View source for Ramsgate

{{Short description|Seaside town in Kent, England}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{infobox UK place
| type = [[Town]]
| country = England
| civil_parish = Ramsgate<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ramsgatetown.org/|title=Ramsgate|first=Hudson Berkley Reinhart|last=Ltd|website=Ramsgatetown.org|access-date=8 May 2014|archive-date=4 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604082123/http://www.ramsgatetown.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| static_image_name = Ramsgate aerial image (45950507215).jpg
| static_image_caption = Ramsgate from the air specifically the harbour.
| official_name = Ramsgate
| coordinates = {{coord|51.336|1.416|display=inline,title}}
| label_position = left
| population = 42,027
| population_ref = (2021 Census)
| area_total_km2 = 8.017
| shire_district = [[Thanet District|Thanet]]
| region = South East England
| shire_county = [[Kent]]
| constituency_westminster = [[East Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)|East Thanet]]
| post_town = Ramsgate
| postcode_district = CT11, CT12
| postcode_area = CT
| dial_code = 01843
| os_grid_reference = TR382648
| population_demonym = Ramsgatonian
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 12
| mapframe-point = none
}}
'''Ramsgate''' is a seaside port town and [[civil parish]] in the district of [[Thanet District|Thanet]] in eastern [[Kent]], [[England]]. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century. In 2021 it had a population of 42,027. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline, and its main industries are tourism and fishing. The town has one of the largest marinas on the English south coast, and the [[Port of Ramsgate]]  provided cross-[[English Channel|channel]] ferries for many years.

==History==
{{main|History of Ramsgate}}
[[File:Ramsgate Sands.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Ramsgate Sands in 1854, by [[William Powell Frith]]]]
[[File:The sands, Ramsgate, Kent, England, ca. 1899.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|right|[[Photochrom]] of a crowded beach, 1899]]
Ramsgate began as a fishing and farming hamlet. The Christian missionary [[Augustine of Canterbury|St Augustine]], sent by [[Pope Gregory I|Pope Gregory the Great]], landed near Ramsgate in AD 597.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://augustineshrine.co.uk/?page_id=33|title=Welcome - Shrine of St Augustine, Ramsgate|website=Augustineshrine.co.uk|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911191332/http://augustineshrine.co.uk/?page_id=33|archive-date=11 September 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The town is home to the [[Pugin's Church and Shrine of St Augustine|Shrine of St Augustine]].

The earliest reference to the town is in the Kent Hundred Rolls of 1274–5, both as ''Remmesgate'' (in the local personal name of 'Christina de Remmesgate') and as ''Remisgat'' (with reference to the town).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kentarchaeology.ac/khrp/khrpa.html |title=Kent Hundred Rolls Home |website=Kentarchaeology.ac |access-date=2018-11-05 |archive-date=13 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713045813/http://www.kentarchaeology.ac/khrp/khrpa.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The names ''Ramisgate'' and ''Raunsgate'' appear in the parish of St. Laurence records {{Circa|1290}}.<ref>''The register of St. Augustine's abbey, Canterbury'', commonly called the Black book; Turner, George James, d. 1946; Salter, H. E. (Herbert Edward), 1863-1951; Robarts - University of Toronto</ref><ref>''The History and Antiquities of the Church and Parish of St. Laurence, Thanet, in the County of Kent'', Charles Cotton, Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, & Company, Limited, 1895</ref> These are all derived from late Anglo-Saxon 'Hremmes' from earlier 'Hræfnes' (raven's) and 'geat' (gate), with reference to the gap in the cliffs.<ref>''Bosworth & Toller's Anglo Saxon Dictionary''</ref> In 1357, the area became known as ''Ramesgate''.<ref>Concise Dictionary World Place Names, [[Oxford University Press]], 2005, {{ISBN|9780199580897}}</ref><ref>''A Dictionary of British Place Names'', 2003, A.D Mills, {{ISBN| 978-0198527589}}</ref><ref>Encyclopedia.com: OED etymology of "raven"</ref>

Ramsgate was a member of the Confederation of [[Cinque Ports]], under the 'Limb' of [[Sandwich, Kent]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinqueports.org/ramsgate.htm |title=Ramsgate |website=www.cinqueports.org |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010729055141/http://www.cinqueports.org/ramsgate.htm |archive-date=29 July 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  The construction of Ramsgate Harbour began in 1749 and was completed in around 1850.  The harbour has the distinction of being the only Royal Harbour in the United Kingdom. Because of its proximity to mainland Europe, Ramsgate was a chief embarkation point both during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] and for the [[Operation Dynamo|Dunkirk evacuation]] in 1940.

''The Official Illustrated Guide to South-Eastern and North and Mid-Kent Railways'' (June 1863) by George Measom describes Ramsgate thus: 'It is impossible to speak too favourably of this first-rate town, its glorious sands, its bathing, its hotels, libraries, churches, etc. etc. not forgetting its bracing climate...The streets of Ramsgate are well paved or macadamed and brilliantly lighted with gas.'

The architect [[A W Pugin]] and his sons lived in Ramsgate and built several important buildings there, including [[Pugin's Church and Shrine of St Augustine|St Augustine's Church]], [[The Grange, Ramsgate|The Grange]], [[St Augustine's Abbey Ramsgate|St Augustine's Abbey]], and [[The Granville Hotel, Ramsgate|The Granville Hotel]].

The artist [[Vincent van Gogh]] moved to Ramsgate in April 1876, at age 23. He boarded at 11 Spencer Square, which is identified by a [[blue plaque]]. He obtained work as a teacher at a local school in Royal Road, where he received his post.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vangoghletters.org/vg/letters/RM07/letter.html|title=RM07 (-, ): To Theo van Gogh. Ramsgate, April-May 1876. - Vincent van Gogh Letters|website=Vangoghletters.org|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-date=29 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929192942/http://vangoghletters.org/vg/letters/RM07/letter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In one of his letters<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thamesandhudson.com/vvgcontents.html |title=Thames & Hudson Publishers &#124; Essential illustrated art books &#124; Vincent van Gogh – the Letters |website=www.thamesandhudson.com |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230417/https://www.thamesandhudson.com/vvgcontents.html |archive-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vangoghletters.org/vg/letters/let077/letter.html|title=077 (075, 61): To Theo van Gogh. Ramsgate, Monday, 17 April 1876. - Vincent van Gogh Letters|website=Vangoghletters.org|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=5 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105202742/http://vangoghletters.org/vg/letters/let077/letter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> to his brother Theo, he described his surroundings: "There's a harbour full of all kinds of ships, closed in by stone jetties running into the sea on which one can walk. And further out one sees the sea in its natural state, and that's beautiful."

In 1901, an electric tram service, one of the few [[interurban|inter-urban tramways]] in Britain, was introduced on the [[Isle of Thanet]]. The towns of Ramsgate, [[Margate]] and [[Broadstairs]] were linked by 11&nbsp;miles of track.
[[File:A. R. Quinton, The Lighthouse Ramsgate.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|The Lighthouse Ramsgate by A.R. Quinton (postcard marked 1921)]]
In the [[First World War]], in 1915–1916, early aircraft began to use the open farmland at [[Manston, Kent|Manston]] as a site for emergency landings. The location near the Kent coast gave Manston some advantages over other previously established aerodromes. During the same War, Ramsgate and its harbour were the target of bombing raids by [[Zeppelin]] airships<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ramsgatehistory.com/zeppelin_raid.html|title=Zeppelin Raid 1915|date=25 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825152956/http://ramsgatehistory.com/zeppelin_raid.html|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=25 August 2011}}</ref> and [[Action of 17 March 1917|German Navy torpedo boats]]. By 1917 the [[Royal Flying Corps]] was well established and taking an active part in the defence of Britain.  As [[RAF Manston]], the aerodrome played an important role in the [[Second World War]]. It is now called [[Kent International Airport]], but is currently not operational.

In 1923, Ramsgate elected its first woman Mayor, [[Janet Stancomb-Wills]], after whom the Dame Janet Primary Academy on Newington Road is named.  As the Second World War approached, Ramsgate Borough Council embarked on plans to create a network of Deep Shelter tunnels linking to a former railway tunnel which would provide shelter for 60,000 people. The tunnels were opened on 1 June 1939. In 2014 (75 years later), part of this network was opened to visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ramsgate Tunnels|url=http://www.ramsgatetunnels.org/index.html|access-date=13 October 2021|date=15 September 2021|website=ramsgatetunnels.org|archive-date=25 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525103531/http://ramsgatetunnels.org/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In October 1939, the [[Royal Navy]] established a [[Coastal Forces]] base at Ramsgate called '''HMS ''Fervent''''', which operated [[Motor Torpedo Boat]]s, [[Motor Gun Boat]]s and [[Motor launch (naval)|Motor Launch]]es until September 1945. From 27 May 1940, Ramsgate harbour was the main assembly point for the build-up of small craft needed for [[Operation Dynamo]], the evacuation of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] from [[Dunkirk]].<ref>W J R Gardner, ''The Evacuation from Dunkirk, Operation Dynamo 26 May - 4 June 1940'', Frank Cass Publishers, 2000, {{ISBN|0-7146-5120-6}}, p.21</ref> Once the evacuation was under way, Ramsgate became the second-busiest port after [[Dover]], and just under 43,000 men passed through the port, transported onwards by 82 special trains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/dunkirk_evacuation_trains.htm|title=Dunkirk Evacuation and Trains - History Learning Site|website=Historylearningsite.co.uk|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-date=29 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429083231/http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/dunkirk_evacuation_trains.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017 Ramsgate was chosen as one of the first ten Heritage Action Zones (HAZ) by [[Historic England]], with the aim of stimulating economic growth by taking advantage of Ramsgate's historic environment.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ICT_FRANKLIN_210x210_Inners.indd 3ICT_FRANKLIN_210x210_Inners.indd 32/20/2020 2:05:19 PM2/20/2020 2:05:19 PMRamsgate The town and itFranklin, Geraint with Dermott, Nick and Brodie, Allan|date=2020|title=Ramsgate: The town and its seaside heritage|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/ramsgate-town-and-seaside-heritage/9781789621891-ramsgate-town-and-seaside-heritage/|access-date=28 June 2020|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629144742/https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/ramsgate-town-and-seaside-heritage/9781789621891-ramsgate-town-and-seaside-heritage/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ramsgate {{!}} Historic England|url=http://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/ramsgate-town-and-seaside-heritage/|access-date=2020-06-28|website=historicengland.org.uk|date=21 April 2020 |language=en|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628162014/https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/ramsgate-town-and-seaside-heritage/|url-status=live}}</ref> Part of this project included a Historic Landscape Characterisation Study which assessed and mapped the patterns of historic character in the town, using geological and topographical surveys, and covering aspects from the Neolithic, medieval, Georgian, Victorian, and through to the First and Second World War periods.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Manson, Diana; Conway, Melissa; Stenson, Katie; Orr, Steven; Averby, Karen|date=2018|title=Ramsgate, Kent: Historic Characterisation of Ramsgate. Historic England Research Report 48/2018|url=https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16100&ru=/Results.aspx?p=1&n=10&rn=48&ry=2018&ns=1|access-date=2020-06-28|website=research.historicengland.org.uk|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630022226/https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16100&ru=%2FResults.aspx%3Fp%3D1&n=10&rn=48&ry=2018&ns=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Small, F; Barber, M|date=2019|title=Ramsgate Heritage Action Zone: An Assessment of Aerial Photographs and Lidar. Historic England Research Report 25/2019|url=https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16243&ru=/Results.aspx?p=1&n=10&rn=25&ry=2019&ns=1|access-date=2020-06-28|website=research.historicengland.org.uk|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629165340/https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16243&ru=%2FResults.aspx%3Fp%3D1&n=10&rn=25&ry=2019&ns=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Last, J|date=2019|title=Prehistory, landscape and heterotopia: a contribution to the Ramsgate HAZ. Historic England Research Reports 24/2019|url=https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16242&ru=/Results.aspx?p=1&n=10&rn=24&ry=2019&ns=1|access-date=2020-06-28|website=research.historicengland.org.uk|archive-date=1 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701045433/https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16242&ru=%2FResults.aspx%3Fp%3D1&n=10&rn=24&ry=2019&ns=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Ramsgatemap1945.jpg|thumb|right|A map of Ramsgate from 1945]]
Ramsgate is located 78&nbsp;miles from central London in an east south-easterly direction at one of the most easterly points of the United Kingdom (the furthest point east is [[Lowestoft]] in [[Suffolk]]).

The town is an amalgamation of two settlements: a fishing community on the coast in the shallow valley between two chalk cliffs, and an inland farming community that is now the Parish of St Lawrence. The cliffs are known as the East Cliff and the West Cliff and are predominantly residential areas. There are promenades along both cliff tops with parks at either end and sandy beaches on the coast.

===Climate===
Ramsgate has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'') as is typical in the United Kingdom; the nearest Met Office weather station for which data is available is Manston Airport, about two miles west of the town centre.

The highest temperature ever recorded is 34.6&nbsp;°C (94.3&nbsp;°F)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=2003&indexid=TXx&stationid=1862|title=2003 Maximum|website=Eca.knmi.nl|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-date=7 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507121856/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=2003&indexid=TXx&stationid=1862|url-status=live}}</ref> in August 2003, though typically the warmest day of the year averages 28.5&nbsp;°C (83.3&nbsp;°F)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=1862|title=Annual average warmest day|website=Eca.knmi.nl|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-date=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513211207/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=1862|url-status=live}}</ref> and 8.8 days<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=FD&stationid=1862|title=Average >25c days|website=Eca.knmi.nl|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-date=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513211216/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=FD&stationid=1862|url-status=live}}</ref> will record a temperature of 25.1&nbsp;°C (77.2&nbsp;°F) or above.

The lowest recorded temperature is -14.5&nbsp;°C (5.9&nbsp;°F),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=8&year=1986&indexid=TNn&stationid=1862|title=1986 Minimum|website=Eca.knmi.nl|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-date=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513211230/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=8&year=1986&indexid=TNn&stationid=1862|url-status=live}}</ref> in February 1986, though typically the coldest night of the year averages -6.2&nbsp;°C (20.8&nbsp;°F).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TNn&stationid=1862|title=Annual average coldest night|website=Eca.knmi.nl|access-date=1 March 2011|archive-date=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513211235/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TNn&stationid=1862|url-status=live}}</ref>
A total of 21.4 days<ref name = metoffice /> of the year should record an air frost.

Rainfall averages around 600&nbsp;mm<ref name = metoffice /> per year, a figure similar to that for the driest parts of England. Over 1&nbsp;mm of rain can be expected on 110.1 days.<ref name = metoffice /> Averages refer to a mixture of the 1971–2000, 1981–2010 and 1991–2020 climate periods.

Being close to the coast, and in Southern England, sunshine compares favourably with most of the United Kingdom, at over 1800 hours<ref name = metoffice /> a year. Only the Sussex coast tends to be notably sunnier, although much of the remainder of the south coast receives a similar amount of sunshine as Ramsgate.

{{Weather box
|location = Manston, elevation 54m, 1991–2020, extremes 1960–
|collapsed =
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 16.4
|Feb record high C = 16.8
|Mar record high C = 20.2
|Apr record high C = 25.0
|May record high C = 29.6
|Jun record high C = 31.2
|Jul record high C = 33.6
|Aug record high C = 34.6
|Sep record high C = 29.6
|Oct record high C = 24.9
|Nov record high C = 18.0
|Dec record high C = 15.9
|year record high C = 34.6
|Jan high C = 7.6
|Feb high C = 7.9
|Mar high C = 10.3
|Apr high C = 13.2
|May high C = 16.3
|Jun high C = 19.5
|Jul high C = 22.1
|Aug high C = 22.2
|Sep high C = 19.2
|Oct high C = 15.1
|Nov high C = 11.0
|Dec high C = 8.3
|year high C = 14.4
|Jan mean C = 5.1
|Feb mean C = 5.2
|Mar mean C = 7.1
|Apr mean C = 9.5
|May mean C = 12.5
|Jun mean C = 15.5
|Jul mean C = 17.9
|Aug mean C = 18.1
|Sep mean C = 15.6
|Oct mean C = 12.1
|Nov mean C = 8.3
|Dec mean C = 5.8
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = 2.6
|Feb low C = 2.5
|Mar low C = 3.9
|Apr low C = 5.8
|May low C = 8.7
|Jun low C = 11.4
|Jul low C = 13.7
|Aug low C = 14.0
|Sep low C = 11.9
|Oct low C = 9.1
|Nov low C = 5.6
|Dec low C = 3.2
|year low C = 7.7
|Jan record low C = −12.0
|Feb record low C = −14.5
|Mar record low C = −6.0
|Apr record low C = −3.7
|May record low C = −1.1
|Jun record low C = 0.9
|Jul record low C = 6.4
|Aug record low C = 5.4
|Sep record low C = 2.2
|Oct record low C = −3.1
|Nov record low C = −6.0
|Dec record low C = -8.8
|year record low C = −14.5
|unit rain days= 1.0 mm
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 51.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 41.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 36.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 37.8
|May precipitation mm = 47.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 46.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 47.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 50.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 48.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 73.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 69.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 62.6
|year precipitation mm = 612.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 10.9
|Feb precipitation days = 9.7
|Mar precipitation days = 7.9
|Apr precipitation days = 7.9
|May precipitation days = 8.3
|Jun precipitation days = 7.6
|Jul precipitation days = 7.1
|Aug precipitation days = 8.1
|Sep precipitation days = 7.6
|Oct precipitation days = 11.3
|Nov precipitation days = 11.7
|Dec precipitation days = 11.9
|year precipitation days = 110.1
|Jan sun = 65.6
|Feb sun = 84.1
|Mar sun = 134.5
|Apr sun = 195.8
|May sun = 230.8
|Jun sun = 235.4
|Jul sun = 242.7
|Aug sun = 225.3
|Sep sun = 172.2
|Oct sun = 122.3
|Nov sun = 77.3
|Dec sun = 60.0
|year sun = 1846.0
|source 1 = Met Office<ref name = metoffice>{{cite web
  | url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/u10unds1y
  | title=Climate Normals 1991-2020
  | publisher=UK Government
  | access-date=17 December 2021
  | date=December 2021}}</ref>
|source 2 = KNMI<ref>{{cite web
  | url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/mapserver/climatology.php?indexcat=**&indexid=**&periodidselect=1971-2000&seasonid=0&scalelogidselect=no&CMD=ZOOM_IN#bottom
  | title=Climate Normals 1971–2000
  | publisher=KNMI
  | access-date=1 March 2011
  | archive-date=13 May 2012
  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513211301/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/mapserver/climatology.php?indexcat=**&indexid=**&periodidselect=1971-2000&seasonid=0&scalelogidselect=no&CMD=ZOOM_IN#bottom
  | url-status=live
  }}</ref>
|date=March 2011}}

==Governance==
Ramsgate is in the [[parliamentary constituency]] of [[East Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)|East Thanet]], which is represented by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP [[Polly Billington]]. She won the seat in the 2024 general election, representing a Labour win after [[Craig Mackinlay]] held the seat for the Conservatives in the 2015 General Election.  Before 2015 the MP for Ramsgate was Conservative [[Laura Sandys]]. She was preceded by [[Stephen Ladyman]], a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] minister; he was preceded by [[Jonathan Aitken]].

Ramsgate was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1884. This was abolished in 1974, since when Ramsgate has been part of the [[Thanet District|Thanet]] [[Districts of England|local government district]]. The town is made up of seven electoral [[Ward (politics)|wards]]: Central Harbour, Cliffsend and Pegwell, Eastcliff, Nethercourt, Newington, Northwood, and [[Moses Montefiore|Sir Moses Montefiore]]. These wards have seventeen of the fifty-six seats on the [[Thanet District Council]]; since the [[2019 United Kingdom local elections|2019 local elections]] eleven of those seats have been held by [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]], three by Thanet Independents, two by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] and one by the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]].<ref>{{cite web  | title = Council & Democracy  | publisher = Thanet District Council  | url = https://democracy.thanet.gov.uk/mgWardMap.aspx?X=1&VW=LIST&PIC=0  | access-date = 20 June 2019  | archive-date = 24 September 2020  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200924212606/https://democracy.thanet.gov.uk/mgWardMap.aspx?X=1&VW=LIST&PIC=0  | url-status = live  }}</ref> Currently the council is run by a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] minority.

Following a successful campaign by local activist Gerry O'Donnell, a town council was established for Ramsgate in June 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/elections-09-ramsgate-town-coun-a97050/|title=Elections 09: Ramsgate results|date=2009-06-05|website=Kent Online|access-date=2019-10-05|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005221338/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/elections-09-ramsgate-town-coun-a97050/|url-status=live}}</ref>  The Town Mayor of Ramsgate is currently Councillor Raushan Ara.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ramsgatetown.org/ramsgate/town-mayor|title=New Mayor of Ramsgate|access-date=20 June 2019|archive-date=20 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620222027/https://www.ramsgatetown.org/ramsgate/town-mayor|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Ramsgate Harbour.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|Ramsgate marina, location of many popular bars and pubs]]
Ramsgate's main industries are [[tourism]] and [[fishing]].  The town has a thriving marina with over 800 moorings and a range of marine-related businesses that operate in the renovated arches under Royal Parade. Colleges in the town also cater for students of English as a foreign language.

Although Ramsgate has the most valuable fish landings in Kent (~£700,000 in 2003){{Fix|text=out of date}}, the fishing industry is in decline.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coastalkent.net/data/fact/document/Fisheries.pdf |title=Kent Coastal Network |access-date=2006-12-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926133448/http://www.coastalkent.net/data/fact/document/Fisheries.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>  The [[Port of Ramsgate]] has provided cross-channel ferries for many years. Previously, [[Sally Ferries UK]] provided a passenger and car ferry service to [[Dunkirk]]. Until April 2013, [[Transeuropa Ferries]] operated a freight and car ferry between Ramsgate and [[Ostend]] in Belgium.

As of 2006, unemployment in Thanet stood at 4.1%; this is higher than the national average (2.5%).<ref>{{cite web | title=Unemployment figures for February 2006, Thanet District Council | url=http://www.thanet.gov.uk/business/unemployment_figures.aspx | access-date = 8 December 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060927080904/http://www.thanet.gov.uk/business/unemployment_figures.aspx |archive-date = 27 September 2006}}</ref> There is some light industry in the town. An emerging industry is power generation, with 800 jobs expected to be created{{when|date=August 2024}} by the [[Thanet Offshore Wind Project|Thanet offshore wind project]], a [[wind farm]] just off the coast. Ramsgate market is held in High Street, King Street and Queen Street every Friday and Saturday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thanet.gov.uk/council__democracy/thanet_fact_file/markets.aspx|title=Markets|date=27 September 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927081731/http://www.thanet.gov.uk/council__democracy/thanet_fact_file/markets.aspx|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=27 September 2006}}</ref>

Ramsgate has a [[local exchange trading system|LETS]] scheme (RAMLETS) which was set up in 2014 enabling residents to trade goods and services using the virtual currency RAMs. It is working with the Newington Wellbeing Network to improve the lives of people living in the Newington ward of Ramsgate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ramsgatelets.org.uk/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324204307/http://ramsgatelets.org.uk/ |archive-date=24 March 2018 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{| class=wikitable style="font-size: 95%;"
|+Ramsgate compared
![[United Kingdom Census 2021|2021 UK Census]]<ref>2021 UK census</ref>!!Ramsgate!!Thanet District!!England
|-
|Total population||42,027||140,600||49,138,831
|-
|Foreign born||9.1%||9.8%||16%
|-
|White||93.5%||93.0%||91%
|-
|Asian||2.3%||0.6%||4.6%
|-
|Black||0.9%||0.3%||2.3%
|-
|Christian||45%||50%||46%
|-
|Muslim||1.2%||1.5%||6.5%
|-
|Hindu||0.6%||0.6%||1.7%
|-
|No religion||52%||47%||37%
|-
|Over 65&nbsp;years old||19.8%||23.7%||19%
|}
According to the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 UK census]],{{out of date|date=August 2024}} Ramsgate had a population of 42,027.<ref name="Statistics%gov%uk">{{cite web  | title = Neighbourhood Statistics  | publisher = Statistics.gov.uk  | url = http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadHome.do;jsessionid=ac1f930bce6a711447e60ba4446bb56c21648d42c51.e38PbNqOa3qRe38OaNeKahqMai1ynknvrkLOlQzNp65In0?bhcp=1  | access-date = 29 March 2007  | url-status = dead  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525195139/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadHome.do;jsessionid=ac1f930bce6a711447e60ba4446bb56c21648d42c51.e38PbNqOa3qRe38OaNeKahqMai1ynknvrkLOlQzNp65In0?bhcp=1  | archive-date = 25 May 2011  | df = dmy-all  }}</ref>

The [[ethnicity]] of the town was 93.5% [[White people|white]], 0.8% [[mixed race]], 0.3% [[Black people|black]], 0.3% [[Chinese people|Chinese]], 0.4% other [[Asia]]n and 0.1% other ethnicity.<ref name="Statistics%gov%uk" />

The place of birth of residents was 90.9% United Kingdom, 4.7% EU, 1% [[Far East]], 1.8% Africa, 0.9% Other.<ref name="Statistics%gov%uk" />

Religion was recorded as 45% [[Christians|Christian]], 1.2% [[Muslim]], 0.6% [[Hindu]], 0.4% [[Buddhist]], 0.1% [[Sikh]] and 0.2% [[Jewish]]. 52% were recorded as having no religion, 0.3% had an alternative religion and 7.1% did not state their religion.<ref name="Statistics%gov%uk" />

For every 100 women, there were 93.7 men. The age distribution was 21.5% aged 0–17&nbsp;years, 56% aged 17–65&nbsp;years, 24% and 20% aged 65&nbsp;years and over.<ref name="Statistics%gov%uk" />

==Culture==

===Tourism===
[[File:Ramsgate beach.JPG|thumb|250px|Ramsgate Main Sands]]

The town's main attraction is its coastline, particularly Ramsgate Main Sands, which was awarded a [[Blue Flag beach|Blue Flag]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32807649|title=Beaches in Thanet and Cornwall top Blue Flag cleanliness standards|publisher=BBC News|access-date=21 August 2016|date=2015-05-20|archive-date=23 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523040844/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32807649|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blueflag.global/beaches2|title=Beaches2|website=Blueflag.global|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115172243/http://www.blueflag.global/beaches2|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Ramsgate's wartime deep shelter tunnels are open to the public for tours, which have been running since 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ramsgatetunnels.org/|title=Ramsgate Tunnels|author=Phil Spain|website=Ramsgatetunnels.org|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-date=14 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814010348/http://www.ramsgatetunnels.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The town has a small population of feral [[rose-ringed parakeet]]s. The story about them appearing in Ramsgate remains a mystery. According to some sources, they may have flown away from the trading ships coming from British India in the 1800s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/exotic-green-winged-aliens-will-12756/|title=Exotic green winged aliens will be the focus of new research|website=kentonline.co.uk|date=2014-02-13|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=3 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903220721/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/exotic-green-winged-aliens-will-12756/|url-status=live}}</ref>  The local council publishes a website specifically aimed at tourists visiting Ramsgate and neighbouring towns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitthanet.co.uk|title=Visit Thanet|website=Visitthanet.co.uk|access-date=23 January 2021|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128075502/https://www.visitthanet.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

There is an annual regatta event during the summer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ramsgateweek.com/|title=Ramsgate Week 2017 - the Royal Temple Yacht Club annual regatta in Ramsgate, Thanet, Kent|website=Ramsgateweek.com|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806125441/http://www.ramsgateweek.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>  Ramsgate Carnival is an annual parade that takes place during the summer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ramsgatecarnival.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505184557/http://www.ramsgatecarnival.com/ |archive-date=5 May 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>  Other events include the annual Addington Street Fair<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2019/08/17/get-ready-for-the-addington-street-revival-fair/|title=Get ready for the Addington Street Revival Fair|last=Bailes|first=Kathy|date=2019-08-17|website=The Isle Of Thanet News|access-date=2019-10-05|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005221654/https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2019/08/17/get-ready-for-the-addington-street-revival-fair/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the French Market.{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}

===Sport===
The town's main football club, [[Ramsgate FC]], plays in the [[Isthmian League Division One South]]. The local rivals of the club are [[Margate FC]], situated 4&nbsp;miles away. When the two teams meet, it is known as the ''Thanet Derby''. The club run a reserves team, which plays in the Kent Football League Second Division, and a women's team, which plays in the South East Counties Women's League Kent County Division. Ramsgate FC run five youth teams; the under-13 to under-18 teams compete in the Valley Express Kent Youth League and the club also runs Ramsgate Youth U7 to U16, which play in the Molten East Kent Youth League. Two other youth teams in Ramsgate are Trinity and Hugin Vikings; both play in The Molten East Kent Youth League.

Thanet Wanderers is the island's only rugby team and has played at London Division 1 level, achieving its best result by defeating Doncaster at Twickenham in the final of the Intermediate Cup in 1997. The club runs five senior sides and many junior teams, all of which play at St Peter's.  Cliftonville Hockey Club plays its home matches at St Lawrence College and has a clubhouse that it shares with [[Broadstairs]] Cricket Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cliftonville-hockey.co.uk/|title=Cliftonville Hockey Club|access-date=16 March 2013|archive-date=14 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514221108/http://cliftonville-hockey.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Thanet Galaxy is a pan-disability football club that provides structured coaching for male and female footballers of all ages, who qualify within the nationally and internationally recognised Pan Disability categories. The club trains at Chatham House Grammar School and plays in Kent Disability Football League in three age bands: U-11, U-16, and 16+. In their first season (2008/2009), the adult A team won the Kent Disability League Adult Championship.

Ramsgate's sports facilities include Ramsgate Leisure Centre <ref>[http://www.thanet.gov.uk/news/latest_press_releases/swimming_pool_plans_14-09-07.aspx Ramsgate swimming pool is around 30&nbsp;years old and will be rebuilt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007000217/http://www.thanet.gov.uk/news/latest_press_releases/swimming_pool_plans_14-09-07.aspx |date=7 October 2007 }}</ref><ref>[https://yourleisure.uk.com/ramsgate-leisure-centre-thanet/ Ramsgate Leisure Centre]</ref> - a public swimming pool, fitness centre, gym and sports hall run by Your Leisure Kent Ltd.<ref>[https://yourleisure.uk.com/ Your Leisure Kent]</ref> Tennis clubs can be found at Spencer Square and St Laurence. Ramsgate has three golf clubs: St Augustine's,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staugustinesgolfclub.co.uk|title=Welcoming golf course near Ramsgate; club house, pro-shop|website=staugustinesgolfclub.co.uk|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106004646/http://staugustinesgolfclub.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> Stonelees,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stonelees.co.uk/|title=Stonelees Golf Centre, Ramsgate, Kent.|date=15 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215043413/http://www.stonelees.co.uk/|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=15 December 2006}}</ref> and Manston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manstongolf.co.uk/|title=Manston Golf Centre|website=Manstongolf.co.uk|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=18 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018073641/http://www.manstongolf.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>  There is also a sailing club, the Royal Temple Yacht Club, which is steeped in yacht-racing history and hosts racing throughout the year for a variety of historic trophies. The highlight of the season is the annual international sailing regatta, known as 'Ramsgate Week', which is usually held in August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtyc.com/|title=Welcome to Royal Temple Yacht Club|website=Rtyc.com|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-date=15 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915204109/http://www.rtyc.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Arts and local media===
[[File:Ramsgate Maritime Museum.jpg|thumb|Ramsgate Maritime Museum]]

The Gallery IOTA (Isle Of Thanet Arts) was based on the town's west cliff but is now on the harbour front.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iota-arts.org.uk/|title=IOTA Home|website=Iota-arts.org.uk|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032858/http://iota-arts.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Ramsgate Maritime Museum]] near the harbour quayside has exhibits showing the evolution of Ramsgate Harbour and east Kent maritime history. The Museum Building featured in the 2018 romantic comedy ''[[Juliet, Naked (film)|Juliet, Naked]]'' as the fictional Sandcliff Museum where the film's star Annie Platt (Rose Byrne) works. The King's Theatre, near the town centre, offers shows, community events and a seniors' club every Monday. Talks on Ramsgate's history are frequently held there.

Ramsgate has two paid-for newspapers, the ''Isle of Thanet Gazette'' and ''Thanet Times'', both of which are owned by [[Northcliffe Media]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northcliffemedia.co.uk/our-regions/south-east |title=South East &#124; Northcliffe Media |access-date=2012-09-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904175608/http://www.northcliffemedia.co.uk/our-regions/south-east |archive-date=4 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Free newspapers covering the town include the ''Thanet Extra'', part of the [[KM Group]]; and ''yourthanet'', belonging to [[KOS Media]].

Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC South East]] & [[ITV Meridian]]. Television signals are received from the [[Dover transmitting station|Dover]] TV transmitter and the local relay transmitter situated in the town centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Ramsgate|title= Freeview Light on the Ramsgate (Kent, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=19 January 2024}}</ref> 

The local radio stations are [[KMFM Thanet]], owned by the KM Group, [[community radio]] station [[Academy FM (Thanet)]], and the county-wide stations [[Heart South]], [[Gold (British radio network)|Gold]] and [[BBC Radio Kent]]. [[Thanet District|Thanet]] Community Radio (TCR)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thanetcommunityradio.co.uk|title=Thanet Community Radio Signature|website=Thanetcommunityradio.co.uk|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517002654/http://thanetcommunityradio.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> offers an online arts- and features-based service for Thanet District and the surrounding area where people can listen to podcasts of local interest. The service works closely with [[Dover]] Community Radio.

===Landmarks===
[[File:Viking Longboat 'Hugin', Ramsgate - geograph.org.uk - 653079.jpg|thumb|Hugin Viking longship in Pegwell]]

The [[Hugin (longship)|Hugin]] is a reconstructed [[Viking longship]] located at [[Pegwell Bay]] in Ramsgate.  It was a gift from the Danish government in commemoration of the 1500th anniversary of the legendary arrival of conquering brothers [[Hengist and Horsa]] to England in the year 449.

==Architecture==
{{main|Historic Buildings in Ramsgate}}

There are many [[Regency architecture|Regency]] and [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] buildings in Ramsgate.  In all, there are 900 listed buildings in the town with more than 200 in the vicinity of the harbour.<ref>[http://www.thanet.gov.uk/news/focus_articles/ramsgate_focus.aspx Ramsgate Focus<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509033915/http://www.thanet.gov.uk/news/focus_articles/ramsgate_focus.aspx |date=9 May 2008 }}</ref> One of the town's most notable buildings is the 18th century [[Townley House]] designed by [[Mary Townley (architect)|Mary Townley]].<ref name=michaels>[http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/blogpicts2/townley.htm Paul Nettleingham, "Townley House in Ramsgate"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222064234/http://www.michaelsbookshop.com/blogpicts2/townley.htm |date=22 February 2012 }}, ''Michaels Bookshop Ramsgate''. Retrieved 15 March 2012.</ref>

The town has three notable churches:

*The first building used for worship in the Thanet parish of St Lawrence was at [[St Laurence-in-Thanet]]; it was built in 1062 and rebuilt during the following centuries, with the most significant changes made in the 16th century. Note the difference in spelling between the village of St Lawrence and its church, which is dedicated to the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] [[martyr]] [[Laurence]].

*The second notable church is [[Pugin's Church and Shrine of St Augustine|St Augustine's]], on the town's West Cliff. It was designed by [[Augustus Pugin]] in 1847 in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style. Its dedication commemorates [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]], the first [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], who landed at Ramsgate in AD 597 bringing [[Christianity]] to Britain. In March 2012 the church was designated a shrine to St Augustine of Canterbury; this ended a five-century absence of a shrine to St Augustine, as the original (at St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury) had been destroyed during the [[English Reformation|Reformation]].

*The town's parish church of St George is situated just off the High Street. Its lantern tower was added at the request of [[Trinity House]] as a navigational aid to passing ships, and it looks over the town. The ground was consecrated on 23 October 1827.

St Augustine's is part of the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Archdiocese of Southwark]], whilst St Laurence and St George are both [[Church of England]] and serve the [[Anglican]] community as part of the [[Diocese of Canterbury]]. Christ Church, built in 1847, also serves the Anglican community.

Ramsgate library was originally built and paid for by [[Andrew Carnegie]] in 1904. On the evening of Friday 13 August 2004, it was destroyed by fire just two months short of its 100th anniversary.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/3564428.stm|title=Arson inquiry after library fire|date=16 August 2004|publisher=BBC News|access-date=24 June 2013|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123224434/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/3564428.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Though suspicions were raised about the causes of the fire, due to a similarly timed fire at Aberdeen House (the town's registry office), an investigation was unable to establish how the fire had started. Shortly after the blaze, planning permission was granted for a new library. The library was fully restored, and was officially re-opened on 20 February 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Ramsgate-Library-8217-s-rebirth/story-12000852-detail/story.html#axzz2X7SVkPJk|archive-date=24 June 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624232055/http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Ramsgate-Library-8217-s-rebirth/story-12000852-detail/story.html%23axzz2X7SVkPJk|url-status=dead|title=Ramsgate Library's rebirth Trusted article source icon|date=13 January 2009|website=Thisiskent.co.uk|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref>

==Transport==
===By sea===
{{main|Port of Ramsgate}}
[[File:Ramsgate 2.jpg|right|thumb|The Royal Harbour]]
The Port of Ramsgate has a 700 berth [[marina]], ''Royal Harbour Marina'', and a ferry terminal built on reclaimed land. The harbour provides shelter from the effects of storms. The [[Goodwin Sands]] are nearby. In 2005, the marina had 12,000 visiting boats.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} [[Transeuropa Ferries]] passenger (with vehicle only) and freight [[ferries]] sailed until April 2013 to the [[Port of Ostend]] in [[Ostend]], [[Belgium]]. The Port of Ramsgate has its own road access tunnel from outside the town, avoiding town centre congestion. The [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution]]'s [[Ramsgate Lifeboat Station]] is in Ramsgate Harbour.

===By road===
Ramsgate is connected to the national road network primarily through the [[A299 road|A299]] Thanet Way, which continues on to the [[M2 motorway (Great Britain)|M2]]/[[A2 road (Great Britain)|A2]] for the [[M25 motorway|M25]] (approx 1&nbsp;hour) and London. The [[A256 road|A256]] provides a link to [[Dover]] and onwards to the [[A20 road (England)|A20]] for the [[Channel Tunnel]].  Bus services are provided by [[Stagecoach South East]] and also serve [[Broadstairs]], [[Canterbury]], [[Sandwich, Kent|Sandwich]] and [[Margate]].

===By rail===
{{main|Ramsgate railway station}}
[[Ramsgate railway station]] is situated at the top of the town near the parish of St Lawrence.

A new high-speed service to [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]] started in December 2009, running on [[High Speed 1]], the UK's first high-speed rail line, between London and Kent. The journey time from Ramsgate to St Pancras is 76 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/offers-and-destinations/kent/kentbeaches/|title=Trains to Kent Seaside - Southeastern|website=Southeasternrailway.co.uk|access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=24 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024104634/http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/offers-and-destinations/kent/kentbeaches/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2015, it was announced that journey times between Ramsgate and London St Pancras are expected to be reduced to 63 minutes in 2019,{{Fix|text=out of date}} due to infrastructure enhancements.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-31870695|title=Kent rail link to London to speed up with £12m investment|publisher=BBC News|access-date=21 August 2016|date=2015-03-13|archive-date=4 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004194859/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-31870695|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other trains run from Ramsgate to [[Charing Cross railway station|London Charing Cross]] and [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]]. Commuting time to the capital on these lines is approximately 1&nbsp;hour 50&nbsp;minutes.

Trains from Ramsgate are routed via [[Margate railway station|Margate]], [[Chatham railway station, Medway|Chatham]] and [[Bromley South railway station|Bromley South]], or via [[Canterbury West railway station|Canterbury West]] or [[Dover Priory railway station|Dover Priory]] and [[Ashford International railway station|Ashford International]]. Ramsgate railway station is operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] who operate all services.

[[Thanet Parkway railway station]], opened on 31 July 2023, is situated near the village of [[Cliffsend]] just outside Ramsgate, and easily accessible by road off of the A299 (Hengist Way).

===By air===
{{Main|Ramsgate Airport}}
A municipal airport was opened on 1 July 1935, operating until [[World War II]] broke out in 1939. Following a short spell as a satellite of [[RAF Manston]], it closed in 1940. The airport was re-opened in 1952 and operated until closure in 1968.

From September 2004 to August 2005 a low-cost airline [[EUjet]] operated frequent flights to many European destinations, replacing a large freight operator. However, flights were suspended after the collapse of its parent company, PlaneStation Group plc.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/4717881.stm | work=BBC News | title=Airline goes into administration | date=26 July 2005 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=22 December 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061222130654/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4717881.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

Manston was sold to [[Infratil]] on 26 August 2005. Until May 2014, [[KLM Cityhopper]] operated two daily passenger flights from the airport to [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol]] in the Netherlands. The airport was regularly used by freight operators such as [[Cargolux]] and Meridian.

The airport was sold to [[Ann Gloag]] in November 2013. She was reported to be seeking a buyer, but her spokesman reported that a buyer had not been found, and the airport closed on 15 May 2014.

If the airport were to resume operations, the town would be directly under the flight path.

==Education==
[[File:Stlawrence.jpg|thumb|300px|[[St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate|St Lawrence College]] public school in Ramsgate]]

'''Secondary schools'''
* [[Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School]]
* [[The Royal Harbour Academy]]
* [[St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate|St Lawrence College]]

'''Colleges and further education'''
* Ramsgate's nearest college is [[East Kent College]]. This is situated in the nearby town of [[Broadstairs]].

==Twin towns==
Ramsgate is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[Conflans-Sainte-Honorine]], France
* [[Chimay]], Belgium
* [[Frederikssund]], Denmark

==In popular culture==

Author [[Russell Hoban]] repurposes Ramsgate as seat of government "The Ram" in his 1980, post apocalyptic novel ''[[Riddley Walker]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.errorbar.net/rw/Places|title=Places - Riddley Walker Annotations|website=Errorbar|access-date=21 August 2022|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729025537/http://www.errorbar.net/rw/Places|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ramsgate lifeboat station]] Provides an inshore boat and an offshore boat.
* [[Ramsgate Harbour railway station]]
* [[Ramsgate Town railway station]]
* [[Ramsgate Cliff Railway]]
* [[List of people from Thanet#Ramsgate]]
* [[St Ethelbert's church, Ramsgate]]
*[[Ramsgate power station]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Martin Easdown, ''A Fateful Finger of Iron: The Story of the Ill-fated Ramsgate Promenade Pier Within a Resort History of the Town'', Michaels Bookshop (Jul 2006), {{ISBN|1-905477-65-1}}
* Bob Simmonds, ''Ramsgate From the Ground: An Alternative Look at the Town and Its History'', Michaels Bookshop (April 2006), {{ISBN|1-905477-47-3}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ramsgate}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Ramsgate}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091008014830/http://www.ramsgatetc.kentparishes.gov.uk/ Ramsgate Town Council]

{{Thanet}}
{{Kent}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ramsgate| ]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in England]]
[[Category:Towns in Kent]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in South East England]]
[[Category:Cinque ports]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Kent]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Kent]]
[[Category:Beaches of Kent]]