. St Peter’s Village A delightful destination in its own right, the village offers visitors four award-winning tours www.villagetour.co.uk .These include two War Graves tours, a Churchyard tour and a chance to explore the village’s history with a selection of colourful costumed characters.

St. Peter's Village Tour www. visitthanetbusiness .co.uk 5 Entertainment Outdoor adventures Invigorating and gentle walks discovering inlets and quiet bays cut into the chalk cliffs.

Broadstairs has its own professional performers The Active Coast itinerary planner gives more Discover the fun of surfing and stand up paddle offering high quality entertainment for visitors detail on outdoor fun and adventure – boarding, SUP, with Joss Bay Surf School and residents alike. The Sarah Thorne Theatre www. visitthanet .co.uk/activecoast. www. jossbay .co.uk and Kent Surf School at Company presents summer rep, plays, Viking Bay. www. kentsurfschool .co.uk Follow the Viking Coastal Trail (32 miles/51.4 pantomimes, concerts and musical evenings in km) or mini routes including Historic Broadstairs Broadstairs Town Trail (leaflet) is a self-guided the intimate Memorial Theatre. Patrons of the and Smugglers’ Haunts on foot or on two wheels walk around the town with illustrated boards on theatre company include Dame Judi Dench, download from www. vikingcoastaltrail .co.uk route giving an insight into some of the town’s David Suchet CBE and Julian Fellowes DL. people, history and buildings. www. sarahthorne-theatrecompany .co.uk Broadstairs Bandstand was opened in 1892 by Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. Turner and Dickens Walk Overlooking the Viking Bay sands and delightful The Bandstand is a focal point for entertainment Take a walk along the restored 4 mile route harbour, The Pavilion and Garden on the Sands is throughout the year, but is particularly busy between Dickens’ Broadstairs and Turner’s a great destination for a relaxing evening with a during the summer months. Margate, much of which follows an ancient lively programme of special musical events and footpath between St. Peter’s and St. John’s entertainments. Broadstairs Town Walks Enjoy a gentle stroll churches. www.visitthanet.co.uk www. pavilion-broadstairs .co.uk through 600 years of history in just under an hour – Charles Dickens, Hans Christian Anderson North Foreland Golf Club Cinema lovers are bound to want to experience and Ronnie Barker are all included! Walks take Seaside golf at its very best with stunning the cosy Palace Cinema – a 111-seat, family-run place from Easter to end August, weekends only panoramic views from every tee and every green cinema in the resort’s historic Harbour Street at 2pm. and a stunning 18 hole par 3 golf course www. thepalacecinema .co.uk www. northforeland .co.uk

6 www. visitthanet .co.uk Charles Dicken's Study, Bleak House Betsey Trotwood’s Palour, Dickens House Museum North Foreland Lighthouse Artistic impressions

The Victorian writer Charles Dickens (1812 - English Impressionist artist Walter Richard 1870) is probably Broadstairs’ most famous Sickert (1860 - 1942) regularly painted at his regular visitor and it is not difficult to follow in home in St Peter’s village. his footsteps around the time and find the Sir Samuel Luke Fildes the artist lived for sources of inspiration behind many of his many years at Holland House, Kingsgate. He colourful characters and settings. Many of his illustrated The Mystery of Edwin Drood before novels were completed during his visits. moving into portraiture and gaining a large and Author of The Thirty-Nine Steps and other fashionable clientele, including Royals such as exciting novels, John Buchan spent time writing Edward VII, Queen Alexandra and King George V. during his 1914 visit to the town’s North These state portraits hang in Buckingham Palace. Foreland area near Stone Bay. The North Foreland lighthouse is said to be the inspiration for the title of Wilkie Collins ’ detective novel The Woman in White . Frank Richards (Charles Hamilton), the creator of Billy Bunte r, made his home at Kingsgate, Broadstairs. Oliver Postgate , of Bagpuss , Noggin the Nog and Clangers fame also lived in the town while Annette Mills , creator of Muffin the Mule , settled in St Peter’s.

www. visitthanetbusiness .co.uk 7 Bandstand Entertainment Annual events

FEBRUARY AUGUST Blues Bash Folk Week www.broadstairsbluesbash.com – a festival of www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk blues music at venues across the town Broadstairs Folk Week attracts musicians and folk enthusiasts from across the world. Performances EASTER and colourful events are held at venues Spring Fair throughout the resort. Beware of Hooden Horses www.broadstairsfoodfestival.org.uk – launching (but the Dragons are friendly). the main visitor season with a feast of regional Water Gala Broadstairs Folk Week - ©Dan Bass produce and a celebration of culinary delights. www.broadstairswatergala.co.uk – beach JUNE competitions, nautical characters, bandstand Dickens Festival events, fun fairs and fireworks. www.broadstairsdickensfestival.co.uk – a major OCTOBER celebration of author Charles Dickens’ Broadstairs Food Festival enthusiasm for Broadstairs which he visited www.broadstairsfoodfestival.org.uk - a must visit many times between 1837 and 1859. He for local and visiting foodies alike. described the town as “Our English watering Place”. Costumed characters of all ages, Victorian Throughout the summer months there is also a entertainments and special events. variety of entertainment and events at Broadstairs Bandstand.

Dickens Festival 8 www. visitthanet .co.uk Food and drink, where to stay

ON THE MENU WHERE TO STAY? Start the day with an accredited Kent Breakfast Beyond the festivals, Broadstairs has numerous There are boutique hotels, guest houses and with 60% of the ingredients produced in the independent cafés, bistros and restaurants contemporary B&Bs in historic buildings Garden of England. welcoming guests throughout the year. alongside self-catering apartments, fishermen’s cottages and houses full of character in the heart With a town boasting two major three-day food Award-winning Wyatt & Jones, an independent of the town and overlooking the sea. festivals each year at Easter and in October - it is restaurant putting local produce at the heart of not surprising to learn that Broadstairs is a its cuisine, is a popular choice, alongside, of Discover the full range of accredited popular destination for foodies. course, the resort’s classic ice-cream parlours accommodation at www. visitthanet .co.uk The festivals alone attract thousands of visitors Morelli’s and Chiappini’s overlooking the seafront to the seaside town to taste rare and special and Viking Bay. foods, many featuring the produce of the Garden of England, and superb wines, cask ales and Kent’s famous fruit juices. Look out for Chefs’ Theatres and Ask The Experts sessions alongside hundreds of opportunities to sample the many culinary creations.

Morelli’s Broadstairs Food Festival Fishermen’s Cottages

www. visitthanetbusiness .co.uk 9 Broadstairs Harbour 10 www. visitthanet .co.uk Beach Huts Roots, revival and regeneration

Originally Broadstairs was purely a fishing desirable place to live and visit throughout the settlement much smaller than the inland village year. of St Peter’s established around the parish Investment and the development of new retail church. The coast was extremely popular with parks and a major modern shopping leisure smugglers and the residents of Broadstairs and centre at Westwood Cross, on the outskirts of St Peter’s had a reputation for being very good at the historic town, has enabled businesses to outwitting customs agents. restore and revive many of Broadstairs’ In the early 19th century, steam packets, closely traditional buildings as independent shops, followed by the railways made trade and contemporary visitor accommodation and Victoria Gardens travelling links with London much easier and weekend escapes for second homers. faster. New residents and visitors began to arrive A multi-million pound investment is and by the beginning of the 20th century the transforming East Kent College’s historic Yarrow population in the now rapidly growing seaside Building in Broadstairs into a Four Star Training town topped 10,000. Today Broadstairs is home Hotel which is scheduled to open in early 2016. to approximately 25,000 people. Grand houses, impressive estates for wealthy Londoners and their families, and hotels were built along the cliff tops and in the town. Broadstairs quickly established itself as a highly

Harbour Master’s Office www. visitthanetbusiness .co.uk 11 Dreamland ©Oliver Dixon Margate Main Sands Margate Old Town So close

MARGATE The re-opened and re-imagined Dreamland • Classic seaside heritage – magnificent sands, Pleasure Park is the newest addition and beaches and bays, water sports, rock pools, Margate is a classic seaside destination with deep celebrates the age of the Great British seaside cockles and whelks, fish ‘n chips and candyfloss roots in the original development of visits to the amusement experience, including the country’s • Major attractions and entertainments coast for the health benefits of exhilarating sea oldest wooden roller coaster, the Grade II* listed alongside many hidden gems air and salt water bathing. Scenic Railway. • Time and space to relax and enjoy the resort’s As the passion and fashion for seaside fun and Along with the resort’s 50,300 residents, visitors famous sunsets, clifftop walks and trails, and frivolity became more accessible with boat trips find themselves at the heart of the cultural and contemporary culture from London and the arrival of the railways, creative arts revolution sweeping along the coast Margate and neighbouring Cliftonville became of Kent. • Independent galleries, vintage and retro synonymous with family holiday fun, weekend hotspots, and quirky shops along cobbled • Old Town packed with quirky shops, gourmet escapes (including romantic liaisons) and daytrips. streets and unusual eateries and art galleries. Visitors today soak up the sun, sands and sea • Events include GEEK (February), Margate Beach • World-class art and cultural exhibitions at with all the enthusiasm of previous generations Cross (March and October/November), Turner Contemporary gallery of the bucket ‘n spade brigade as well as a wealth Margate Meltdown (May), Soul Weekend and of retro and vintage seaside pleasures presented • Dreamland, the UK’s original pleasure park - Carnival and Volleyball Beach England Finals in 21st century style. Lonely Planet named Kent the Best in Europe (August). for family holidays 2015 citing the retro thrills of Dreamland A Margate press pack is available, see back cover.

12 www. visitthanet .co.uk Westcliff Arcade Royal Harbour Ramsgate Tunnels

RAMSGATE

Ramsgate, a favourite seaside destination of • UK’s only Royal Harbour • Fine eateries serving local produce including Princess Victoria, is an architectural jewel in the seafoods • Golden sands, famous family-friendly beach coastal crown of the Isle of Thanet on the north- and bay, boat trips and clifftop walks • Retro and contemporary boutique hotels, eastern edge of Kent – the Garden of England. guesthouses, B&Bs and self-catering • Modern marina filled with luxury yachts The town’s long maritime history as a port, with • Events include Great Bucket and Spade Run the country’s only Royal Harbour, and its thriving • Augustus Pugin’s house The Grange and (June), Ramsgate Week, an alternative to Cowes modern marina have contributed to the St. Augustine’s Church (July), Ramsgate Festival (August) and Heritage development of a relaxing Mediterranean-style • Elegant Georgian, Regency and Victorian Open Days (September). waterfront filled with a wealth of bustling bistros architecture – hundreds of listed buildings and restaurants. A Ramsgate press pack is available, see back • Ramsgate Tunnels - deep shelter tunnels built The resort’s fine weather, superb sands, sea air cover. to protect civilians during WWII and stunning views from the chalk cliffs alongside elegant side streets, independent shops, galleries • Thriving continental café culture along the and seaside entertainments add even more south-facing waterfront flavour to Ramsgate’s popular café culture.

www. visitthanetbusiness .co.uk 13 Quex House Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum Minnis Bay

THANET VILLAGES

Just a short distance from the coast visitors Popular visitor gems include: discover a treasure chest of delights in Thanet’s • Quex Park Estate and the Powell-Cotton • Minster Abbey at Minster – possibly the oldest traditional villages. Museum, plus their annual events diary, inhabited house in the country near where including I Love Vintage (April), Museum at St Augustine led the first Christian mass in Night (May), Gears of Change and Fought for Britain Freedom (September), Quexmas (November) • Monkton Nature Reserve and Observatory – • The Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum trails, UK’s first artificial bat cave, fossils and at Manston visitor centre • RAF Manston History Museum • Birchington and Westgate – coastal villages with Blue Flag beaches at Minnis Bay, West Bay • Minster Show and St. Mildred’s Bay. www.minstershow.org.uk Minster and neighbouring villages work together to present action-packed, entertainment celebrating the success of flower and vegetable growers, cooks, jam and preserve makers and more

14 www. visitthanet .co.uk Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate – why visit?

Londoners have been escaping to the Isle of chalk reefs teem with wildlife . These are the And now with the Turner Contemporary Thanet for more that 200 years … for the closest surfing beaches to the capital city: a gallery, the return of the iconic pleasure park laidback seaside vibe … breathtaking sandy popular choice with southeast boarders. Dreamland , reimagined for the 21st century, and beaches … fresh sea air … and romantic Turner high-speed trains from the capital … a new Artists, writers and musicians have long been skies … generation is discovering this original seaside inspired by this almost-island … and continue to escape . Here at the very edge of the Garden of be drawn here. Turner said Thanet had “the England , three Georgian and Victorian resorts, loveliest skies in all Europe” … for Dickens , each with its own distinctive character – Margate, Broadstairs was “the freshest, freest place” … and Broadstairs and Ramsgate – cluster around the Tracey Emin declares in green neon on Margate bays at the far end of the peninsula . seafront: “I never stopped loving you”. There’s a retro feel to these harbour towns, with The Isle’s a historic landing place steeped in their remarkable 18th and 19th century symbolism for the story of Britain …the first architecture , their classic seaside heritage Saxons, Hengist and Horsa , arrived and settled and kitsch, their eclectic attractions and live arts here … and St Augustine first stepped onto and music venues. And there is a variety of these shores on his way to nearby Canterbury . independent places to shop, eat, drink and stay. For this is the furthest south east you can go in Miles of low chalk cliffs edge the peninsula, Britain … almost touching mainland Europe … sheltering a string of secluded, unspoilt sandy yet these days only 75 minutes from central bays . Chalk rockpools , chalk stacks and rare London …

www. visitthanetbusiness .co.uk 15 Find out more at www. visitthanet .co.uk or:

In person Broadstairs Information Kiosk, Royal Albion Garden Kiosk, Victoria Promenade, Broadstairs, CT10 1AN www. broadstairsinfokiosk .co.uk

Visitor Information Thanet Visitor Information Centre The Droit House Stone Pier Margate CT9 1JD Tel: 01843 577577 [email protected]

For further information about all Thanet visitor destinations and attractions go to Visit Thanet www.visitthanet.co.uk. For further media information, press trips and access to up-to-date images, please contact Julie Edwards, Senior Tourism Officer at Visit Thanet, tel: 01843 577671 or email: [email protected] VISIT THANET Margate • Broadstairs • Ramsgate