Monkton Nature Reserve
Join Monkton Nature Reserve for activities for all the family including making homes for worms, exploring the pond, creating solar ovens and much more.
Sessions are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 11am and 1pm throughout August.
Prices per child are £3 members and £5 non members which includes entrance to the reserve. Wild classroom sessions making a campfire lunch cost £12.50 members and £15 non members and take place on August 10 and August 15 from 11.30am.
There are also free moth trap mornings included with reserve entrance fee on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10.15am in the education garden.
Monkton Nature Reserve is a unique environment for British flora and fauna that thrive on chalk-based habitats. It is a charity managed by The Thanet Countryside Trust.
Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday 10:30am – 3:30pm.
Find the events page at https://monkton-reserve.org/events/
Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory’s Summer holiday club
Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory’s Summer holiday club will take youngsters on an adventurous, natured inspired morning exploring the complex mixture of habitats, tracking a variety of different animals while learning about the natural heritage of the reserve.
Each day offers a different theme which promises to get kids socializing, while playing and learning outdoors all morning long and creating a deep connection to nature! Expect children to come home tired, dirty and carrying a range of crafts to attract wildlife to your home.
Led by an experienced team of education leaders and conservationists, the bird observatory is based on the private Sandwich Bay estate and is home to Restharrow Scrape, an artificial wetland which acts as a refuge for many birds, as well as woodland, grassland, dunes and beach!
Spaces are limited to 18 children aged between 7 and 12 years old each day, with slots available for FREE thanks to funding from Dover District Council.
All staff are DBS checked, safeguard and first aid trained.
Dates: 31st July, 1st and 2nd August. Then 7th , 8th and 9th August.
Times: 10am to 1pm
Venue: Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Guilford Rd, Sandwich Bay, Sandwich CT13 9PF
Cost: FREE but limited to no more than three sessions per child.
TO BOOK VISIT: https://sbbot.org.uk/book-events/
Broadstairs Summer Fair
Now until August 2, 10am – late
Victoria Gardens and Promenade
Family summer fair with children and adult games and rides, crazy golf, crafts, fun fair, music on the bandstand and more
Fairground rides for all the family with trade /craft stalls along the promenade
Live music on the bandstand Saturday & Sunday
Fundraising event for Broadstairs Water Gala in August
Colourful Carnival Workshop Week
August 1-5, Turner Contemporary
Turner Contemporary has joined up with Great British Carnival to run a week of artist-led workshops to get you in the celebratory spirit
Free workshops running daily – Drop-in between 12 noon – 4pm, Clore Learning Studio
In the lead-up to Margate Carnival, Turner Contemporary has joined up with Great British Carnival to run a week of artist-led workshops to get you in the celebratory spirit.
Make Carnival headdresses, masks and handhelds inspired by the vibrant colours and patterns found in our current exhibition Beatriz Milhazes: Maresias to wear at Margate Carnival on Sunday 6 August.
Open to all ages
Scavenger Hunt, Meet & Greet at Broadstairs Water Gala
August 2, 10am – 12 noon
Scavenger Hunt for 4-11 year olds at Stone Bay… try taking the shoreline challenge to find clues about our marine and bird life and coastal environment, and end with a creative Beach ART challenge. Aimed at children and family groups.
12 noon- 4pm
Thanet Coast Project stand at Broadstairs Harbour… Meet the volunteers and find out more about the NE Kent Protected Area.
Broadstairs Water Gala – Postponed
Santus Circus
Ramsgate, Lord Of The Manor Roundabout
Now until Sunday 6th August
Tuesday 1st 5pm & 7:30pm
Wednesday 2nd 5pm & 7:30pm
Thursday 3rd 5pm & 7:30pm
Friday 4th 2pm & 5pm
Saturday 5th 2pm & 5pm
Sunday 6th 3pm Only
Santus Circus website: https://www.santuscircus.com/
Cliftonville Night Market
August 4, 5pm-9pm, The Oval Bandstand and Lawns, Cliftonville
Street food, music, vintage, arts & crafts, and artisanal goods
Pirates in Pierremont
August 4, 7pm, free outdoor theatre show at Pierremont Hall in Broadstairs (aimed at adults)
Get ready to shiver your timbers and set sail upon the high seas with Captain Cod and her crew.
Seats are available on a first come first serve basis, bring a picnic & blanket! There will be a bar on site selling refreshments at each show, and fancy dress is encouraged. C
If the weather is bad, the event will be moved inside for a limited number of people.
Summer football camp
Children aged 4-13 years old all abilities welcome
Time: 10am-3pm
Dates: Monday – Thursday
31ST JULY – 3RD AUGUST
7TH AUGUST – 10TH AUGUST
14TH AUGUST – 17TH AUGUST
10AM-3PM EACH DAY
Quality age-appropriate football coaching with the emphasis on player development, fun and safety. They are 4 days of non-stop action.
Breakfast club available: 9am – snack and drink provided
Daily focus and prizes to be won
Activities such as: world cup tournaments, matches, panna, saq, and much more
All players in attendance awarded a medal and certificate at the end of the week
Friday is presentation day – trophies and prizes for effort, skill and teamwork awarded
Ramsgate Venue: Newington Community Primary School, CT12 6HX, Ramsgate ( Field Entrance).
Book at: https://rmfootballcoaching.com/store/football-camps-copy
East Kent Coaching
East Kent Coaching is once again offering school holiday training opportunities for young runners in traffic-free park locations throughout the summer.
Each one-hour session will include a range of running-centred activities and anyone entering school years 4 to 9 inclusive in September is welcome, regardless of ability or previous experience.
Morning sessions each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at King George VI Memorial Park (Ramsgate), St Peter’s Recreation Ground (Broadstairs) and Hartsdown Park (Margate), respectively.
One group will be for Primary School pupils starting Year 4, 5 or 6 in September. This provides an ideal chance for children to improve their running technique and get some practice in for the Thanet Primary Schools’ Cross Country, hosted by East Kent Coaching at Quex Park, on Saturday 7th October. There is also a group for Secondary School pupils going into Years 7, 8 and 9.
“Stepping up from primary school to Year 7 can be quite daunting,” says EKC’s Steve King. “so we’re encouraging those boys and girls to build confidence by training with slightly older ones in a structured, supportive environment.”
Years 8 and 9 comprise the ‘Junior’ age category for English Schools athletics and those pupils might begin working towards selection for Thanet district, to compete at the Kent Schools’ Cross Country Championship in January 2024.
To reserve your child’s place on any – or all – of the summer holiday running sessions, please visit http://www.eastkentcoaching.com/summerholiday2023.html or email steve@eastkentcoaching.com.
Lost Island
Golf and interactive darts at Flamingo Arcade, Margate seafront
From aiming your darts at the board to make a virtual ‘wall’ tumble down or to bag a collection of gold coins to testing your Robin Hood arrow skills – interactive boards at Lost Island Golf in Margate are putting a whole new slant on the game.
Three digital augmented reality dartboards have been installed upstairs at the Flamingo Arcade in Marine Terrace, alongside the venue’s second jungle-themed crazy golf course and a drinks cafe for players.
In augmented reality darts, players throw physical darts at a physical dartboard, but also experience interactive visuals, game statistics, virtual targets, animations, and scoring indicators superimposed onto the dartboard through projected high resolution graphics.
The new crazy golf challenge is another 18 hole course, with a lucky 19th hole. You can either book online or turn up and play. Golf opening times are 10am daily, with last entry 7:30pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30pm Friday to Sunday.
The boards are available to be booked for 1 hour slots from noon daily, closing 8pm Monday to Thursday, and 9pm Friday to Sunday. Boards can be booked for a flat hourly fee for up to 6 players.
Off peak board fees per hour are £25 all day Monday to Thursday, and up till 5pm Fridays. Peak time £35 per hour Friday from 6pm and weekends.
For bookings, head to www.lostislandgolf.co.uk and follow the link to book darts.
Ramsgate Micro Museum
Discover the earliest ways people counted and calculated and then found a way to indicate the important “0”.
Learn the stories of the thinkers and inventors whose ideas helped develop computing through the ages. Find the stories of the heroes of computing including Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace in Victorian times, Tommy Flowers the inventor of Colossus in the Second World War and on through the 20th to the start of the 21st centuries.
Other topics include the contribution made to British computing by Sir Clive Sinclair and the historic firsts in games, sounds, graphics, robotics, computer languages and much more.
1pm-4pm, Church Hill, Ramsgate
Adult or Child £5
Group/Family of 4 £15
Price Includes all retro games play
Under 3s Free
Cash only
The Classroom Book Shop Westgate
Free Summer sessions
Margate Caves
1 Northdown Road
The Caves were originally dug as a chalk quarry in the 17th and 18th centuries and are 94.2m long and 12.2m tall at the highest point. Originally opened to the public in 1863, the Margate Caves re-opened for the next generation of explorers on Thursday 22nd August 2019.
After visiting the Caves, browse the gift shop and stop off at the community café, popular locally for selling a range of delicious dishes.
The Cafe is open 10am to 4.30pm on the same days as the Caves.
Summer (March-October) Open seven days per week, 10am-5pm, last entry 4.30pm
Adult £4.50
Child £2
Concession £4
Under 4’s FREE
Family (2 adults/2 children) £10 https://www.margatecaves.co.uk/
Lillyputt Mini Golf, Broadstairs
Minigolf fun for all the family, with 12 championship holes and a lucky 13th hole… a must-do activity if you’re visiting the East Kent Coast.
If mini golf isn’t your cup of tea (have a pot of tea all to yourself instead!).
Wheelchair access into Cafe and Tea Garden area.
Adults: £6 Children under 10: £5
Lillyputt Mini Golf
Victoria Parade
Daily from 10am – 5pm daily (weather permitting) Open later weekends/summer holidays/fine weather
The Spitfire and Hurricane Museum at Manston
Museum site, displaying the two iconic war planes, and also holding a host of objects and artefacts telling the story of life in and around Ramsgate during WWII. Central to the display are the iconic Spitfire Mk XVI and Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc.
As well as the collection, the Museum has a small shop and the café (open 7 days a week from May 18th) serves teas, coffees and quality hot food, with an outside seating area.
Visitors are welcome to sit on the benches in the Allied Crew Memorial Garden to relax and reflect, in an evocative atmosphere.
Visitors are able to book a flight in the Spitfire Simulator. The Spitfire Flight Experience costs £30 for 30 minutes. Book your flight from their website here.
Free entry Donations welcome
Shell Grotto
Grotto Hill, Margate
Discovered in 1835, Margate’s Shell Grotto is an astonishing find; 70ft (21 metres) of winding passages decorated with 4.6 million shells.
The walls are covered in images of gods and goddesses, trees of life and patterns made from the shells of whelks, mussels and oysters.
Some think it is an ancient Pagan grotto, others that it is simply an ornate Regency folly; but with no definitive explanation or history, the Shell Grotto is Kent’s greatest mystery.
Group Visits are to be Pre-Booked – https://www.shellgrotto.co.uk/
Open 10am to 5pm, daily during school holidays.
Adult £4.50
Concessions (Students, Seniors (over 60), Registered Disabled, Armed Forces (serving and veterans) £4
Child (4-16) £2
Under 4’s FREE
Family ticket (2 adults & up to 2 children) £10
Dickens House Museum
Celebrating Charles Dickens’ long connection with Broadstairs (1837-1851). It is housed in the cottage that was Charles Dickens’ inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield. According to the reminiscences of Charles Dickens son Charley, they regularly had tea there with Miss Mary Pearson Strong, and her belief of her right to stop the passage of donkeys in front of her cottage became the donkey incident for the character of Betsey Trotwood.
2 Victoria Parade
Adult £4
Child £2
Family (2 Adults & 2 Children) £10
Concession (Students. Anyone unable to access upstairs) £3
Crampton Tower Museum
Friday – Sunday plus Bank Holiday Mondays 2pm to 4.30pm (last entry 4pm)
Crampton Tower Museum is a family-friendly museum celebrating the life and work of a Victorian engineer, transport and local history.
Crampton Tower Museum, on The Broadway, is a fascinating small museum, partly housed in a flint tower adjacent to the Broadstairs Railway Station. The tower formed part of Broadstairs’ first public water supply.
Adults £3, Child (4-16yrs) £1.50, Family Ticket £7.50 (2 Adults & 2 Children).
See website for details of events throughout the year.
Ramsgate Tunnels
Ramsgate’s Tunnels tours take you deep underground to unlock the story of a hidden city, which evolved from the largest and only known Civilian Deep Shelter Air Raid Precaution scheme authorised by Central Government.
The military story is told elsewhere, but very little remains of the civilian story of a front line town under some of the heaviest aerial bombing in Britain.
Adult £9
Senior/Disabled £7
Child £6
Family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £22
A 50p booking fee applies to Adult & Senior tickets to cover online charges
Dreamland
Park opens each day at 10.30am for 6 weeks of summer
Programme of live music, rides, including the Scenic Railway and The Big Wheel, plus slap-up street food, free film screenings and more, summer by the sea is sorted!
Check out the opening times here: https://www.dreamland.co.uk/opening-times/
This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete
Ramsgate interactive museum in Church Hill celebrating experimental and obsolete electronic technology, scientific, telecommunication and musical technology
Various interactive displays and educational material on the history of experimental, scientific and DIY electronics.
History of obsolete lab equipment, telephony, toys, sound, vision and much more
Good for all ages
Tickets £5 Under 13’s FREE
RAF Manston History Museum
Aircraft, displays, photos, models and cafe
10am to 4pm Mon-Fri
Last entry 3:15pm
10am to 4pm Sat-Sun
Last Entry 3:15pm
Adult: £5.50
Child: £2.50 Under 5’s Free
Concessions: £4.50
Carers: £2.50
Family (2 adults and up to 4 children): £16
Thanet Treasure Trails
Are you looking for something to do with family and friends or seeking a fun day out with the kids at the coast? Explore Margate and Broadstairs on a self-guided trail. Trails are done in your own time at your own pace.
MARGATE – The Missing Masterpiece (Murder Mystery Treasure Trail)
Daring detectives you need to reveal the truth of a horrible heist! This self-guided detective mystery trail takes you on a patrol around the heart of Margate. Examine the evidence around the lighthouse, follow up on witness reports at Turner Contemporary and the old town before chasing down the crook along the seafront and the promenade, of the sandy beach.
Start location for trail is Stone Pier, Margate CT9 1JD
This trail is approximately 2.5 miles long (loop), takes 2 hours to complete and is suitable for all ages from 6 – 106
BROADSTAIRS – Spy Mission Trail
Can you solve the clues set on buildings, permanent features and monuments to crack the code and save the day like a true Secret Agent? The trail explores the sea front area, through two parks and the high street. Bustling with sandy beaches and fascinating history, the Trail will show you Broadstairs in a new light, with one or two Dickens’ related clues!
Start location for trail is Albion Street Car Park, Broadstairs CT10 1NE
This Trail is approximately 1.5 miles long, takes 2 hours to complete and is suitable for all ages from 6 – 106
£9.99 each to download
Rascal Bay Adventure Golf
Manston Road, Ramsgate
Designed in Sweden, the adventure encounters pirates, cannons, an octopus, snakes, skulls, a cannibal’s cooking pot, a crashed jeep, rocks, a volcano, dinosaurs, waterfalls, dinosaur eggs, a treasure chest, crocodiles and two rafts that the whole family will love!
Also available for parties, corporate events and private hire.
Adults: £8.75 Children: £6.50 Groups: £32 (4 adults) Family: £25 (2 adults + 2 children) Under 3s £3
Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm Sat & Sun 9am-5pm
Little Seaside Town
High Street, Ramsgate
A centre for children and families, unlike traditional soft play centres, it promotes imaginative role play in a stimulating play “town” environment.
Each themed set is full of play props, costumes and toys to encourage children to explore and make believe. Everything at Little Seaside Town has been carefully designed to be as realistic as possible, so they can experience and act out real life scenarios.
2 hour session charged at £7 per child. Babies £1.50. All adults will be charged £1.50
Open 7 days per week 9.30am – 5.30pm
Dinky Town Thanet
Pysons Road, Ramsgate
Check Facebook for latest opening times/prices.
Monday – Friday 10am – 3pm (Last entry is 2pm) £3 per child
No booking system – operating on a walk in basis only
Dinky Town is a children’s indoor play centre created to enhance the fun and educational experience imaginative role play brings to a child’s early years.
Dinky Town is suitable for those from walking up to around age 7. Website
Kids Bright House
Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm; Wednesday & Friday 10am-5:30pm *
Kids Bright House is a family-run, indoor play area for kids from 0 – 11 years.
This is a place for kids to have fun, and mums to relax, have a cup of coffee or tea, and socialise. We also offer fresh, delicious food at our cafe.
There is a baby area for babies under 2, and a host of other indoor fun for children over 2.
No need to book
Toddler group and Tortoise visit every Monday 10am-12pm & Thursday 12:30pm-2:30pm
For more information See Here.
Free Adult with:
Babes-in-arms £2
Child £6
Extra Adults £1.50 each
Sandwich & Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve
Sandwich Road, Cliffsend
Of international importance for its bird population.
The site includes Pegwell Bay Country Park, a little gem with stunning sea views, a play area and picnic spot with mobile refreshments nearby – perfect for family fun in the fresh air
Coastal Explorer Packs
Family adventure trails – Activities, challenges, games!
Don’t just visit the beach, explore it! Coastal Explorers packs are filled with equipment to help you discover our rich heritage stories and natural coastal designations. Learn essential explorer skills such as how to make a sundial and use a compass, or delve into the bag for the marine identification gear and become a real rocky shore researcher! Also make sure you check out this guide to Rock Pooling from the Thanet Coast Project
Everything you need is in the pack and contains enough resources for at least half a day of awesome adventure.
Fantastic for families and groups, but versatile enough for anyone, hire a bag for just £5 plus proof of ID at-
Margate – Visitor Information Centre, Droit House, Stone Pier CT9 1JD (Wednesday – Sunday 10am -5pm)
Broadstairs – Lillyputt Mini Golf, Victoria Parade, CT10 1QL (Open daily 10am – 5pm weather permitting)
Please contact Thanet Visitor Information Centre on 01843 577577 or email visitorinformation@thanet.gov.uk for info
Barbie (12A)
Palace Cinema Broadstairs and Carlton Cinema Westgate
After being expelled from Barbieland for being a less than perfect-looking doll, Barbie sets off for the human world to find true happiness.
Broadstairs Details here
Westgate Details here
Alpacas at Quex
Alpaca Experience & Alpaca Trekking on the Quex Park Estate,
Alpacas trained for Trekking, Experience days, Interaction visits for schools, clubs, societies, families and Special Needs groups.
Complete your experience with a visit to the “The Watering Hole Cafe” with garden area and outdoor play facilities available for children.- Full details are available here