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Margate is one of Britain’s best beachside resorts and less than an hour away from London by train – popular with families, Margate is a nice mix of amusements, arts and an awesome sandy beach.
Located in Kent, Margate has become increasingly busy in recent years with both day trippers and people relocating to the area to escape the city ‘rat-race’.
Luckily, there are so many things to do in Margate – from modern art at Turner Contemporary Gallery to the Bansky mural and summer concerts at Dreamland (or cheap as fish and chips on the beach), there is something to suit all tastes and budgets in Margate.
One of the best days out in Kent, here is our guide to the best things to do in Margate in 2024 with photos:
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Table of Contents
How to get to Margate
Margate is easy to reach by train and the station is just a few minutes walk from the seafront. There are frequent and direct high speed trains from London St Pancras International, London Charing Cross, London Stratford International and London Victoria rail stations.
Depending on the station, the journey durationby train from London to Margate is usually between 1.5-2 hours.
A day return train ticket from London Victoria to Margate costs as little as £14.50 per person, if booked in advance and using a National Railcard.
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Things to do in Margate
1. Margate Sands
Our number 1 thing to do in Margate, this gloriously sandy beach is one of the best in Kent and is one of the first sights to greet you, when walking downhill from Margate train station.
Packed with day trippers and locals during the summer months, it is best to arrive early if you want a good spot on Margate Sands.
Deckchairs and all manner of beach furniture are available to hire, and there are lots of bars, cafes, children’s and ice-cream spots all within easy walking distance.
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2. Margate Harbour Arm
A little further up from Margate Beach, the Harbour Arm offers splendid coastal views plus lots of food and drink kiosks, restaurants and local artist galleries.
If it is later in the day and the sun is over the yard Harbour Arm, sip a sneaky sunset pint at the Lighthouse Bar or the Harbour Arms Micropub (don’t worry, their pints are proper size)!
At the end of the Margate harbour arm, enjoy panoramic views and get up close to the bronze statue of the local shell lady.
Randomly, because of the beach tide, this area is also a bit of an inflatable graveyard, as the ocean currents drag away inflatable items from the main beach – so keep an eye out for floating unicorns and giant blow up bananas blowing along whilst in Margate!
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3. Turner Contemporary Museum
The Turner Contemporary gallery opened in Margate in 2011 and was the main catalyst for cultural change for the area.
Incredibly, around 4 million people visit the Turner Contemporary each year so it has been a huge success story and tourism boost for Margate.
Named after J M W Turner, the lauded landscape artist who resided here during several periods of his life, Margate’s Turner Contemporary Museum overlooks the sea with massive interior windows offering a respite from the weather on wet and windy days (which are fairly frequent in the UK).
A combination of permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Turner Contemporary is free to visit but donations are greatly appreciated. The Turner Contemporary Gallery is open 10am to 5pm 7 days a week; opening times correct as of summer 2024.
Address: Turner Contemporary Museum, Rendezvous, CT9 1HG
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4. Dreamland, Margate
Vibrant, retro and kitsch in equal measures (in a good way), Dreamland Margate puts the ‘amusing’ into amusement park.
Originally opened in 1870 (albeit in a much smaller form), Dreamland Margate has changed immensely over the years.
After several periods of closure, Dreamland bounced back bigger and better than ever before in 2015 and thankfully, it appears to be back for good now, coming into form over the Summer months hosting festivals, gigs and other popular events.
This summer (2024), Margate Dreamland has over 20 different festivals and concerts including Bryan Adams, Becky Hill, Status Quo and Limp Bizkit (so quite the eclectic line-up).
Whilst it is free to explore the park, you have to pay to go on the rides – you can either buy single tickets or unlimited passes. If rides aren’t your thing, there are various food and drink options including a Dreamland rooftop bar which overlooks the beach. The Roller Room / Disco at Dreamland also looks loads of fun (alas, we can’t skate).
Staying put in 2024, the recent Banksy Margate Valentine’s Day artwork has moved to Dreamland permanently. The Bansky mural, called “Valentine’s Day Mascara”, first appeared in Margate town mysteriously one night and shows a 1950s housewife with a bruised eye, trapping a man (likely her husband) in a freezer.
Check the Dreamland Margate website for opening hours (many of its outdoor attractions are only open in Spring and summer although there are lots of indoor events in Autumn and Winter).
Address: Dreamland Margate 49-51 Marine Terrace, CT9 1XJ
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5. The Old Kent Market
The Old Kent Market is possibly the easiest building to spot in Margate as it is bright red and near the seafront!
Based in an old cinema, this lovingly restored food and drink favourite hosts several permanent dining options stalls, as well as several pop-up arts and crafts stalls.
Something for all tastes can be found inside The Old Kent Market, from south east Asian food through to a veritable feast of vegan options. They also lay claim to have the UK’s smallest pub inside, The Little Prince.
Popular during the holidays and weekends, The Old Kent Market is one of the most fun things to do in Margate andis open daily from 10am to 8pm – times correct as of summer 2023.
Address: The Old Kent Market, 8 Fort Hill, CT9 1HD
6. Botany Bay
A 45 minute coastal walk from Margate (or a 30 minute bus journey) will bring you to Botany Bay, an ionic and historic Kent bay, regularly used as a period filming location in movies and TV series.
Recognisable and renowned for its bright white chalk cliffs, this is also a sublime swimming spot and a nice spot to escape the tourist hordes that you’ll likely encounter on Margate Beach in the summer months.
If you are planning on swimming in Botany Bay, please be aware lifeguards are on duty here during the peak tourist season only.
On your coastal walk here from Margate, keep an eye out for Neptune’s Tower, a historic folly (looks like a castle) dating from around 1760.
We’d also recommend visiting the clifftop pub the Captain Folly, which is also castle like but obviously much more modern – the coastal views from the Captain Folly beer garden must make it one of the most scenic pubs in Britain.
Address: Botany Bay, Marine Drive, Cliftonville, Broadstairs CT10 3LG
We rate the Viking Trail from Margate to Ramsgate via Broadstairs as one of the best walks in Kent; read more here >
7. Fish and Chips, Margate Sands Beach
One of life’s best pleasures – in our (un)expert opinion – is British fish and chips on the beach, served out of (newspaper) with lashings of salt, vinegar and a side of mushy peas (if you haven’t heard of mushy peas before, just try them – you won’t regret it).
There are lots of places to get fish and chips, although based on the queues we witnessed,Peter’s Fish Factoryis the most popular (possibly because it is only a one minute walk from the seafront).Holly Lanes Fish Inn(try saying that with a mouthful of battered sausage!) is also recommended online.
Address:
Peter’s Fish Factory Margate, 12 The Parade, CT9 1EZ
Holly Lanes Fish Inn, 2A Holly Lane, Cliftonville, CT9 3NA
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8. Margate Vintage Shops
Margate Old Town is filled with quirky independent vintage and antique shops.
Check out Madam Popoff Vintage, full of cut-price couture and sublime second-hand sartorial elegance.
Other popular vintage wear shops in Margate include Handsome Freaks (a short walk from Turner Contemporary) and Pie in the Sky Vintage Emporium.
Address:
Pie in the Sky Vintage Emporium, 20 The Centre, CT9 1JG
Handsome Freaks, 10 Broad Street, CT9 1BN
Madam Popoff Vintage, 4 King Street CT9 1DA
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9. Margate Shell Grotto
Open since the late 1830s, the Shell Grotto in Margate is perhaps one of Kent’s most unique tourist attractions – comprising 70 foot of tunnels and made from almost 5 million shells, the Shell Grotto is now a Grade II listed building.
Most incredibly, no-one really knows the origins of the Shell Grotto – it was discovered fully constructed and was possibly used previously as a temple or even as a meeting place for a secret sect.
To visit the Margate Shell Grotto, you have to ‘shell out’ £4.50 per adult, as of summer 2024 – note that the Grotto is a small dark underground space with limited ventilation so is not for everyone.
Address: Margate Shell Grotto, 33 Grotto Hill, Cliftonville, CT9 2BU
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10. The WonderWorks by Hornby Hobbies
Love model trains? Enjoy tiny stations? Well, the WonderWorks by Hornby Hobbies may well be THE best thing to do in Margate for you.
An incredible collection of Britain’s best love train sets and toys, this Hornby Visitor Centre also features other famous brands of childhood playsets including Scaletrix, Corgi and Airfix.
Costing £5 per adult and with access to the ‘Just the Ticket’ cafe included, make tracks to the WonderWorks by Hornby Hobbies, open daily from 10am to 4pm.
Address: WonderWorks by Hornby HobbiesWestwood Industrial Estate, Westwood, CT9 4JX
11. Margate Caves
Originally opened to the public in 1839, the Margate Caves initially came about after being used commercially as chalk mines in the 17th century.
Alas the Margate Caves fell out of favour in recent years as a visitor attraction and after a period of closure, recently reopened for new generations to explore this cavernous complex.
Over 90 metres long and up to 12 metres high at their tallest point, the Margate Caves cost £4.50 per adult (‘dig deep’ into those pockets) to explore as of summer 2024.
Address: Margate Caves, 1 Northdown Road, Kent CT9 1QH
12. Margate Mini Golf
‘Fore real’ – one of the most fun things to do in Margate is play mini golf. A classic seaside rite of passage, crazy golf on the coast is always so much better in the sea-air.
Choose from Lost Island Adventure Golf or Strokes Adventure Golf. If you want to enjoy a themed indoor course, Lost Island Adventure Golf is your best bet to stay ‘putt’ – 2024 prices are £9 per game for adults or £7 for the younger explorers.
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13. Anthony Gormley, Another Time Margate Statue
A super-cool and salty as artwork, Antony Gormley’s Another Time statue is actually part of a much larger artwork collection.
‘Another Time 1999-2013’ is a collection of 100 life-sized iron figures that have been dispersed far and wide including in nearby Folkestone and also another one in the River Thames at the Grapes pub in London Limehouse.
Positioned on the Fulsam Rock on Margate beach, the Anthony Gormley Margate statue can be seen in front of the Turner Contemporary gallery in the water during low tides.
The Another Time statue will remain in Margate until at least 2030 (unless it gets washed away)!
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14. Other Kent Beaches and things to do near Margate
Folkestone in Kent
The coastal town of Folkestone is one of Kent’s most popular towns for day trippers and overseas tourists. In fact, so many people visit here from the capital that they are known as ‘DFLs’ – ‘Down from London’.
Folkestone is ahistoric portwith incredible beach views,seaside walksand an alfresco art scene. Throw into the mix an array ofbeachside barsand harbour front hang-outs and you know you are in for a fine day out in Folkestone.
From cobbled streets and ‘Sunny’ sands to fresh fish and chips, here is ourguide on the best things to do in Folkestone, Kent >
Ramsgate in Kent
A charming coastal town in Kent, Ramsgate was named in 2023 as one of the ‘coolest places in Kent’ by The Times newspaper. Just over an hour from London by train (from St Pancras), there are plenty of seaside things to do in Ramsgate.
Boasting the spectacularRoyal Harbour and Marina,incredible hilltop viewsandwalks, Ramsgate is perfect for a spot of rest and recreation.
Ramsgate also hasdozens of pubs overlooking the waterprimed for a perfect sunset pint accompanied with the freshest fish and chips.
Here is our guide to the best things to do in Ramsgate, Kent >
Whitstable in Kent
One of the best English seaside escapes and just over an hour’s train ride from London, there are so many wonderful things to do in Whitstable.
A fishing town primarily known for its delicious oysters, boutique shops and colourful beach huts, Whitstable has stunning sea views, incredible seafood and is genuinely one of the prettiest coastal towns in England we’ve visited.
Read our guide to the best things to do in Whitstable >
Broadstairs in Kent
A short train ride from Margate (less than 10 minutes), Broadstairs is a cute and charming coastal town with incredible hilltop views overlooking Viking Bay.
Always popular, Broadstairs is a quintessentially British beachside spot with several bars and restaurants overlooking the bay, a busy harbour arm and loads of traditional favourites like fish and chip kiosks and ice cream stalls. It is kind of like Margate but smaller and with a much more serene setting.
Whilst in Broadstairs, you can visit the Charles Dickens Museum which showcases Dickens links to the Broadstairs region, housed in the cottage that was said to be the inspiration for Betsey Trotwood’s house in his famous David Copperfield novel.
Where to stay in Margate
The Sands Hotel
Boutique hotel just 4 minutes’ walk from the Turner ContemporaryArt Gallery with waterfrontterraceand views of the beach.Check out prices and availability forThe Sands Hotel
The Crescent Victoria Hotel
Stylish hotel just a 5-minute walk from the beach with garden, a terrace and a bar.Check out prices and availability forThe Crescent Victoria hotel
The Penthouse Margate
Modern penthouse apartment with sea facingbalcony, living room and a fully equipped kitchen.Check out prices and availability forThe Penthouse Margate
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- Visiting Margate on a ‘microgap’ with Visit England
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