Ramsgate Beach

The seafront at Ramsgate pulls you in straightaway. It's a proper working beach - fishing boats still land here, the Victorian harbour walls frame everything perfectly, and there's genuine salt-air grit to the place rather than theme-park prettiness. The sandy stretch itself is decent enough for paddling and swimming, though it slopes gradually, which families appreciate. The promenade running along the top is where the real charm sits. Cafes, fish and chips shops that actually know what they're doing, and enough pebbled spots to claim your own patch without fighting for space. Worth noting: the beach itself is free, naturally, and you can spend an hour pottering about or half a day here without it feeling forced. The character changes with the tide and the time of day - afternoon light catches the old bandstand nicely. If you're staying at Birchington Vale Holiday Park just down the coast, Ramsgate's the obvious pull. It's only four and a half miles away, so an easy drive or decent walk if you're keen. Sandwich Leisure Holiday Park is also close by at five and a half miles, putting you in perfect range. Even The Foxhunter Park at six miles makes it accessible. The town itself - Ramsgate proper - has that faded seaside energy you either love or find a bit melancholy. Don't expect amusement arcades or donkey rides. Do expect actual character and the feeling you're in a place with some history rather than a manufactured resort. Best visited out of July-August heat if you can manage it.