Ramsgate's Royal Harbour is the heart of the town and the source of its best architecture. The inner and outer harbours are flanked by steep chalk cliffs, and the Georgian and Regency townhouses that line the clifftop — terraces of cream stucco, wrought-iron balconies, and long sash windows facing the sea — give Ramsgate a visual quality well above the average English seaside resort.
Working fishing boats still operate from the western arm of the harbour, and the fish market adjacent to the quay sells the morning's catch directly. The inner marina holds yachts and pleasure craft. Walking the harbour walls gives the best views of the cliffs and the town above. The clock tower on the East Pier and the harbour office — a small Classical building by John Shaw — are worth noting. On summer evenings the harbour restaurants and cafes along the front are the social centre of the town.