J.W.Turner

Miles of sandy beaches, the highest number of listed buildings per square metre and possibly the most picturesque part of the South East – Thanet is certainly Kent’s best kept secret.

Thanet, which encompasses the popular seaside towns of Margate , Ramsgate and Broadstairs and eight rural villages – has recently had its charms shown on Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location and its diversity highlighted in the award winning Gypo and Ruby Blue by MEDB Films and Exodus by Artangel, Channel 4 and Artscouncil UK .

Just over an hour from London , the 26 miles of sandy beaches and chalk cliffs together with its pretty cobbled streets and regency buildings have appeared on the likes of It’s Me or the Dog, Scrap Heap Challenge, How To Be A Property Developer, This Morning and GMTV.

Ramsgate Harbour © Mediahouse

Ramsgate has the only Royal Harbour in UK and when the sun shines, you could almost be in Monte Carlo . Margate ’s Old Town boasts a range of architecture from all decades dating back to the 16 th century and Broadstairs’ literary connections to Charles Dickens can be seen on every street corner.

Our rural beaches, such as Joss Bay and Minnis Bay , are popular for watersports and Thanet holds the highest number of Blue Flag awards for its beaches in the country.

Margate Bay © Turner Contemporary

Fashion is a favourite for the area too with our beaches, buildings and pretty villages all being backdrops for photo shoots for a number of well known brands including Clarks and Boden, both of which appeared in national magazines and newspapers.

There is a still lot to discover in Thanet – from gothic architecture, Art Deco Modernist houses, ice cream parlours, Victorian prison cells to the mysterious Shell Grotto.

From Film Noir, Dogma, horror to TV – the bright lights are shinning for Thanet.

[Lucy Tuson]

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