Useful information to help you plan your visit and keep safe on the coast of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate discovering stunning sandy beaches and sea-carved chalk cliffs, activity havens and resort bays
Useful information to help you plan your visit to the coast
Discover stunning sandy beaches and sea-carved chalk cliffs, activity havens and resort bays. Re-energising and relaxing, our coast is a giant, free-to-use, year-round, outdoor spa
The Thanet Coast’s unique coastline has fascinating marine and bird life that is associated with its sandy beaches, chalk cliffs, reefs and sea caves. Learn about the Council's seaweed collection
It’s important to remember to stay safe and take care when visiting our beaches. Read our 'Sun, Sea, Sand and Safety blog from the RNLI
To enjoy your experience at our beaches and bays, please check the Beach Byelaws
We want you to have the best experience when visiting our beautiful beaches. A live map showing how busy they are using a traffic light system helps you plan your visit. View the map in fullscreen mode
The idea of walking from one bay to another may be appealing, but ensure you don’t get cut off by the tide. High and low tide information is often written at each beach by the Bay Inspector. Local tide timetables are also available from our Visitor Information Centre or visit Ramsgate Harbour website.
Respect the Water is a campaign run by the RNLI and provides information on understanding waves, tides and swimming safely in the sea. To find out more visit the RNLI website
When visiting our beaches please park sensibility and be aware of local residents and emergency vehicle access
For details of local car parks please click here
FREE CAR PARKING is available at the following car parks every Saturday: Mill Lane - Margate, Harold Road - Cliftonville, St Peter's Park Road - Broadstairs and Cannon Road- Ramsgate
For information on Parking at our beaches and bays for coaches, please click here
RNLI Lifeguards (Royal National Lifeboat Institute), patrol our beaches and bays throughout the summer season.
There will be RNLI lifeguard cover at the following beaches 10am - 6pm
*Weekends and Bank Holidays Saturday 28th May - Sunday 3rd July
Minnis Bay Birchington, West Bay Westgate, St Mildred’s Bay Westgate, Westbrook Bay Margate, Stone Bay Broadstairs, Ramsgate Main Sands
*Daily Saturday 28th May - Sunday 4th September
Margate Main Sands, Botany Bay Broadstairs, Joss Bay Broadstairs, Viking Bay Broadstairs
*Daily Saturday 9th July - Sunday 4th September
Minnis Bay Birchington, West Bay Westgate, St Mildred’s Bay Westgate, Westbrook Bay Margate, Stone Bay Broadstairs, Ramsgate Main Sands
Please remember to stay safe at our beaches and follow the advice of the RNLI, if using them to undertake your daily exercise and consider the tides
Public conveniences at our beaches and bays are predominately open throughout the year with some seasonality. For full information please click here
The following coastal public toilets are open from Saturday 2nd April
The toilets will be cleaned regularly throughout the day and may be closed while cleaning takes place.
Find out more about our dog byelaws for our beaches and bays, by clicking here
All our beaches and bays are beautiful and we are proud of them, please help us to keep them that way. Take your litter away with you or put it in the bins provided.
Help keep out beaches clean with a '2 Minute Beach Clean'
*Red and yellow flag – lifeguard-patrolled bathing area. Always swim between the flags and within the buoys on all beaches
*Red flag – do not bathe when red flag is flying
*Black and white quartered flag – Surfing Area
*White cross on green flag – First Aid
To find out about hiring a beach hut at one of our beaches contact Your Leisure on 01843 292795 or visit their website for further details
Weekly booking hire can be made online at www.margate-live.com/chalet-events/
During the Summer Season the Environment Agency undertakes water sample tests at ‘bathing water’ beaches. These are beaches that have been formally designated by the Environment Agency as they are popular for bathing and therefore weekly water quality tests are carried out here.
Beaches are classified as Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. Signs are placed at Thanet’s beaches informing swimmers of the water quality results.
More information about the water quality directive and results can be found on the Thanet District Council website
The Thanet Coast is a valued open space used by many people for recreational activities and is highly valued for its plants, animals and birds. Please help by following these simple voluntary codes to help local wildlife and show respect for other beach users.
Respect our coastal wildlife – try to leave everything as you find it, or would like to find it
Consider our coastline and other users – take your rubbish home, report hazards; and respect the rights of other users.
Stay safe – be careful on slippery rocks, of the in-coming tide, and follow bay safety signs
Be Environmentally friendly – buy postcards or take photos of marine creatures, instead of taking marine curious
North East Kent Marine Protected Area - The whole of our coastline is covered by international and national designations for its marine and bird life. The Thanet coastline represents 20% of the UK’s and 12% of Europe’s coastal chalk and it is the longest continuous stretch of coastal chalk in Britain
Individual barbeques are permitted on all beaches and bays after 6pm.
Please click here for further information
Are you a fishermen, sailor, jet skier or water skier? Become a member of the Water Users Group. Register your craft and gain access to our designated facilities for safe and problem free launching. Find out more by clicking here
