From Margate's wide tidal flats in the west to Ramsgate's main sands in the south, the Thanet coast strings together more than a dozen beaches in a fifteen-mile arc. The pretty stretch — the chalk-cliff section between Broadstairs and Margate — is where the most distinctive ones sit, and it begins on the doorstep of the house.
On this page
Right on the doorstep
Botany Bay
The closest beach to the house — a two-minute walk down the cliff path. Botany Bay is the most photographed beach on the Thanet coast, famous for its towering chalk sea stacks that stand free of the cliffs at low tide. Rock pools, caves at the base of the chalk, and a vast flat of sand at low water. It holds a Blue Flag for 2026, and RNLI lifeguards patrol it in summer. A clifftop hotel above the bay serves food and drink with the view. Read the full Botany Bay guide →
Kingsgate Bay
A short walk south from Botany Bay. A small, sandy, semi-private cove tucked beneath the cliffs, reached down a flight of steps. Kingsgate Castle — a folly built in the 1760s, now private apartments — looks down from the headland. A clifftop pub sits at the top of the steps. The chalk arch at the southern end of the bay is the photo people come for. Dogs are welcome here year round, on a lead during summer daytimes. Read the full Kingsgate Bay guide →
Joss Bay
About a mile south, between Kingsgate and the North Foreland lighthouse. The wave-catcher of the Thanet beaches — Joss Bay Surf School has been teaching here since 1998, and the gentle waves that break on the sandbar are friendly to beginners. Blue Flag for 2026, lifeguarded in summer, big sandy expanse at low tide, parking at the top. Even if you don't surf, it is a beautiful and safe family beach. Read the full Joss Bay guide →
The Broadstairs bays
Viking Bay
The main Broadstairs beach and the busiest in the area. A crescent of soft sand with the town's promenade above and striped beach huts at the back. Bandstand, ice cream, deck chairs, the harbour at one end. Lifeguarded and lively, with everything within reach — the easiest beach of all if you have young children. Note that dogs are banned outright here from May to September. Read the full Viking Bay guide →
Stone Bay
The next bay north of Viking, down its own set of steps. Quieter, smaller, more secluded, and a good swim away from the crowds. It holds a Seaside Award. Cut off at high tide at both ends — check the tide table before you settle in. Read the full Stone Bay guide →
Louisa Bay
South of Viking. Tiny, often almost empty, lovely at low tide for a walk along the wet sand. No facilities — bring what you need.
Dumpton Gap
Further south still, halfway towards Ramsgate. Easily missed and rarely busy. Worth knowing about as a low-tide walking route — you can carry on along the sand all the way to Ramsgate at low water.
Towards Margate
Palm Bay
Wide, sandy, family-friendly. A gentler beach than the more dramatic Botany or Kingsgate, with shallower water and a grassy clifftop walk above. Easy parking. Good for younger children.
Walpole Bay
Famous for its enormous tidal swimming pool — a Grade II listed Victorian sea bath that fills with the tide, four acres of swimmable water at high tide. The beach itself is broad and sandy. The pool is a curiosity worth seeing whether you swim or not.
Margate Main Sands
The big one. Margate's town beach, a wide flat sweep of sand in front of Dreamland and the Turner Contemporary. Crowded in summer, magnificent at sunset. The harbour arm walk at the eastern end is essential.
Compare the beaches
The quick version, for picking where to spend the day. Dog rules below are for the summer season (1 May–30 September); outside those dates dogs are welcome on all of them.
| Beach | Character | 2026 status | Dogs (summer) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botany Bay | Chalk stacks, caves | Blue Flag | Off 10am–6pm | Rock pooling, photos |
| Kingsgate Bay | Secluded cove | — | On lead 10am–6pm | Quiet, dog days |
| Joss Bay | Open surf beach | Blue Flag | Off 10am–6pm | Surfing, families |
| Viking Bay | Town beach | Seaside Award | No dogs | Easy family day |
| Stone Bay | Quiet, steps down | Seaside Award | Off 10am–6pm | Quiet swim |
Dog rules by beach
Thanet District Council runs a Public Spaces Protection Order on the beaches, in place from 1 May to 30 September each year. The rules vary beach by beach:
- No dogs at all: Viking Bay (Broadstairs), and Margate and Ramsgate Main Sands.
- No dogs 10am–6pm: Botany Bay, Joss Bay and Stone Bay.
- Dogs on a lead 10am–6pm: Kingsgate Bay — otherwise welcome year round.
- Promenades: dogs must be on a lead alongside any beach, all year.
Outside the summer dates, dogs are allowed on every beach here. The restrictions exist partly to protect the Blue Flag and Seaside Award water-quality status, and they are enforced in season.
A few practical notes
- The Thanet beaches are mostly tidal. Several of the smaller bays get cut off at high tide — check before you walk along the sand between them.
- Lifeguards cover the major beaches (Viking, Joss, Botany, Margate) during the summer season only — typically late May to early September.
- The water here is cold outside of August — the North Sea does not warm up the way the south coast does. Even in August expect 17–18°C. Wetsuits if you plan to swim seriously.
- The Viking Coastal Trail follows the clifftop the whole way from Ramsgate round to Margate — a 25-mile loop. Brilliant on a bike.
If you only have one afternoon
Walk from the house down to Botany Bay at low tide. Spend an hour among the chalk stacks. Walk south along the sand to Kingsgate Bay if the tide allows, or up to the clifftop path if it does not. Drink at the clifftop pub on the headland. Watch the sun go down from the cliffs over the Channel.
Common questions
Which beach near Broadstairs has Blue Flag status?
For 2026, Botany Bay and Joss Bay both hold Blue Flags, along with Minnis Bay and St Mildred's Bay further west. Stone Bay, Viking Bay and Louisa Bay hold Seaside Awards rather than Blue Flags.
Which is the best beach for families?
Viking Bay in the centre of Broadstairs is the easiest, with soft sand, a gentle slope, lifeguards and facilities right above. Joss Bay is a good lifeguarded alternative with more room, and Botany Bay is excellent for rock pooling at low tide.
Where can you surf?
Joss Bay is the main surf beach in Thanet. It catches the cleanest swell on this stretch of coast and is home to Joss Bay Surf School, teaching beginners here since 1998.
Which beaches get cut off at high tide?
Several of the smaller chalk-cliff bays — including Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay and Stone Bay — are tidal, and the routes between them along the sand close well before high water. Always check a tide table before walking from one bay to the next.