Introduction
Margate spent decades as a faded English seaside resort, then artists started moving there because the light is extraordinary and the rents were cheap, and now it's one of the most interesting places in England for a weekend. The combination of the sea, the Turner Contemporary gallery, Dreamland, and a genuinely creative old town makes it unlike anywhere else on the coast.
The paradox of Margate is that it's simultaneously still a bit scruffy and deeply cool, fish and chips next to natural wine bars, arcades next to independent galleries, Wetherspoons next to places that get written about in the Guardian. It hasn't been fully cleaned up, which is exactly what makes it interesting.
The beach is genuinely excellent, the sunsets over the North Sea are spectacular, and the Shell Grotto, an underground cave covered in 4.6 million shells with no agreed-upon explanation, is one of England's most genuinely mysterious places.
Getting There
High-speed trains from London St Pancras to Margate take about 1 hour 30 minutes. Regular trains from London Victoria take about 2 hours. By car it's around 1 hour 45 minutes from London via the M2. It's close enough for a day trip but much better as a weekend.
Areas to Know
- Old Town, independent shops, vintage, restaurants, and the Shell Grotto
- Seafront / Marine Terrace. Dreamland, Turner Contemporary, the beach
- Cliftonville, artsy residential area, galleries, independent cafés
- Broadstairs, neighbouring town with Botany Bay and a slightly posher version of the same vibe
