Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour Hotel

Just two hours from London by road, less by train, Ramsgate in Kent is a great choice for a weekend break in the UK. Full of beautiful Georgian and Victorian architecture, with a pretty harbour and compact town centre, Ramsgate will appeal to those who love beautiful coastlines, military and naval history, and browsing in antique and second-hand shops.

The Royal Harbour Hotel, Ramsgate

We were invited to visit by the Royal Harbour Hotel, who also run The Empire Room restaurant on site, and the recently opened Little Ships restaurant and cafe down in the harbour.

Panorama of Georgian terrace including Royal Harbour Hotel and The Empire Room restaurant in Ramsgate Close up of Georgian terrace including Royal Harbour Hotel and The Empire Room restaurant in Ramsgate

The hotel is spread across three beautiful Georgian terraced houses in a sea view garden crescent just above the harbour, two of them adjacent and the other a couple of doors down. The two adjacent houses are home to the reception, a light and bright breakfast room and two sitting rooms for guest use, including an honesty bar. The Empire Room restaurant is in the basement level, accessed from outside.

There are 28 bedrooms of varying sizes, of which we personally recommend the suites and large back-facing doubles for their generous size. Standard and balcony sea view rooms are significantly smaller.

View out to Ramsgate Harbour from sea view hotel room in Royal Harbour Hotel View out to Ramsgate Harbour from sea view hotel room in Royal Harbour Hotel

Our beautiful ground-floor double room with garden view was located in the house a couple of doors down. We appreciated the large, very comfortable bed, three comfy armchairs and well-lit spacious bathroom and loved the eclectic artwork of several colourful Parisian prints and a Subbuteo board on the wall! All rooms have TV with Freeview and basic tea and coffee making facilities.


Spacious ground floor double room at Royal Harbour Hotel Ramsgate Spacious ground floor double room at Royal Harbour Hotel Ramsgate

You can book your room to include a continental or full breakfast. The continental breakfast is a self-service buffet of fresh pastries, bread and brioche (toaster provided), lots of fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereal, smoked salmon, cheese, jams and even a tray of in-the-comb honey. Cooked breakfast options include the full English, kippers or omelette.


Half board is also available, with dinner taken in The Empire Room restaurant – the restaurant is also open to non-residents and offers an a la carte and set menu. The hotel also serves a complimentary cheese board in the lounge area at 10 pm, a lovely touch which we were far too full to try.

Staff are friendly and helpful, indeed hotel manager David Dray won the Pride of Thanet’s tourism award for serviced accommodation last year for his dedication to ensuring guests have a positive experience.

Sightseeing in Ramsgate

The Royal Harbour and marina are key attractions in Ramsgate. You will find plenty of beautiful and historical architecture (such as the Home for Smack Boys, the  Sailors’ Church and Harbour Mission), the Ramsgate Maritime Museum (in the old Clock House) focusing on Ramsgate’s military and naval history, some of the original “Little Ships” that took part in the Dunkirk evacuations, and a really fabulous Vintage and Retro Junk shop in one of the arches along Military Road.

Sunrise view of Ramsgate's Royal Harbour and Sea Sunrise view of Ramsgate's Royal Harbour and Sea
Down in the marina area of Ramsgate's Royal Harbour Home For Smack Boys building in Ramsgate's Royal Harbour

Not usually a huge fan of Wetherspoons pubs, we made an exception to visit the Royal Victoria Pavilion, an incredible Grade II listed pavilion that was totally dilapidated and at risk of ruin before Wetherspoons carried out a very impressive restoration.

Night shot of Royal Victoria Pavilion in RamsgateNight shot of Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate Inside Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate

As we visited Ramsgate in late October, the weather wasn’t suitable for us to enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches and coastal walks to Broadstairs’ Viking Bay or Pegwell Bay, both of which are hugely popular when the weather is good.

During our drizzly visit, we particularly enjoyed browsing in Michael’s Bookshop, a wonderfully old-school second-hand bookshop, warren-like corridors of shelves laden with treasure. There are also several antiques shops and another vintage store at Petticoat Lane Emporium.

When we return on a sunnier weekend, we’d like to visit the Ramsgate Tunnels, which sheltered 60,000 people during Word War II air raids, and the Italianate Glasshouse in King George VI Memorial Park.

For those who don’t want to walk the coastal path but would still like to visit Viking Bay, there’s an excellent bus service called The Loop which runs between Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate. You can catch it right by the harbour in Ramsgate (or at one of several other stops around town) and it makes a convenient stop in Broadstairs, from where it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the beach.

Kavey Eats visited Ramsgate as guests of The Royal Harbour Hotel

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The beautiful Georgian terrace properties of the Royal Harbour Hotel Ramsgate, Kent

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15 Comments to "Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour Hotel"

  1. Kelly Innes

    We got engaged whilst staying here! We were huge fans of the place in the early days and snuck down several times a year until we bought our own bolthole.

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Oh that’s lovely! It’s such a pretty place, very relaxed and old school. So you have a place there now? Our next door neighbors (here in London) do too. We saw them for a drink while down there!❤️ Reviews of the two restaurants coming next.

    Reply
  2. Yukti

    Royal Harbour Hotel, Ramgate looks a perfect cozy place for staying in Kent. I loved its Georgian styled terraces and it is great that have beautiful views of the garden also. I love to see marina in every port type of city and therefore visiting Royal Harbour in this city would my first choice too. It is great that if we cannot walk much then we can take The Loop bus service.

    Reply
  3. Gingey Bites

    I’ve never been to Ramsgate but it looks great, a perfect place to have a weekend getaway at. The rooms look lovely too. Perhaps we’ll stay there one day soon!

    Reply
  4. ANITA

    This place looks perfect, what can I expect more? The rooms are adorable, the location, the food looks super tasty and overall all looks great. I am saving this article for my future trips, who knows maybe I will get there soon.

    Reply
  5. Annick

    Ramsgate’s Royal Harbor Hotel was a great weekend getaway. It’s great that you can have full or partial board and the restaurant is open to the public. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a hotel that offers a night cheese board! And great views from the room. I hope your next weekend visit will have better weather so you can tour the area.

    Reply
  6. umiko Silalahi

    The rooms look cozy and beautifully designed. It’s good to know that half board is also available. And who won’t have a good day by starting with breakfast like that? I’m sure staying at Ramsgate’s Royal Harbor Hotel is a pleasant one, especially for weekend getaway from London.

    Reply
  7. Daniel

    Royal Harbour Hotel looks a perfect cozy place to spend a few days in Kent. I’ve never visited before but it looks very appealing and I sure wouldn’t mind spending a few days over there. The rooms seem to be very cozy and the design is gorgeous. That breakfast looks amazing too!

    Reply
  8. Clarice

    This looks really homey and comfortable. I can imagine myself taking a staycation in this hotel. The bed is big and love the artwork. I am impressed that they provide 3 comfy armchairs. Some just have one. Will definitely keep this in mind once we’re visiting.

    Reply
  9. Bhushavali N

    Somehow I didn’t venture to Ramsgate when I was in London, though I went to Dover and Canterbury.
    So…. you get either a big room or a sea view room and not both together! That’s a difficult choice to make…. I think I’ll choose the sea view room!

    Reply
  10. Sally Pederson

    That looks like a great getaway from London. I will have to keep it in mind the next time I go there. I love seaside places and the rooms look so cozy.

    Reply
  11. FS Page

    I love Georgian architecture and this makes Ramsgate so picturesque. The interiors of Royal harbour hotel are something I have only seen in classic movies and never in person. It must be such a unique experience to stay in a place like this. Ramsgate surely looks like a lovely weekend destination one must try

    Reply
  12. emman damian

    This hotel looks very cozy and classic. I like that they have complimentary cheese board! It’s perfect with a glass of good wine. I hope I can visit this next time.

    Reply
  13. Mamta

    Loved reading it. You write well daughter, making a place come alive. You have had this knack for ever, I remember your excellent pieces from junior school days. I must look for those write ups of your childhood holidays 😃

    Reply

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