Tunnels, treats and family escapades in Thanet

With so many glorious sandy beaches, family attractions and traditional seaside trappings, it’s no wonder the towns of Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate are everybody’s favourite coastal escapes come summer. Whether you’re lucky enough to hop onto the Thanet Loop in beautiful sunshine, or you’re looking for a place to escape the rain, this one-day itinerary of hidden gems is the perfect pick for your next family day trip.

Morning

Start the day off in Ramsgate for a fun filled adventure and choose from the excitement of the Ramsgate Tunnels or escapist adventures at the Breakout escape rooms. If you choose Breakout, jump off the bus at the South Eastern Road stop. Here you’ll have the choice between the creepy, haunted graveyard, or hopping down the rabbit hole with Alice in Wonderland. Put your problem-solving skills to the test, decipher cryptic puzzles and make it out of a world where not everything is as it seems.

If you fancy stepping into the history books (and if you’re not afraid of the dark), the Ramsgate Tunnels make for a great stop off on your journey. Stop off at Wellington Crescent and head to the tunnels where you’ll find an intriguing mixture of local legends and history spanning from Victorian Railways right up to the air raids of the Second World War.

Whether you’re a train spotter or a big brand shopper, the next stop on your tour will keep kids big and small smiling. Jump off at Westwood stop A or B and you’ll be in retail heaven at Westwood Cross with a cinema and 53 shops offering fashion, beauty, gadgets, and even a toy or two. Feeling peckish? Cafés, restaurants and quick fast food stop-offs await, but be sure to save some room – there are a still a few treats in store!

As a museum of TOYS, it’s safe to say little ones will love the Hornby Hobbies Visitor Centre, just a couple of stops up the road at the Westwood B or Q stop. Discover incredible railway and Scalextric layouts, spot toys straight out the archives and stock up on the latest Hornby, Scalextric, Airfix and Corgi toys for the ultimate souvenir.

Afternoon

You’ll need a sweet tooth for the next stop on your tour along the sunny shores of Margate. A short walk from Cecil Street Council Offices stop M or K will lead you into the magical fairy-tale world of the Happily Ever Afters tearoom. Unicorn hot chocolate, ice cream sundaes, cupcakes and an enchanting backdrop, trust us, it doesn’t come much than this. Alternatively, a quick stroll up the road will lead you back down the rabbit hole and into the Mad Hatter Tea Rooms. Choose from traditional cream teas, homemade cakes and light lunches, all set in a pretty little Victorian tearoom.

No family visit to Margate would be complete without a trip to Shell Grotto, so it’s time to hop back on the bus to Athelstan Road. Inside this intricate grotto of wonders, you’ll find winding passages, ornate pictures of gods and goddesses and an astonishing 4.6 million shells!

At this point on your tour, you’ve got a couple of choices to make. If the sun is taking a break, stop off at Pearsons Way and head up the road to Revolution Skate Park. From skateboarding to scootering and climbing, little adrenaline junkies will love this taste of adventure, and better still, it’s indoors so you can avoid any lingering rain clouds!

Meanwhile, if you’re blessed with a scorching hot afternoon, a visit to the sandy shores of Viking Bay has to be on the cards. Jump off the bus at Broadstairs, Baptist Church, grab yourself an ice cream from Morelli’s Gelato and head down to the bay, because this sandy beach is calling!

To view more itineraries: