Location Guide
Local Tips & Recommendations
Broadstairs:
Viking Beach Broadstairs’ most prominent feature, a few steps away from The Copperfield Apartment and The Dickens Apartment, is a stretch of pristine sandy coastline where you can spend the day soaking up the sun and frolicking in the sea. Don’t forget that there is a cliff lift down to the beach from our apartments (operating daily from 10am to 6pm).
Bleak House The spot where Charles Dickens is rumoured to have written the novel “David Copperfield.” Bleak House sits pretty on top of a cliff on Fort Road and was renamed Bleak House after Dickens’ death, following local belief that it was the setting for Dickens’ novel of the same name. It is the only four-storey Grade II listed mansion in Broadstairs and was Dickens’ summer home.
Dickens House Museum Housed in the cottage that was Charles Dickens’ inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in his novel, “David Copperfield”. Visitors to the Dickens House Museum will see items that once belonged to Charles Dickens, including letters written about Broadstairs, his writing box and mahogany sideboard, along with a fine collection of prints.
Broadstairs Dickens Festival Plan your stay with us in the month of June and you will be treated to the literary festival that transforms Broadstairs by bringing Dickens’ fictional characters to life. With the exception of World War II, and most recently the pandemic, the festival has been held annually every year since 1937 thanks to Gladys Waterer, who conceived the idea of putting on a production of David Copperfield and having people about the town in Victorian dress to publicise it.
The Viking Coastal Trial If you are feeling adventurous, why not have a go at cycling the Viking Coastal Trail – a 32 mile biking loop that circles the Isle of Thanet. You’ll be guaranteed spectacular scenery and unearth a wealth of various historical gems along the way. If you’d rather head out on foot, then we highly recommend a picturesque walk along the coastal edge instead.
The Broadstairs Gallery A family-run gallery backed by over 40 years experience in the art world. The Broadstairs Gallery’s collection showcases work from both locally and internationally renowned artists and stocks original artwork, as well as a selection of limited edition prints, art prints and greetings cards.
New Kent Art Artist curator Karen Hiscock-King opened her beautiful New Kent Art gallery in 2016 and it has gone on to become a well respected and much loved gallery space in Broadstairs. Over the years it has developed an excellent reputation for fine art produced by local artists based in and around the Kent coast.
The Little Art Gallery The Little Art Gallery is exactly that, little, but it packs and punch with over 300 original paintings, prints and handmade crafts by local artists who will also bring your own ideas to life with commission art work.
- Costa Coffee: The Nation’s favourite coffee shop is located just below The Dickens Apartment and The Copperfield Apartment and is one of our very own Goldex Investments franchise stores.
- Da’s Thai Diner: A small family-run Thai restaurant that has been serving Broadstairs flavourful Thai food cooked to order with the freshest of ingredients for nearly 20 years (168 High Street, Broadstairs)
- Jerk N Jam: Taste bud busting Caribbean barbecue and amazing cocktails to enjoy in the vibrant outdoor seating area. Look no further for an awesome Caribbean eatery (19 High Street, Broadstairs)
- Please Sir!: The home of indulgent smash burgers, tipped locally as the most mouth-watering burgers in Kent – not one to miss out on! (36 High Street, Broadstairs)
- Samworth & Mee: Scrumptiously wide range of local seafood – a real favourite amongst the locals and visitors to Broadstairs (9-11 Albion Street, Broadstairs)
- Stark: The only Michelin-starred restaurant in Thanet and one of four in the whole of Kent. “Good food, laid bare” is their slogan and you’ll have a tough time finding many places better to go for fine dining. Look out for the discreet sign either side of the door and you’ll know you’re in the right place – there’s a ‘Star’ symbol on the left window and a ‘K’ on the right (15 Oscar Road, Broadstairs)
- The Little Sicilian: Serving up traditional homemade Italian food, all prepared from fresh ingredients and with a huge range of excellent wines to accompany your meal. (45 York Street, Broadstairs)
- The Tartar Frigate: Ideally located pub and restaurant serving up exceptional seafood, also perfect for alfresco drinks overlooking the harbour front (Harbour Street, Broadstairs)
- Wyatt & Jones: Wonderful family-owned restaurant situated on the edge of Viking Bay offering up delectable local seafood dishes in a rustic environment with stained-glass windows and sea views (23-27 Harbour Street, Broadstairs)
Cliftonville:
Botany Bay A deservedly popular beach with clean sands and a Blue Flag award for water quality. As well as being famous for its chalk cliffs, golden sands and rock pools, Botany Bay is ideal for kayaking, canoeing, fossil hunting, kite-flying and of course… sunbathing!
The Bay Margate’s central Main Sands beach is the prime place to be if you are looking for an award-winning stretch of sandy beach with the backdrop of a traditional seaside resort. You will have a whale of a time building sand castles, splashing around in the sea, enjoying the mini amusement fare or exploring Margate Old Town.
Palm Bay A lovely sandy beach, Palm Bay never seems to get as busy as the better known beaches nearby. One of the best dog friendly beach in the area, so be sure to bring your pooch along for some seaside fun.
Walpole Bay A long, sandy beach with one of the last tidal pools ever to be built. Along with a number of rock pools to explore, Walpole is a family friendly beach. Worth checking the tide times before visiting as when the tide is in there is very little sand left!
The Escapement Get ready for escape room adventure as The Escapement transports you back to Ancient Egyptian times. You will have 60 minutes to solve riddles and unravel a web of clues in order to escape so make every second count.
The Viking Coastal Trial If you are feeling adventurous, why not have a go at cycling the Viking Coastal Trail – a 32 mile biking loop that circles the Isle of Thanet. You’ll be guaranteed spectacular scenery and unearth a wealth of various historical gems along the way. If you’d rather head out on foot, then we highly recommend a picturesque walk along the coastal edge instead.
North Foreland Golf Club Spanning over 100 years old, North Foreland Golf Club is a very popular seaside golf course offering two exceptional all-year-round courses, complemented by professional clubhouse facilities to match.
- Costa Coffee The Nation’s favourite coffee shop is located just below The Four Bays Apartment and is one of our very own Goldex Investments franchise stores.
- The Bangkok Thai A popular Thai restaurant that is a real hit with the locals. Great staff and equally great food – it may be modest in size but it packs a real punch of authentic flavour. (Princes Avenue, Cliftonville).
- Ouma’s Kitchen A delightful South African eatery, fashionably decorated with an exceedingly varied menu. Delicious food with great vegan and vegetarian offerings – a real Cliftonville gem.
- Whilst we continue to add additional picks, check out our Margate Nibbles & Tipples list for more top dining recommendations – all around a 10 to 15 minute walk away from The Four Bays Apartment.
Margate:
Margate Main Sands Beach Margate’s central beach is the prime place to be if you’re looking for an award-winning stretch of sandy beach with the backdrop of a traditional seaside resort. The younger generation will have a whale of a time building sand castles, splashing around in the sea and enjoying the mini amusement fare. You will find plenty of space to lay down your beach towel, go for a dip in the North Sea and soak up the sun, all whilst being within tip-toeing distance from a host of ice cream parlours, pubs and traditional fish and chip shops.
Dreamland Re-opened its gates in 2017 – the year that marked its 101st anniversary. Having battled through some hardship, recent injections of capital and care have got the iconic amusement park and entertainment hub back on its feet and it’s experiencing a record number of visitors. There is a long list of live blockbuster performances (including Andy C, Shy FX, UB40, Chase and Status, Scouting for Girls, Fatboy Slim, Jax Jones, Rudimental… to name but a few!) in the Dreamland calendar with additional acts regularly being added. We’d definitely advise keeping tabs on their website.
The Old Town Adjacent to the beach, you will find the historic Old Town, buzzing with the daily activities of locals and tourists alike. You’ll find no end of amusement arcades, fish and chip shops, pubs, cafes, independent art galleries and vintage clothes shops. Here you will also find the distinctive Margate Clocktower, commemorating Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
Turner Contemporary 2021 marked the 10th anniversary of the Turner Contemporary – a world class contemporary arts space and catalyst for the reinvention of Margate. Located on the former boarding house where J. M. W. Turner (the renowned romantic painter, printmaker and watercolourist) stayed. You will not miss Kent’s largest visual arts venue when walking around the Old Town, thanks to its striking appearance. The gallery keeps the imaginative spirit of Margate alive by promoting local contemporary artists and hosting a range of exhibitions – even better is that it is completely free to enter!
The Shell Grotto A lesser known gem of Margate. Prepare to feast your eyes on 2000 sq. ft. of mosaic, made from 4.6 million shells, in 70 ft. of underground tunnels – you really have to see it to believe it! No one knows who, when, why or how this jaw-dropping grotto was constructed but we are fortunate that it was and 100% recommend paying a visit to witness the amazing manifestation for yourself.
Old Kent Market: Fronting the Main Sands, the Old Kent Market sits inside a grand old cinema building dating back to 1911. Inside, you’ll find an old London bus that has been turned into a café; what claims to be the smallest pub in the country, with standing room for six customers; and plenty of stalls selling fresh produce sourced from Kent farms.
Theatre Royal The Grade II-listed Theatre Royal dates back to 1787 and holds claim as the second oldest working theatre in England. The auditorium hosts well-known comedians, touring bands, ballet, musicals and shows for kids. A great way to add some spice to your evening!
Draper’s Mill: This fascinating Grade II listed four-storey Kentish smock mill was built in 1845. The windmill was originally one of three on the site – two built to grind corn and the third to pump water. It is open for you to visit and enjoy on weekend afternoons during the summer months – a real sight to behold!
- Costa Coffee The Nation’s favourite coffee shop is located in the town centre and is one of our very own Goldex Investments franchise stores (84-86 High St, Margate).
- Angela’s Seafood Recommended by the 2021 Edition of the MICHELIN Guide. A small seafood restaurant serving delicious, ethically sourced seafood, alongside simple, seasonal vegetable-based dishes. Its little sister Dory’s, is a seafood bar – serving raw, pickled, cured and baked seafood and vegetable dishes overlooking Margate Main Sands beach (21The Parade, Margate).
- Barnacles Quirky little pub offering a wide variety of drinks. Friendly staff and complementary views of Margate Main Sands beach, the lighthouse and Turner Contemporary (1 King Street, Margate).
- Bow’s Kitchen Family friendly restaurant discretely situated above the Wig & Pen Pub in the heart of Margate’s Old Town. Serves award-winning, authentic Thai cuisine (10 Market Place, Margate).
- Buoy and Oyster Much acclaimed seafood restaurant awarded 2 AA Rosettes in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and made Harden’s UK Top Rated Restaurants list in 2021. Here the ethos is simple – to serve great quality food and drinks in a relaxed & stylish seaside setting (44 High Street, Margate).
- Giorgios A modern spacious bar and Italian/Mediterranean restaurant; relaxed and informal at lunch time, lively and chic in the evening (19 Marine Gardens, Margate).
- Hantverk & Found: Recommended by the 2021 Edition of the MICHELIN Guide. Hantverk & Found serves fresh, local seafood with influences from around the globe. More and more Asian influences have crept into the menu recently, credit to the head chef’s training at the Tokyo Sushi Academy in Japan – needless to say, it’s a great spot for sushi and Japanese inspired food (16 King Street, Margate).
- L’Olivo This restaurant is the perfect spot to savour delicious Italian flavours, celebrate, laugh and drink good wine in an enjoyable, relaxed and welcoming setting (Market Place, Margate).
- New Street Bistro With just eighteen seats, the New Street Bistro offers diners a cosy and intimate experience where they can enjoy carefully selected dishes of local produce. The owner infuses Scandinavian cuisine into his own classic bistro style to create a variety of excellent seasonal dishes (23 New St, Margate).
- SARGASSO From the team behind East London’s Brawn Restaurant – this is the place to be for vibrant coastal cooking, great wine, music and awesome views (Stone Pier, Margate).
- The Ambrette Innovative Anglo-Indian restaurant serving mouth-watering dishes in a light, modern space with amazing sea views (10 Fort Hill, Margate).
- The Sands Hotel This airy and contemporary bar and grill enjoys unparalleled views over Margate Main Sands beach. The modern European menu is inspired by both local and seasonal produce. Beautifully presented dishes and a service that is attentive – your experience will be one to remember (16 Marine Drive, Margate).
- Bottega Caruso Recommended by the 2021 Edition of the MICHELIN Guide. Everything at this Italian restaurant is produced fresh with the very best ingredients and time-honoured recipes. Pasta is made fresh every morning with flour imported from Cooperativa Lentemente in Sannio and local free range eggs. A top pick for authentic Italian home style cooking and many wonderful Italian wines from small producers (2-4 Broad Street, Margate).
Sandwich:
Sandwich Bay Soak up the sun and take in the refreshing coastal breeze at Sandwich Bay. A short 5 minute drive from The Fairway Apartment. You’ll be greeted by a long stretch of sand and pebble beach backed by three elite Sandwich golf courses.
Golf Courses Galore: Sandwich is home to the only Open Championship golf course located in South East England – the world renowned Royal St George’s Golf Club. If one coveted green is not enough to satisfy your golfing hunger, you’ll be delighted to discover that the prestigious Princes Golf Club and Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course are just chipping distances away.
- Royal St George’s Golf Club a 5 minute drive from The Fairway Apartment.
- Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club a 10 minute drive from The Fairway Apartment.
- Princes Golf Club a 12 minute drive from The Fairway Apartment.
The Sandwich Guildhall Museum Tells the story of Sandwich and the surrounding area from the Mesolithic period through to World War II. The highlight exhibits are the 1300 A.D Sandwich Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest, in addition to many other rare and historic artefacts.
Gazen Salts Nature Reserve Get back to nature and bask in the tranquillity of the Gazen Salts Nature Reserve. You can even bring a picnic to unwind in this area of outstanding natural beauty – after all, it’s only an 8 minute walk from The Fairway Apartment.
Wingham Wildlife Park Meet the acquaintance of some absolutely amazing animals at Wingham Wildlife Park. A family-operated park that is home to the largest number of animal species out of all wildlife parks and zoos in Kent. You’re in the right place if you want to see lions, tigers, flamingos, and even the incredibly endangered red panda!
- Costa Coffee The Nation’s favourite coffee shop is located just below The Fairway Apartment and is one of our very own Goldex Investments franchise stores.
- Hay’s Shack Mouth-watering fast food/street food that is fresh, hand-cooked and prepared using meat sourced from local butchers (47 Strand Street, Sandwich).
- Namaste Sandwich Delicious authentic Indian food served by friendly staff. Efficient service and tasty veggie options topped off with amazing decor, you couldn’t ask for more! (3-5 The Quay, Sandwich).
- Luigi’s The place to eat if you’re after a combination of traditional and modern Italian dishes using locally sourced produce. Great atmosphere and really cool rustic interior (3 The Quay, Sandwich).
- My Thai A charming family-run Thai restaurant with flavoursome food prepared by Thai chefs with decades of experience (6 Market Street, Sandwich).
- Mermaids Locker An awesome British bar in a quaint corner of town. Friendly staff with a range of scrumptious varied meals and revered Sunday lunches (8 Cattle Market, Sandwich).
- Tan Bueno The new kid on the block that is taking the Sandwich restaurant scene by storm. Bringing flair and flavours of the Mediterranean to the heart of Sandwich (10 New Street, Sandwich).
Sandgate:
Coming soon…
Coming soon…
Westbrook Bay:
Westbrook Bay Beach A pleasurable, long sandy beach that is one of the quietest close to Margate central. The presence of a lifeguard in the summer season and gentle slope of the sands make this a relatively safe place for younger visitors. At low tide, a number of rock pools are exposed making for fun marine life spotting and pretty seashell collecting. To the rear of the beach runs a wide promenade with a strip of colourful photo-worthy beach huts. The beach also has a designated water-skiing area and is popular with water sport enthusiasts.
Strokes Adventure Golf A fun outdoor 18-hole minigolf course set in challenging surroundings that include rockscapes, plants and water features. Strokes Adventure Golf is a really fun way to spend some quality time with family or friends. There is no need to book, just turn up and pay + putt.
The Sunken Gardens: Legend has it that a World War II bomb is what sunk the gardens, but a five minute walk up the road from our Westbrook Bay apartments will let your imagination decide. The Sunken Gardens are protected from the sea wind and offer a pleasant retreat.
Westgate-On-Sea Tennis Courts: A mere 3 minute walk down the road from our Westbrook Bay apartments you will find two public tennis courts. The courts are free to play on so bring your rackets, your A-game and let the games commence!
Westgate & Birchington Golf Club This historic golf club is a 5 minute drive away from our Westbrook Bay apartments. The club is well known locally for its relaxed and friendly clubhouse. The compact and testing 18-hole course is suitable for players of all ages and standards and provides stunning views across the sea.
Margate Central: Check out our Margate list of Sights & Attractions to read up on what is on offer just a short 8 minute stroll away from our Westbrook Bay apartments.
- Westbrook Fish Bar A great fish and chips bar that cooks everything fresh to order. Generous portions and reasonably priced, the bonus is that it’s just around the corner from our Westbrook Bay apartments (54 Canterbury Road, Westbrook).
- Fifty2 An awesome independently run gem serving up delicious bagels and paninis, as well as hand rolled ice creams and beers + cocktails – this place is the gift that keeps on giving (52 Canterbury Road, Westbrook).
- Casa Pizzeria Look no further for Napoli-style pizza, antipasti and desserts. A very welcoming and hospitable spot with a charming little rear garden (89 Canterbury Road, Westbrook).
- Pan Asian Cuisine Very highly rated Thai where the food is served hot and fresh – a top hit with locals and visitors to the area (14 Buenos Ayres, Westbrook).
- The Sun Deck After a short 5 minute walk down the coast from our Westbrook Bay apartments, you will be greeted by an assortment of amazing street food style vendors. From award winning breakfasts at the funky Bus Café, tasty seaside delights from the Po’Boy Creole Fish Hut, to famous smoked meaty grills served up by Pork&Co – there is guaranteed to be something that tickles your fancy (Royal Crescent Promenade, Westbrook).
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