Full of kiss-me-quick nostalgia and seafaring tales
It had been years since I’d last visited the seaside town of Ramsgate in Kent.
You’d think that as I’m a Kent dweller, I’d be visiting a bit more frequently. But so often is the way that we head further afield and miss those special treats on our doorstep.
With Ramsgate’s location being just a baguettes throw from France, it has some fascinating history, particularly around its nautical past. From the Napoleonic Wars to the Dunkirk evacuations during Operation Dynamo. Then mix that with a hearty helping of ice-cream and fish and chips, and you have a winning combination.
![The Pin image for our post - 'Ramsgate in Kent on a crisp winter’s day'](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ramsgate-in-Kent-on-a-crisp-winters-day-Pin4.jpg)
![An elegant Edwardian entrance to lift from the upper promenade to the lower promenade at Ramsgate. From here you have a view over the town's Harbour and is coastline.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/East-Cliff-Lift-in-Ramsgate-was-built-in-1910-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
Where is Ramsgate
How to get to Ramsgate
- By Train
You can catch a direct High-Speed train from London St Pancras International station to Ramsgate Station. Which takes around 1 hour 20 minutes, some may take longer so, check the timetable.
- By Car
It's only 20miles/35km from Dover, and 30miles/47km from Folkestone. It's easy to get to from London, 80miles/127kms, but it make some time to get there and back.
The Royal Harbour, Ramsgate
Granted the honour by King George IV in 1821![Red brick terraces that lead up to the Royal temple Yacht Club. The red brick is very much feature of the harbourside.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Royal-Temple-Yacht-Club-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
![A circular terracotta plaque with the insignia of the cinque ports which is half lion and half ship replicated 3 times on a shield.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Cinque-Ports-emblem-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
We have a new little book on our shelves that we delve into when we're heading to the coast.
Packed full of historical facts, and broken down into the different counties of England. It tells tales of the history of the shoreline that surrounds our country.
Available in Kindle & Hardback editions, it's an excellent addition to anyone's collection who loves the English seaside.
Around Ramsgate's harbour
Explore Ramsgate's nautical heart![Small sailing boats in Ramsgate’s Marina resting on perfectly still water under a bright blue sky.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ramsgate-Harbour-and-SSMV-Starbuck-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
![An artisan cafe set within the red brick arches that line Ramsgate's Harbour front](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Arches-around-Ramsgate-Royal-Harbour-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
![The red brick Sailors Church & Mission at the harbours edge. In the Harbour you can see pair of lifeboats moored up, ready for action](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Sailors-Church-and-Harbour-Mission-in-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
Visit some of Kent’s coastal towns
Operation Dynamo from Ramsgate
The 'little ships' depart for Dunkirk![A view of the ‘Sundowner’ boat moored in Ramsgate Harbour. This was one of the little boats used during the Dunkirk evacuations in the 2nd World War.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/‘Sundowner-used-in-the-Dunkirk-Evacuations-in-1940-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
Escape for a few days
Are you looking for that ‘perfick’ holiday hideaway to relax in while you discover the Garden of England?
After a day exploring the Kent coast and its many historic castles enjoy one of the handpicked properties and unique retreats at Holiday Cottages.
Explore Ramsgate's Tunnels
Discover a hidden secretStrolling along Ramsgate’s award-winning golden sandy beach, you’ll come across Ramsgate Tunnels.
In 1863 a mile-long railway tunnel was built allowing the trains to reach the harbour.
Then as WWII approached this tunnel was extended to a two-and-a-half-mile network of Deep Shelter tunnels. Entrances were dotted around the town, and the air raid shelters provide protection for around 60,000 people.
![The entrance to Ramsgate Tunnels carved into the soft chalk of the landscape that was once home to a railway line they run all the way onto the beach front.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ramsgate-Tunnels-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
Good to know!
Stroll around the lanes of Ramsgate
Discover Ramsgate's delightful architecture![Another street in Ramsgate tucked around the corner with elegant homes the light Victorian era.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Guildford-Lawn-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
![Black iron railings around the front of a series of elegant terraced homes in Spencer Square Ramsgate](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Spencer-Square-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
![An elegant parade of period houses that face the sea front. Each one has its own covered balcony giving excellent views of the coastline](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Paragon-Promenade-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
![A painted shop sign on the edge of a brick building for Pickfords furniture removals and storage.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pickfords-Removals-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
![A view in Ramsgate of one of its many Victorian side streets. The focus is the Falstaff restaurant beautifully decorated in a Topaz blue.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Falstaff-along-Addington-Street-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
Tempted to?
Discover Ramsgate's style and grandeur
Architecture to be cherished![Ramsgate's bandstand in Wellington Crescent with the green glazed tiled roof above a cream tiled bandstand.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Wellington-Crescent-and-bandstand-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
Where to stay in Ramsgate
- The Royal Harbour Hotel - Located within three Georgian townhouses, this hotel offers unique and charmingly decorated rooms. The views across the harbour are incredible.
- The Oak Hotel - This comfortable hotel overlooks Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour and just a short stroll to the golden sandy beach.
![A beautifully ornate shelter with the bench in front of the Edwardian Granville house. Both offer excellent coastal views.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Granville-House-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
If you're intrigued by Kent's weird and wonderful history, or all unusual stories around the county, then take a peek at "Kent's Strangest Tales".
You won't be able to put it down, you can pick it up for your Kindle or in good old paperback.
So many Blue Plaques to discover in Ramsgate
In the footsteps of Van Gogh, Darwin and HRH Princess Victoria![An elegant terraced home Spencer square that was once home to the artist Vincent Van Gough. A blue plaque on the wall tells you he lived here in 1876.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Vincent-Van-Goghs-residence-in-11-Spencer-Square-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
![A blue plaque to the artist Vincent van Gough who taught at this site in 1876.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Vincent-Van-Goghs-taught-at-a-school-in-6-Royal-Road-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
I do love how tenuous some of the plaques can be. Charles Darwin stayed in Ramsgate in 1850, also Wilkie Collins, the novelist in the 1870s and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the English poet in 1830s.
Although possibly the most famous of them all is HRH Princess Victoria who resided in Albion Place between September 1835 to January 1836.
![A blue plaque from the Ramsgate Society to Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria who stayed here from September 1835 to January 1836](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HRH-Princess-Victoria-resided-at-Albion-House-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
Find out more
Only one way to finish a day at Ramsgate
I'll have cod please!![The entrance to Ramsgate Tunnels carved into the soft chalk of the landscape that was once home to a railway line they run all the way onto the beach front.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Peters-Fish-Factory-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
![Ramsgate’s harbour at night in the run up to Christmas with the masts of the boats decorated with twinkling lights.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ramsgate-Royal-Harbour-at-Christmas-Ramsgate-the-English-seaside-Places-to-visit-in-Kent-Visit-England-V5.jpg)
Map out your route
Whether you’re planning a road trip, plotting a hiking route or cycling one of UK’s scenic trails, there’s nothing quite like using a tactile paper map.
The Ordnance Survey folk are here to help, with maps, guides, gadgets and more. Take a browse through their vast array of maps and grab your ideal companion for your adventure.
Our YouTube video of Ramsgate
We have created a little YouTube video of Ramsgate. Why not take a look?
Also, why not subscribe to our YouTube channel and get the latest clips as we post them?
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I love a good harbor town, especially one with history. Ramsgate sounds like a great one to visit. #farawayfiles
Yes, it really has some interesting history and the mixture of architecture throughout Ramsgate is incredible too.
Always love a good coastal town, especially when there are lots of boats! Ramsgate is really rather pretty and I love the architecture! #FarawayFiles
Yes I do too, the trouble is I always want to pop into a fish and chip shop.
Well that was a surprise! Fascinating to learn about Ramsgate. The harbour, with the surrounding buildings, reminds me of Honfleur in Normandy. I love those houses in Guilford Lawn – gorgeous design. #farawayfiles
Yes, it does remind me a bit of Honfleur and It is amazing how much history it has. The Guildford Lawn was quite quaint, it great when you come across some streets that really surprise you.
Took my (not British) husband to Ramsgate once. He was utterly fascinated, and still talks about the weird British food we had in what I want to describe as a caff. Some kind of stodgy pudding and custard. It was very nice though! Just like Ramsgate.
Ahh fantastic, its great that you still chat about it. I love it when a funny moment happens on your travels and it always brings back memories.
Mmmm, most puddings are great with custard.
I LOVE the photo of the East Cliff Lift – would be marvelous blown up and framed. I can definitely see pictures the parasols and pretty dresses of days gone by parading down those charming lanes. Trying to process how 130 men could have fit on that little Sundowner though! Thank you for sharing this lovely corner of the world – I do love a little seaside town and ALWAYS try to sample the local fish when there. Yum. Cheers from this side of the sea. #FarawayFiles
Thanks Erin
I’m the same when I stroll around the lanes and along the promenades, you just try and imagine what life would have been like then.
It’s unbelievable about the Sundowner boat, and thankfully so many others like it did the same.
What a perfect place for a day trip in the winter. The seaside is always ideal for blowing away the cobwebs and I do love a stroll beside a harbour. I’m really enjoying your posts about Kent’s seaside towns. It’s good to be reminded about the great places to visit closer to home. Thanks for sharing on #farawayfiles
It is incredible how many attractive towns there are around the Kent coast, we seem to be discovering more and more. With Kent being so close to mainland Europe, it holds so much ancient history.
Lovely video of our town thank you.
The only shame is that you couldn’t include the grade 2 listed Winterstoke Gardens and chine, these rock gardens are just a short walk along from the Granville to King George V1 park. The gardens are now maintained by volunteers and are a wonderful part of Ramsgate.
Thanks Dave, we live in Kent so we’re often around the coastline. We’ll definitely take a stroll along that part of Ramsgate next time as the clifftop walk to Broadstairs looks amazing. You never know it may appear in another video.