Ramsgate Sands

The beach at Ramsgate is proper golden sand, the sort that actually stays on your feet rather than turning to dust the moment you leave. It's a working beach - ferries come and go, fishing boats bob about - which gives it character you won't find at the manicured resorts down the coast.

The sand shelves gently, so it's decent for younger kids who need confidence in the water. The seafront has the usual suspects: ice cream vans, a few cafes, some rather tired amusement arcades that somehow still work. Parking can be tight during summer weekends, and the promenade gets rammed with daytrippers from London who've missed their connection.

What makes it worth the drive from Birchington, though, is the harbour itself. There's something engaging about watching the trawlers unload their catch, and the working waterfront gives the place a genuine edge over the twee seaside towns nearby. You can spend an afternoon here without feeling like you're performing a tick-box holiday experience.

Go on a weekday if you can - the place reveals itself properly when it's not shoulder-to-shoulder with school groups. The tide shifts considerably, so check before you arrive if you want a proper swim rather than paddling in rockpools. Families staying at Birchington Vale Holiday Park are ideally placed for a quick dash down here, though be warned it's busier in summer than you'd expect for Kent's lesser-known resort.