Fancy a day (or two) discovering Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, soaking up breathtaking coastal views with the wind in your hair, whilst being able to visit a range of fantastic attractions at your leisure? Then a trip on Stagecoach’s Thanet Open Topper Bus is just the ticket - super seaside fun for young and old alike.
The bus runs between Minnis Bay, Birchington and the Boating Pool in Ramsgate, with several stops between where you can alight for refreshments, explore the towns, play on the beach or learn more about the resorts’ history and heritage.
If it’s beach fun you’re after, there are nine spectacular bays to choose from, all with lovely golden sand. First up is Minnis Bay, popular with families who like rock pooling. West Bay at Westgate-on-Sea has the perfect sand for building sandcastles whilst Westbrook Bay is the place to take in a game of adventure golf close by. Hop off at Margate train station to head across the road to Margate Main Sands for family fun, rides and even Sea Scrub Sauna or take a short walk to Dreamland for vintage style rides, live music and a roller room.
Next is Cliftonville, explore Northdown Road—one of Time Out’s ‘Coolest Streets 2025’, packed with independent shops and eateries, or take a dip in the iconic Walpole Bay Tidal Pool.
The magnificent horse-shoe shaped Viking Bay (hop-off at Victoria Parade), with a clifftop promenade and gardens offers a surf school and children’s rides. Louisa Bay, another great bay for rockpooling, is a short, sandy or promenade stroll away. Quiet Dumpton Gap is next, followed by Ramsgate Main Sands (Ramsgate Harbour stop), which sits right next to the beautiful Royal Harbour and the waterfront, cosmopolitan in feel and with spectacular views of the marina. Western Undercliff is located next to the port, and the closest to The Boating Pool with tidal pools to explore.
You can enhance your travel with a bit of history and heritage, visiting some of our many attractions (follow the links below for further info, opening times and prices)
Dreamland (Short walk from Margate Train Station stop)
All the fun of the festival with vintage style rides, live music, Roller room, amusements, arcades, free Roam VR alongside food and drink outlets.
Crampton Tower Museum (short walk from Pierremont Hall stop)
Local history and railway museum celebrating the life and achievements of Broadstairs man, Thomas Crampton. Throughout the season look out for special events - toy sales, car shows, model railway exhibitions
Dickens House Museum (Short walk from Victoria Parade stop)
Explore Charles Dickens’ relationship with Broadstairs through his letters and personal items. Pick up a copy of the Dickens Town Trail, to walk in Dickens’ footsteps, discovering places around town with a connection to the author.
A few doors down from the museum tuck into a Morelli’s ice cream, from this retro-style parlour
Ramsgate Tunnels (Short walk from Granville Theatre or Ramsgate Harbour stop)
Take a guided tour of a unique civilian wartime tunnel complex set in a Victorian Railway Tunnel. The complex was home to over 1000 people during the darkest period of WWII - don a hard hat and experience life underground.
The Granville Theatre (Granville Theatre stop)
The Granville Theatre offers a full programme of musical theatre, music tribute acts, plays and pantomimes. Stop off for a visit to the cafe to enjoy views out to sea.
The Micro Museum and This Museum is (NOT) Obsolete (Short walk up Harbour Street and High Street from Ramsgate Harbour Stop)
The Micro Museum - Discover the history of personal computing and the inventors of the digital age. Play on classic games.
This Museum is (NOT) Obsolete - An interactive museum celebrating obsolete/experimental electronic technology, scientific, telecommunications music and more
St. Augustine & Pugin: Shrine and Visitor Centre (West Cliff, Boating Pool stop)
Personal church and burial place of the architect Augustus Pugin. Shrine of St. Augustine of England.
Pugin’s The Grange (West Cliff, Boating Pool stop)
Grade 1 listed house designed and lived in by the 19th century architect Augustus Pugin.
The beauty of the open top bus is that you can enjoy it more than once, but make each time different.
Travel all day with a Thanet Open Top Day ticket that can be bought from the bus driver for £8 Adults, £5 for under 19s and Concessions or via the Stagecoach Bus App.
A Group Ticket can also be purchased at £22 for up to 5 people and under 5s travel free. Thanet Open Top Day Tickets allow unlimited hop-on, hop-off all day and are valid on all Stagecoach buses within the Thanet DayRider zone.
Hop on, hop off... For the full timetable of operating days, please check the details here
To visit other Isle of Thanet attractions by bus, use the Thanet Loop service which runs every 10-15 minutes daily.
To discover other Thanet attractions click here. If you require further information on things to see and do, walking route leaflets, train and bus times or event information head to the Visitor Information Centres in Margate and Ramsgate and Broadstairs Information Kiosk
