Ramsgate Main Sands

Ramsgate Main Sands is a beautiful beach in Kent, perfect for a great family day out at the seaside.
Enjoy the many activities on offer on the beach and in the surrounding arcades and games centres.
Stroll along the promenade at Ramsgate Main Sands, which has a distinctly continental feel.
Discover a delicious meal with a dining experience at one of the many great restaurants that line the seafront.

The coastal city of Ramsgate is less than 30 miles from the shores of France, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were on the continent during a trip to the beautiful Ramsgate Main Sands. At this brilliant beach, you’ll find lovely places to relax, plenty of things for kids and families to do, and a great choice of fantastic restaurants, bars, and cafes.

Ramsgate Main Sands is very popular with families during the summer, thanks to its golden sand and fun arcades. If you’re looking to build the perfect sandcastle or fancy a game of beach volleyball, Ramsgate Main Sands is a great place to do it.

There are also plenty of opportunities to take part in traditional seaside games and activities. The arcade at Ramsgate Main Sands is full of fun games for kids, and the amusement rides are always a big hit with visitors to the beach. All of these fantastic amenities and things to do help make Ramsgate Main Sands one of the best beaches in England.

With the Spanish-style promenade running alongside the Ramsgate seafront, Ramsgate Main Sands really does feel like somewhere in sunny southern Europe. There are plenty of great activities to get involved with during your visit.

The water around this Ramsgate beach is perfect for swimming in, and there are lifeguards on watch during the busier parts of the year. Other exciting sports at the beach include jet-skiing, sailing, and windsurfing.

The town of Ramsgate itself is picturesque and well worth a look during any visit to Ramsgate Main Sands. The beautiful county of Kent is home to many great days out, and Ramsgate is no exception. Ramsgate has the unique title of being home to the only Royal Harbour in the country.

In 1821, King George IV visited a friend in Ramsgate, and received such a warm welcome from the locals that he decreed the harbour to be “the Royal Harbour of Ramsgate”. This meant that the harbour could fly King George’s Royal standard flag three times a year, which they do to this day.

The harbour and the surrounding area include some beautiful examples of historic architecture. These include Georgian buildings, regency villas, and the Italianate Glasshouse.

The harbour and the beach are home to plenty of interesting restaurants and cafes, where alfresco eating is the norm in the warmer months. Strolling down the promenade, the atmosphere at Ramsgate Main Sands is friendly, and it is a lovely place to be, with the Ramsgate Harbour restaurants bustling.

What to know before you go

Ramsgate Main Sands is open 24 hours a day, all through the year. The most popular times to visit are during the summer months, especially in the school summer holidays. However, the beach is also a lovely place to go for a walk during the colder part of the year too.
There’s a great range of places to grab a bite to eat near Ramsgate Main Sands. Along Harbour Parade and Harbour Street, which lead up to the beach, you’ll find loads of great independent restaurants, as well as family favourites like Pizza Express. The town is also home to one of the largest Wetherspoons pubs in the country, at the Royal Victoria Pavilion.
There are public toilets on the beach, at East Pier Yard. These toilets have accessible features and baby changing facilities.
Dogs are not allowed on the beach from 1 May to 30 September each year. At other times of the year, dogs are welcome at the beach.

Getting there

Ramsgate Main Sands is a little over a two-hour drive from London.
There are plenty of places to park near Ramsgate Main Sands. Harbour Parade has some on-street parking, and there is a multi-storey car park on Leopold Street. There are further car parks in the town on Queen Street, Meeting Street, and Staffordshire Street.
The beach is also very accessible by public transport. Ramsgate Train Station has Southeastern Trains, and the journey from London St. Pancras is just an hour. From the station, you can walk to the beach, which takes around 20 minutes. You could also get the 48 bus or The Loop bus from the Train Station, both of which have stops only a few minutes’ walk from the beach at Ramsgate Main Sands.