Thanet

Estimated Population

129,200 based on ONS survey to mid 2007

Overview

The Isle of Thanet1 is in the north east corner of Kent, England, bounded by the North Sea (north and east), the River Stour (south) and the River Wantsum (west).

Thanet was a true island until the 16th Century, when the River Wantsum finally gave up the ghost, and includes the Victorian coastal resorts of Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate with its Royal Harbour. These were popular with the residents of East and South London as holiday locations, nearly as popular as Southend, Clacton and Brighton. Thanet also has its place in ancient history as it was one of the first landing sites for the Romans, Saxons and St Augustine.

Leisure and Retail

Westwood Cross Shopping Centre has a range of fantastic stores including Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, TK Maxx and Next plus lots of cafes and bars to sit in and reflect on what you’ve bought.

The towns and villages offer a surprising mix of larger chain stores and independent little retailers. Thanet also has some great markets and Ramsgate town centre is alive each Friday and Saturday as market stallholders vie with each other to sell their wares. On the last Sunday morning of each month fresh local produce can be bought at Cliftonville Farmers Market, voted Kent Farmers Market of the Year.

There are also a multitude of antique shops, art galleries and garden centres - all in all a real shopper's paradise.