Visitors to Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate are being enticed to discover more and stay longer as new experiences become available to book online.  

The experiences are fun and diverse.  Learn to forage sustainably or enjoy an 'insider's guide' bike tour. Immerse yourself in a new senses-stimulating event.  Or be one of the first to test their skills in an original new game which hybrids a treasure hunt and an escape room. They're a great reason to visit, or to extend your stay.

Learn something new

NEW - Margate Cookery School

Margate restaurateurs, Kate de Syllas, Simona di Dio and Harry Ryder have joined forces to launch Margate Cookery School. Centrally situated in the Old Town, the school will offer a broad range of courses from fun, approachable wine tastings to more advanced patisserie skills.

All classes will be as hands-on as possible and many will offer the opportunity to sit down and eat with tutors and fellow students afterwards.

Classes will mainly be taught by the amazing culinary talent in Thanet. Simona di Dio of Bottega Caruso will be teaching all things Italian and Kate de Syllas of Hantverk & Found will be focusing on Japanese food. Guests for the initial programme include award winning food writer and chef Thom Eagle teaching fermentation, acclaimed pastry chef Emma Tillyer teaching French patisserie skills and novelist and food writer Eli Goldstone workshopping writing on food memories.

Classes will be from quick 2 hour sessions to more in depth day-long courses. Costs range from £10 for an informal wine tasting to £150 for a day-long course with dinner and drinks.

Courses will be bookable online at www.margatecookeryschool.com and gift vouchers will be available.  

Doctor Forager

Join Doctor Forager (aka Dr Hannah Scott) for a 2 hour foraging walk along the spectacular Isle of Thanet coastline, followed by a cookery demonstration and warm lunch made from the foraged food.

Participants will learn how to forage sustainably and discover what wild coastal edibles are safe and tasty to eat.

Walks take place on Sundays 8 May, 5 June, 14 August and 3 September and cost £40 per person.

www.facebook.com/Doctor-Forager-102359911254193 

To book, text or call Hannah on 07411 815157

Have fun in the great outdoors

Col's Kent Bike Tours

Guided, fun cycling tours with optional bike hire. 

Discover Margate Tour - discover Margate's fascinating past, present and evolving future.  Explore both little-known places and iconic sights. Hear quirky stories and facts, plus get insider tips on the best beaches and places to eat, drink and dance to make the most of your stay.

Approx 2 hours, easy ride at a leisurely pace - adult £25, child £10 

Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate Tour - take in several stunning bays and seaside sights, traffic-free promenades and leisurely country lanes. Discover history, culture and little-known local secrets!

Approximately 8 miles, medium difficulty - adult £39, child £20 

Cycle tours from Margate to Canterbury and to Whitstable are also available.

Further information and booking on www.colskentbiketours.co.uk

Nordic Walking

Ever fancied learning Nordic Walking (an enhanced walking technique that uses poles to work your upper body as well as your legs), or enjoying a walk with a trained local guide and experiencing some of the stunning Isle of Thanet landscapes?

Enjoy a taster or tailor-made Nordic Walking stay, with the opportunity for wellbeing treatments and to join other local walks, with other local providers. Adventure walks can be arranged for experienced Nordic Walkers.

Minimum of 2 nights, single ensuite room, breakfast, 'Power of Poles 1 and 2' (Nordic Walking training) and adventure walks along the coast and use of poles.  £110 per night at weekends, £100 per night Monday to Thursday. Packed lunches and evening meals by arrangement are extra.

Accommodation is at Langmead Guest House, a small, traditional bed and breakfast in Ramsgate, a town boasting amazing architecture and the only Royal Harbour in the country.

Nordic Walking days out from Margate, Broadstairs or Ramsgate railway stations, for those who would like to learn  Nordic Walking. 'Power of Poles' as above for £50 per day, 4-5 hours, times by arrangement. Different options for refreshments and lunch if required (minimum 2, maximum 6 people).

For enquiries or bookings please call 07971 781131

www.facebook.com/NWUK-Isle-of-Thanet-102666871887205  

Captcha Code with The Escapement, Broadstairs 

An original game that hybrids a treasure hunt and an escape room, exploring the timeless seaside town of Broadstairs. 

Participants play the role of undercover agents who must complete an important mission to save the world.  After reporting to base for a briefing, and in order to solve the puzzles at each location, participants will need to explore the local area, interact with  business allies and uncover the town's vast history.

Agents will be equipped with a custom-built, handheld spy device, a bag of tools and a map.  The adventure is self-guided, with agents on hand if help is needed.

The mission lasts between two and three hours and covers just over a mile (1.7km).  Price is £50 per group, maximum of 5 players in a group. 

For further information and to book go to www.theescapement.co.uk​

SUP Safaris

For those who have some experience of stand-up boarding, this is a wonderful opportunity to see a different perspective of Ramsgate and enjoy the town's hospitality.

Enjoy a one-hour morning or evening SUP safari in a small, guided group with a qualified instructor.  After the safari, head back to the beach and the opportunity to visit one of Ramsgate's welcoming hospitality venues for breakfast or an evening drink, with the group and the SUP guide.

From £20 per person including wetsuit hire and equipment.

For further information or to book go to www.visitthanet.co.uk/attractions/sup-safaris

Stimulate your senses

Ramsgate Through The Senses - Friday 18 to Sunday 20 March 

A new festival created to complement Ramsgate Festival of Sound.  The three day programme presents a fantastic array of activities and experiences guaranteed to activate the senses and inspire the soul!!

To give you a taster.  Sample signature dishes by four of Thanet's premier chefs, with beverages by a Master of Wine - all in one sitting. Enjoy family fun or an evening of rollicking good entertainment with The Snottledogs (think sea shanties and pirate tales).   Feel relaxed with Reiki Healing Meditation, or immerse yourself in a Gong Bath. There's even an opportunity to find out about 'Making Sense of Smell'.

Making the most of Ramsgate's beautiful local beaches, there is  the opportunity to take part in a variety of guided walks and have a go at foraging or metal detecting. And for those of you who enjoy retail therapy, there will be a specially curated pop-up shop at Molly Pickle's Studio in the centre of town 

For information and tickets www.ramsgatethroughthesenses.org

Enjoy a stay with a difference

Fagin's Den, Broadstairs - new Dickens themed accommodation

Fagin's Den is a new, Dickensian themed holiday cottage named after the character Fagin in Oliver Twist. Families and Dickens enthusiasts will step back in time with furniture, memorabilia, books, games and artwork creating the ambience of the era. Dickensian costumes are supplied to make the experience even more authentic.

To add to the fun, there are two treasure hunts, one for adults and one for children, where the aim is to find Fagin's hidden stash.

This unique experience will be both fun and educational, with guests discovering more of Dickens' life, work and his strong connections to Broadstairs.

Charles Dickens visited Broadstairs in 1837, aged 25, and he returned frequently for the next two decades. He described the town as, 'the freshest, freest place' and wrote both 'Our English Watering Place' and 'David Copperfield' whilst staying in the town. The character Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield is based on Miss Mary Pearson Strong, who lived in what is now Dickens House Museum.

www.holiday-cottages-broadstairs.co.uk/fagins-den

Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate can be reached in under 75 minutes from London on Southeastern's high speed rail service (www.southeasternrailway.co.uk).

For further information on Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, including events, attractions and accommodation go to www.visitthanet.co.uk

• Ends - 

General press enquiries:

Please contact Julie Edwards at Thanet Tourism - julie.edwards@thanet.gov.uk or 01843 577671

Assistance can also be given with digital images, reader competitions and press trips - and bespoke packages can be arranged, including accommodation and sightseeing, for journalists with commissions.