Being 'Green' and sustainable in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate

1. Hop aboard Public Transport

It’s convenient, it’s quick and you can help to reduce air pollution, traffic congestion and your carbon footprint by leaving the car at home.

Southeastern trains can whisk you to our Isle from London St Pancras in as little as 70 minutes aboard its high-speed service. Trains also run from London Victoria, Waterloo East and Charing Cross.

3. Stretch your legs

What better way of exploring than walking or cycling when there’s 19 miles of award-winning coastline, lovely green spaces and country paths to discover? Treading lightly in tune with the environment also works wonders for your wellbeing as those endorphins begin to flow.

Immerse yourself in the landscape of the 32-mile, circular Viking Coastal Trail around the Isle, taking in scenes of dazzling white chalk cliffs, sandy beaches, historic landmarks, inland villages – and numerous pit stops for you to pause and refuel. Much of the route is along coastal promenades or country lanes, and you can sample small sections or take on the whole challenge. You can also hire bikes (including electric bikes) from a number of outlets. 

We’ve lots of guided and self-guided walks, which are a great way to get under the skin of local history, discover architecture, or wander with Turner and Dickens. Join friendly guides, or pick up maps / download routes and make your own adventures full of fascinating finds and fresh sea air.

4. Eat local

Eateries around the Isle are making the most of the natural larder on their doorstep, keeping down food miles and offering genuine local flavours. A tasty win-win.

Angela’s seafood restaurant in Margate is a scrumptious example, awarded the accolade of a Michelin Green Star in 2021 and 2022 for its sustainable practices. Daily changing menus feature fish fresh from the morning's catch, and any vegetable food waste is composted for use in local community gardens, which then grows more organic food for the restaurant – a virtuous cycle.

Buy local for your picnics too. Quex Barn is bursting with locally-sourced fruit and veg, and boasts a butcher, baker and fishmonger. There’s also a restaurant serving farm-fresh produce.

Visit on the last Sunday of the month (except December) to pick up seasonal and speciality fare at Cliftonville Farmers’ Market, and make a date at Easter and Autumn for Broadstairs Food Festival,  guaranteed to tickle the tastebuds with artisan goodies from Thanet and wider Kent.

Food and drink is a key part of a visitor’s experience. From cafes and restaurants using locally sourced produce to the beer served in the many micro pubs and bars, the Isle is awash with local produce.

6. Buy antique and pre-loved items and gifts

Another quick tip is to avoid the habits of the fast-fashion throw-away society, and follow the buzz for recycled, upcycled and pre-loved items and gifts when you indulge in some retail therapy.

Hunt for storied treasures at Petticoat Lane Emporium in Ramsgate where 200 traders sell vintage, collectable and antique goods. Or rummage for old-fashioned and unusual furniture, architectural salvage, artworks, china and every bygone imaginable at ‘restorers’ heaven’ Scott’s Furniture Mart in Margate. To name just two Aladdin’s caves.

Browse the rails of garments at Positive Retail's Margate and Ramsgate's curated resale stores. 

7. Coast for all seasons – visiting off-peak

Why not visit us in autumn and winter? By choosing off-peak holidays you avoid the pressures put on local transport and roads at busier times of year. We're a coast for all seasons and plenty of attractions stay open in the quieter months, ideal for leisurely-paced enjoyment.

Try a sustainable eco-experience like seaside foraging with an expert botanist. Or ‘seas’ the day sauntering along golden stretches of sands that are so peaceful as the days grow crispy – perfect for adventures with your four-legged friend.

8. Caring for our coast – get involved

We love our destination with its Blue Flag and Seaside Award-winning beaches and bays. You can play your part in keeping them pristine by leaving only your footprints behind in the sand – look out for #2minutebeachclean stations all around the main beaches, giving everyone the chance to do a quick clean up.

Keep your eye out for wildlife and conservation volunteering opportunities with Kent Wildlife Trust at Sandwich & Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve, internationally important for its bird populations.

At Monkton Nature Reserve, fun activities combine with learning to nurture children’s (and grown-ups’) understanding of nature and environmental stewardship. The Thanet Coast Project's wealth of fun, family and educational coastal wildlife-related events and activities, from beach cleans to a guide on responsible rockpooling, are another great source of information and ideas for things to do.

9. Crafted with a conscience

In the mood for some renewably-sourced pampering? Haeckels harvests seaweed by hand in Margate to use in luxuriously nourishing natural skin care products and treatments – spoil yourself, everything is crafted with a conscience. The company’s ethical ‘ocean first’ policy includes organising beach cleans and taking part in marine conservation surveys. Knowing that, you're sure to enjoy the feelgood sensation of a seaweed bath, with sea views from their cliff-top base, even more.