Beach Information

The idea of walking from one bay to another may be appealing, but ensure you don’t get cut off by the tide. High and low tide information is often written at each beach by the Bay Inspector. Local tide timetables are also available from our Visitor Information Centre or visit Ramsgate Harbour website.

Respect the Water is a campaign run by the RNLI and provides information on understanding waves, tides and swimming safely in the sea. To find out more visit the RNLI website

When visiting our beaches please park sensibility and be aware of local residents and emergency vehicle access 

For details of local car parks please click here 

FREE CAR PARKING is available at the following car parks every Saturday: Mill Lane - Margate, Harold Road - Cliftonville, St Peter's Park Road - Broadstairs and Cannon Road- Ramsgate

For information on Parking at our beaches and bays for coaches, please click here 

*Botany Bay Parking - Parking is advised at Palm Bay Avenue, where there are over 200 free parking spaces, (CT9 3PP) for Palm Bay beach and a short cliff top walk to Botany Bay*

RNLI Lifeguards (Royal National Lifeboat Institute), patrol our beaches and bays throughout the summer season.

There will be RNLI lifeguard cover at the following beaches 10am - 6pm (2024)

*Weekends and Bank Holidays Saturday 25th May - Friday 12th July 
Minnis Bay Birchington, Westbrook Bay Margate, Stone Bay Broadstairs and Ramsgate Main Sands

*Daily Saturday 25th May - Sunday 1st September 
Margate Main Sands, Botany Bay Broadstairs, Joss Bay Broadstairs and Viking Bay Broadstairs

*Daily Saturday 13th July - Sunday 1st  September 
Minnis Bay Birchington, West Bay Westgate, St Mildred’s Bay Westgate, Westbrook Bay Margate, Margate Main Sands, Botany Bay, Joss Bay, Stone Bay, Viking Bay Broadstairs and Ramsgate Main Sands

*Weekends only Saturday 7th - Sunday 29th September 
Margate Main Sands and Viking Bay Broadstairs

Public conveniences at our beaches and bays are predominately open throughout the year with some seasonality. For full information please click here

The following coastal public toilets are open 

• Minnis Bay, Birchington 
• West Bay and St Mildred's Bay,  Westgate-on-Sea 
• Margate - Westbrook Bay, Margate Main Sands (train station end) and Margate Harbour Arm 
• Broadstairs - Botany Bay, Joss Bay, Stone Bay, Harbour Street, Viking Bay (Chalets), Bandstand and Dumpton Gap 
• Ramsgate - The Bathing Station (Marina Esplanade) and Pier Yard (By Wetherspoons) 

The toilets will be cleaned regularly throughout the day and may be closed while cleaning takes place. 

Find out more about our dog byelaws for our beaches and bays, by clicking here

All our beaches and bays are beautiful and we are proud of them, please help us to keep them that way. Take your litter away with you or put it in the bins provided.

Help keep out beaches clean with a '2 Minute Beach Clean'

*Red and yellow flag – lifeguard-patrolled bathing area. Always swim between the flags and within the buoys on all beaches
*Red flag – do not bathe when red flag is flying
*Black and white quartered flag – Surfing Area
*White cross on green flag – First Aid

To find out about hiring a beach hut at one of our beaches contact Your Leisure on 03333 660 661 or visit their website for further details

During the Summer Season the Environment Agency undertakes water sample tests at ‘bathing water’ beaches. These are beaches that have been formally designated by the Environment Agency as they are popular for bathing and therefore weekly water quality tests are carried out here.

Beaches are classified as Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. Signs are placed at Thanet’s beaches informing swimmers of the water quality results.

More information about the water quality directive and results can be found on the Thanet District Council website

The Thanet Coast is a valued open space used by many people for recreational activities and is highly valued for its plants, animals and birds. Please help by following these simple voluntary codes to help local wildlife and show respect for other beach users.

Respect our coastal wildlife – try to leave everything as you find it, or would like to find it
Consider our coastline and other users – take your rubbish home, report hazards; and respect the rights of other users.
Stay safe – be careful on slippery rocks, of the in-coming tide, and follow bay safety signs
Be Environmentally friendly – buy postcards or take photos of marine creatures, instead of taking marine curious

North East Kent Marine Protected Area - The whole of our coastline is covered by international and national designations for its marine and bird life. The Thanet coastline represents 20% of the UK’s and 12% of Europe’s coastal chalk and it is the longest continuous stretch of coastal chalk in Britain

Individual barbeques are permitted on all beaches and bays after 6pm. 

Please click here for further information

Are you a fishermen, sailor, jet skier or water skier? Become a member of the Water Users Group. Register your craft and gain access to our designated facilities for safe and problem free launching. Find out more by clicking here