Couples planning time away together after the school summer holidays should check out the Isle of Thanet's coastal resorts of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate and these top tips for a fantastic break away.

Reconnect in the great outdoors

Get out and about in the fresh sea air and experience the big skies and spectacular scenery of the Isle's 19 miles of coastline. 

Hire bikes and cycle along the 32 mile (51.4 km) Viking Coastal Trail, one of the most attractive leisure cycling routes in Kent.  The trail takes in all of the Isle's stunning coastline before looping back along rural lanes and through picturesque villages.  Most of the route is along traffic free promenades, with plenty of places to stop for a leisurely lunch or a carefree  dip in the sea.  A trail leaflet can be downloaded or picked up from one of the local information centres.  The trail is perfect for walking too as it can be broken down into smaller sections.

www.visitthanet.co.uk/cycling

If you enjoy watersports,why not learn something new together?  The Isle has the closest surfing beaches to London and two well-established surf schools.  Kent Surf School at Viking Bay and Joss Bay Surf School offer surfing and Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) lessons, from just £35/£40 per person, including equipment hire.

 www.visitthanet.co.uk/activecoast

Enjoy a culture lover's fix

Discover art in unexpected places, from timeless inspiration to genre-defying contemporary practice, the creative connections across the Isle will thrill and surprise in equal measure.

Browse the many small, independent galleries scattered across the Isle, they're free to enter and showcase work by talented local artists.  Or view the current exhibitions at Turner Contemporary (until 26 September), located on the site where famous British artist JMW Turner fell in love with his landlady Mrs. Booth.  

Add some drama with a performance at England's second oldest theatre, the Theatre Royal, the country's smallest - the Tom Thumb Theatre, or Margate Winter Gardens.  Experience everything from musicals to Macbeth and comedy shows to concerts with big names like The Libertines, Paul Weller, John Bishop and Katherine Ryan.  Big bands and star DJs can also be enjoyed with an amusement park backdrop at Dreamland.  For couples who'd prefer a more intimate experience at a smaller venue, the Ramsgate Music Hall and Elsewhere Margate are just the ticket.

https://www.visitthanet.co.uk/see-and-do/arts-and-culture/

Wine and Dine

If you're at the seaside, fish and chips al fresco is a must, with stunning sea views a given.  But this culinary corner of Kent has so much more to offer.  Mannings traditional seafood stall in Margate has adapted its offering and now amongst the cockles, whelks and dressed crab, couples can indulge in oysters and champagne.

Ice cream lovers should head to award-winning Morrelli's in Broadstairs.  This was their first ice cream parlour in the UK, opened in 1932.  It has a distinct 1950s style with an iconic flying canopy, Soda Fountain, original Lloyd Loom chairs and pink leatherette parlour seating - and truly amazing ice cream.

For a mediterranean-style experience, Ramsgate waterfront is the place to go, with lots of independent cafes and restaurants dotted around the Royal Harbour and in the little arches along Military Road.

Watching a Turner sunset whilst dining at one of the seafront restaurants between Margate and Birchington will hit the spot for all true romantics.  The Sun Deck on the promenade in Margate, easily located by the big red bus, offers a variety of street food from several small vendors, as well as cocktails and music.  For something a little bit different, but extra special, book a sunset hamper with Tiffin events.

www.visitthanet.co.uk/stay-and-eat/eating-and-drinking

https://www.tiffinevents.co.uk/

And so to bed

Time outdoors in the fresh sea air generally instills a sense of calm and relaxation.  Add to this the wonderful options for an overnight stay and a good night's rest is more than likely.  Here quality clifftop hotels sit alongside friendly B&Bs, colourful and quirky self-catering apartments contrast with traditional fishermen's cottages and back-to-nature campsites offer an alternative to everything-catered-for caravan parks.  For glamping with a difference, try Quex Livery Glamping Holidays, an exclusive site with four glamping 'pods'.  Each 'pod' has a bell tent, an outdoor kitchen, plus its own shower and toilet facilities in a converted horse box!  

www.visitthanet.co.uk/stay-and-eat/places-to-stay/

For further information on Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate go to www.visitthanet.co.uk

Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate can be reached in under 75 minutes from London on Southeastern's high speed rail service (www.southeasternrailway.co.uk).

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General press enquiries:

Please contact Julie Edwards at Thanet Tourism - julie.edwards@thanet.gov.uk or 01843 577671

Assistance can also be given with digital images, reader competitions and press trips - and bespoke packages can be arranged, including accommodation and sightseeing, for journalists with commissions.