Ramsgate Area Guide

Ramsgate is a stylish seaside town on the Kent coast with beautiful buildings, beaches and waterfront attractions. Aside from access to the town’s vibrant harbour, property in Ramsgate also offers easy commuter links that allow for quick trips into London.

Welcome to Ramsgate

Once seen simply as a neighbour of Margate, Ramsgate has truly come into its own in recent years. The town’s Victorian properties offer great value for buyers, and the coastal location gives you the chance to enjoy scenic coastal walks, restaurants and award-winning beaches. Home to the UK’s only royal harbour, Ramsgate is just a short hop from Europe, giving it a dash of continental charm.

Why Ramsgate is ideal for families

Families looking for property in Ramsgate will be glad to hear there are some excellent schools in the local area. Top options for younger kids include Newington Primary, Chilton Primary and St Ethelbert’s Catholic Primary. For older pupils, there’s St Lawrence College and Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School, which accepts girls and boys aged 11 to 18.

Getting around in Ramsgate

Ramsgate lies close to the A299 and the A256, connecting it to Canterbury and Dover and other destinations along the coast. The town is also well connected to London by high-speed rail, with trains leaving the local station every hour. Journey times are just under 60 minutes, making it ideal for commuting, day trips and weekend breaks.

A short history of Ramsgate

Once a tiny fishing village, Ramsgate rose to prominence with the completion of its Royal Harbour in the mid-19th century. During the Second World War, the town opened a four-mile network of underground tunnels which sheltered thousands of people. Today, they’re partly open to visitors. Ramsgate also boasts impressive artistic connections, with Vincent van Gogh living and working here in the late 1870s. You can still see a blue plaque marking his former home in Spencer Square.

Local highlights in Ramsgate

The coastline around Ramsgate is home to many spectacular walking and cycling routes, and the town also lies close to the Viking Trail path that runs all around Thanet. Sports fans can practise their swing at St Augustine's golf club, a stunning 18-hole parkland course surrounded by beautiful trees, waterways and ponds. For a more leisurely day out, head to the vibrant harbour, where you'll find amusement arcades and stylish restaurants with great views over the water.

Dining out in Ramsgate

As well as all the sporting and outdoor attractions on the doorstep, property in Ramsgate is also within reach of fantastic bars, pubs and places to eat. The town is home to the UK’s biggest Wetherspoons, while other local favourites include the Mariners Bar, Sir Stanley Grey and the Belle Vue Tavern. Top-rated restaurants include the Little Ships, La Magnolia and the Royal Harbour Brasserie.