I’ll admit it: when a friend first told me she was moving to Ramsgate, I was sceptical. Whitstable and Deal, yes. Margate, obviously. But Ramsgate? The slightly faded seaside town at the far edge of Kent better known for day-trippers and arcades than natural wine bars and sea-swimming creatives?
Then I went to visit.
What struck me first was the sheer sense of space. Ramsgate feels wide open: all huge horizons, chalk cliffs and long stretches of sandy beach.
“There’s this feeling that you’re permanently on holiday,” says Sarah Tomczak, editor of Country Living’s sister Hearst title Red, who moved to Ramsgate in 2020. “We always say to each other: ‘We live here – we’re not on holiday.’”
Over the past few years, creatives, freelancers and families seeking a slower pace of life have quietly begun putting down roots here. But unlike some of the Kent coast’s more polished hotspots, Ramsgate still feels gloriously real around the edges – and that’s exactly why people love it.
Why Ramsgate?
Unlike nearby Whitstable or Deal, Ramsgate has a grandeur that feels distinctly continental. Its handsome Royal Harbour is lined with Georgian architecture and, on bright summer days, the marina takes on an almost Riviera-like quality, with boats bobbing beside seafood restaurants and glasses of chilled rosé catching the light.
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“What really struck me was the sky,” says Sarah, who grew up nearby and returned to Kent after years in London. “It just goes on forever.”
Today, a growing creative community has settled here, drawn by affordable housing, slower living and the chance to build a different kind of life.
“There are so many people here who’ve left the London rat race,” Sarah explains. “Artists, people in TV, advertising, fashion and music – everyone has come looking for more balance. Because space is cheaper, people are able to start businesses and do things creatively that perhaps wouldn’t be possible elsewhere.”
Ramsgate still has traces of old-school seaside life: weatherworn arcades, slightly chaotic pubs and stretches of high street that haven’t yet been polished into perfection. Somehow, that’s part of its charm.
“You’re not in Whitstable or Deal,” says Sarah. “It’s a bit rough around the edges – but that attracts people with a certain sensibility. There’s a real community spirit.”
Sea swimming and slower living
One of Ramsgate’s biggest draws is the sea itself. Unlike many fashionable seaside towns, it has proper sandy beaches – and plenty of them. Main Sands, beside the harbour, attracts summer visitors and families, while locals gravitate towards Western Undercliff, a quieter stretch where sea swimmers gather year-round.
“There’s this whole swimming community,” says Sarah. “People swim every single day.”
There are no cafés or tourist facilities at Western Undercliff – just towels hanging from hooks on the seawall and locals slipping into the sea before work. “Because it’s tucked away, everyone knows each other there,” Sarah says.
There’s also the walk from Ramsgate to Broadstairs: a long, restorative stretch of sand and chalk cliffs that feels worlds away from everyday life. “If you get the tide times right, you can walk the whole way along the beach,” says Sarah. “Huge cliffs, huge sky, sea air – it’s beautiful.”
And despite its slower pace, Ramsgate remains surprisingly connected. High-speed trains reach London St Pancras in around an hour and 15 minutes, making hybrid working entirely possible – albeit with some timetable strategy required.
Where to eat and drink in Ramsgate
Ramsgate’s food scene may still be smaller than Margate’s, but what it lacks in polish it makes up for in warmth and originality. One minute you’re eating oysters and drinking pét-nat, the next you’re watching the sunset from the roof terrace of the UK’s largest Wetherspoons. Somehow, it works.
Seabird
This relaxed natural wine bar on Addington Street has become a local favourite for small plates and excellent wine. Its laid-back atmosphere and thoughtful cooking make it ideal for long evenings with friends.
Staple
Part bakery, part neighbourhood institution, Staple has built a devoted following for its pastries, sandwiches and custard tarts. Having expanded from nearby Broadstairs into larger Ramsgate premises, it has recently started opening for evening service, too.
Penelope’s
Another charming independent wine bar serving seasonal small plates in a cosy setting.
Union
Yoga studio-come-café, Union has become a popular daytime hangout for healthy lunches and coffee.
Peter’s Fish Factory
For classic fish and chips overlooking the harbour, locals swear by Peter’s.
The Boating Pool
One of Ramsgate’s most charming summer spots, this old Victorian boating pool has evolved into a relaxed bar and pizza spot overlooking the sea. “Everyone goes there for sundowners,” says Sarah.
Queen Charlotte
Tiny, slightly chaotic and full of personality, this Addington Street pub is beloved by locals. “It’s a little bit freewheeling about when it opens,” Sarah laughs.
Where to shop
Our Curated Abode
Run by former influencer Emma, this interiors shop blends vintage finds, homewares and decorative treasures.
Potters
A beautifully curated homeware shop selling ceramics, gifts and interiors pieces with a distinctly coastal aesthetic.
Margot in Margate
Artist Margo’s bold, joyfully colourful work has become instantly recognisable across the Kent coast and beyond. While her gallery may be in Margate, she’s based in Ramsgate, where her Addington Street studio reflects the town’s growing creative energy.
Addington Street
The creative heart of Ramsgate, where artists’ studios, independent businesses and wine bars sit side by side. Look out for the Addington Street Vintage Trail – spend an afternoon drifting between the independent boutiques before before stopping for a glass of wine at Seabird or Queen Charlotte.
Where to stay
Tucked into a Regency crescent overlooking the sea, this cosy, characterful hotel feels perfectly suited to Ramsgate itself: charming, slightly eccentric and wonderfully atmospheric, with roaring fires, sea views and old-school seaside appeal.
Perched right on the seafront, San Clu brings a slightly more contemporary energy to Ramsgate’s hotel scene. Come for sea-view rooms, cocktails on the terrace and easy access to both the harbour and Main Sands beach.
Other options
From sea-facing Georgian townhouses to creatively restored Airbnbs and laid-back guesthouses tucked behind the harbour, Ramsgate has a growing collection of places to stay that reflect the town itself: stylish, welcoming and a little rough around the edges in the best possible way. Many are independently run, with owners more than happy to point guests towards their favourite swimming spots, bakeries and sunset pubs.
Ramsgate hasn’t been polished into perfection – and that’s precisely why people fall for it. There’s creativity here, certainly, but also sea air, community and a sense of ease that’s increasingly hard to find elsewhere. Come for the huge skies and sandy beaches; stay for the impromptu suppers, sea swims and the feeling that life might just move a little more slowly here.
