Open-Top Bus Route 69 Has Returned to Thanet for Seasonal Coastal Travel in 2025
Thanet’s seasonal open-top bus Route 69 has resumed service for 2025, with operations continuing until 21 September. Running on weekends, public holidays, and during school breaks, the bus connects important coastal locations from Ramsgate to Broadstairs. The route begins at Ramsgate’s Boating Pool, offering travelers beautiful coastal views on their journey to Stone Bay in Broadstairs. A daily service runs during the summer holidays from 26 July to 31 August, followed by every weekend to 21st September.
A single fare is priced at £3. Children under 15 are permitted on the upper deck only when accompanied by a responsible adult. The timetable and safety measures are designed to keep the service accessible and safe for everyone.
Route 69 operating schedule for 2025:
- On weekends until 20 July
- Daily service from 26 July to 31 August (Summer holidays)
- Weekends through 21st September
This route allows travelers to explore several notable destinations along the Kent coast. In Broadstairs, Stone Bay offers a calm coastal retreat with beautiful views, gentle waves and pleasant cliffside walks perfect for anyone wanting to relax away from busy areas. The Royal Harbour in Ramsgate is famous for its beautiful Georgian style and active marina. Not far from here, King George VI Memorial Park provides a nice patch of greenery with some great views over the cliffs and some historical touches that walkers and families tend to enjoy.
The route also offers stops at Dumpton Gap for a calm beach visit to Dumpton Gap Beach and in central Broadstairs to see the Dickens House Museum, honoring the town’s literary heritage. Ellington Park in Ramsgate also presents a well-maintained Victorian green space with seasonal events. The combination of beach, culture, and parks makes this service particularly valuable for flexible sightseeing without a car.
This seasonal Route 69 service contributes to the region’s overall travel infrastructure and responds to growing interest in accessible and flexible coastal tourism. As more people choose staycations and regional trips, initiatives like this give new ways to enjoy the English seaside. In 2025, travellers will have more choices, less hassle, and an easier way to take in Kent’s beautiful coastline.