Top 10 Things to Do in Margate, Kent (2023)
Photo Credit: Paul Hudson, Flickr
There are lots of things to see and do in Margate, Kent.
Margate is a seaside town on the Kent Coast, England. It is just 90 minutes from London by train and an easy drive from many other nearby towns. This makes Margate a great day trip destination, although there is plenty to do if you are able to stay longer.
Margate is often referred to as ‘Shoreditch-on-Sea’, gaining a reputation for attracting creative hipsters from London. I’ve worked in and around Old Street and Shoreditch in London for most of my working life and can see why, although Margate certainly has its own distinct character. There is an intriguing mix of independent cafes, galleries and cultural attractions that sit alongside the illuminated amusement arcades and traditional seaside shops and stalls along the seafront.
I recently had an excellent day out in Margate, exploring local art galleries and culture, and I have shared my experiences below to help you plan your day trip to Margate.
Table of Contents
1. Spend the day at Margate Beach
2. Visit Turner Contemporary Art Gallery, Margate
3. Stroll Around Margate’s Old Town
4. The Art Galleries of Margate’s Old Town
7. Enjoy the Rides at Dreamland Margate
9. Discover the Town’s History at Margate Museum
Use Margate as a Base to Explore the Kent Coast and Countryside
1. Spend the day at Margate Beach
Margate beach is conveniently located just a 5 minute walk from the train station, with plenty of car parks also nearby.
Margate Beach offers a wide stretch of sandy shoreline, making it ideal for sunbathing, picnicking, and building sandcastles. The beach is generally well-maintained and offers a pleasant place to relax and enjoy the coastal scenery.
The beach has its own tidal pool to enable safe swimming.
Alongside the beach runs a lively promenade, perfect for leisurely walks and cycling. The promenade is lined with various amenities, including cafes, arcades, restaurants, and ice cream parlors, providing plenty of options for refreshments and snacks.
A visit to the beach would be enough for a full day trip to Margate, although there is plenty to see and do in Margate regardless of the weather.
2. Visit Turner Contemporary Art Gallery, Margate
Top of our ‘to-do’ list was a visit to the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery, which is located at the harbour at the other end of the beach at Rendezvous, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HG.
The Turner Contemporary Art Gallery is a world-class gallery and it is great that admission is free. I would suggest allowing for between one to two hours for your visit.
The gallery is housed in a modern, contemporary building that has been designed to maximise the light created by the expansive seascape setting.
Indeed, it was this abundance of light and sky around Margate that first attracted Turner to Margate over 100 years ago. The building itself is a local landmark and worth seeing to witness how the light moves around it.
The gallery building itself is an architectural masterpiece. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, it opened to the public in 2011 and is known for its sleek and modern design. The structure is composed of large glass windows that provide abundant natural light and offer stunning views of the surrounding coastline.
Inside, the Turner Contemporary does not have a permanent collection of its own and instead focuses on temporary exhibitions that draw reference to the ethos of Turner's work and legacy and seek to use art to inspire change.
When I visited, there were some excellent exhibitions by internationally renowned artists. I have summarised their work below:
Ellen Harvey - Ellen Harvey was born in Kent, but now lives in Brooklyn, New York. The exhibition ‘The Tourists: Ellen Harvey & JMW Turner’, explores themes of tourism and ecology. The work includes ‘The Disappointed Tourist’, which comprises over 200 paintings of sites that have disappeared and the ‘The Mermaid’, a 34-meter-long painting, depicting a cross-section of Florida from Miami Beach to the Everglades National Park.
Also on display was Ellen Harvey’s ‘New York Beautification Project’, where the artist had travelled across New York city painting miniature landscapes on buildings already tagged with graffiti. She wanted to call attention to the fact that she would be treated differently (as a white woman) and that by replacing spray paint with oil and using a retro aesthetic, her work would move from being seen as a criminal act to being seen as a work of art. I found this part of the exhibition particularly interesting as I’ve written about Street Art in Lisbon and The Moments Art Exhibition, Bury St Edmunds displaying the work of street artists such as Banksy, and I find it fascinating to consider the line between criminal graffiti and protected street art.
Steve McQueen - Steve McQueen is a British filmmaker and video artist. The exhibit ‘Ashes’ (2002–2015) was on show. This comprises footage filmed over ten years, on two separate visits to the Caribbean island of Grenada and tells the emotive story of ‘Ashes’. On one screen we see a happy, carefree young guy riding the waves on an orange boat. On the second screen we learn that Ashes was murdered by local drug dealers. McQueen’s film emphasises the impact of the international drug trade upon the islanders and the ongoing legacy of colonialism.
Barbara Walker - ‘Place, Space and Who’ is an artwork by British, Birmingham-based artist Barbara Walker, created over a four-month residency at Turner Contemporary. It explores identity and belonging, featuring sound and portraits of five women and girls from the African Diaspora living in Margate and Kent. Her work is about making people visible and challenging the absence and misrepresentation of marginalised and overlooked subjects. The portraits are beautifully detailed and imposing as you enter the gallery.
Antony Gormley - The sculpture, ‘Another Time’ by Antony Gormley is located outside The Turner Contemporary and is viewable for about three hours during low tide. This sculpture is part of a series of one hundred, solid cast-iron figures that have been displayed around the world.
Whilst the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery is an excellent gallery, with a great pedigree of exhibitors, it is a gallery for ‘grown-ups’. As a parent, I love it when you visit an art gallery and there are activities for young children, such as a drawing table. It makes us feel welcome as a family and encourages our children to engage with the exhibitions or keeps them entertained allowing me to spend longer engaging with the artwork. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything aimed at children at the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery.
The gallery’s café was nice and clean, and the food was good. The menu further amplified the feeling that children aren’t particularly welcome. There are no options specifically for children. They were happy to adapt one of the menu items to suit our daughters, but it was a shame we had to ask. Had we had more time available, we would have tried one of the excellent independent cafes, with a more relaxed atmosphere in Margate’s Old Town, which is located just a 5 minute walk from the gallery.
3. Stroll Around Margate’s Old Town
Margate's Old Town is a vibrant and historic area located in the town of Margate, Kent, England. It is known for its charming streets, independent shops, art galleries, cafes, and pubs. Margate's Old Town has undergone a revitalisation in recent years, becoming a hub for creativity, culture, and unique experiences.
The Old Town is home to a variety of independent shops and art galleries. Visitors can explore a diverse range of boutique stores, vintage shops, art studios, and contemporary galleries. The area is known for its focus on local craftsmanship, unique designs, and one-of-a-kind finds.
Margate's Old Town has a nostalgic atmosphere, with a strong focus on retro and vintage culture. Visitors can browse through antique shops, retro clothing stores, and vintage markets, discovering treasures from the past and embracing a sense of nostalgia.
The Old Town boasts a vibrant food and drink scene, with a wide range of cafes, tearooms, and restaurants. From trendy coffee shops to traditional fish and chip establishments, visitors can enjoy a variety of culinary delights. Many establishments pride themselves on using locally sourced ingredients and showcasing the flavors of the region.
4. The Art Galleries of Margate’s Old Town
Margate Old Town contains a number of excellent galleries and studios that are well worth exploring. Our favourite galleries included:
The Eclectic Art Gallery, located at 6 Broad St, Margate CT9 1EW – This gallery was established and is run by an artists’ collective. The artists run and staff the gallery themselves, and are very friendly and welcoming. It is a small and intimate space used by Kent-based artists to exhibit and sell their work, and has a new guest exhibition each month. The work on show includes a variety of mediums including watercolours, acrylics, ceramics and textiles. This gallery sells original artwork, together with prints and postcards. The gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm.
Pie Factory Margate, located at 5 Broad St, Margate (opposite The Eclectic Art Gallery). Pie Factory Margate is a venue for exhibitions and events. The building was formerly a butchers, known as Knightons, and locally known for its pork pies, hence the name. There are a number of rooms inside that still run true to the original butcher's use and make for a lovely gallery space. Pie Factory Margate has a weekly programme that is constantly changing. Opening dates and times are set by the exhibitor, so vary on a weekly basis. I would recommend checking out their website, www.piefactorymargate.co.uk, to see what is on before you visit. We found this to be a very inclusive space that encouraged engagement with the art pieces.
The Community Pharmacy Gallery, located at 16 Market Place, Margate, Kent, CT9 1ES. This gallery provides an informal visual and performance arts venue where local, national, and international artists can exhibit. The venue comprises two main spaces, one at the front and another to the rear. The staff were friendly and made our children feel very welcome.
5. Explore The Margate Caves
The Margate Caves are located a 10 minute walk from the Old Town at 1 Northdown Road, Margate.
These caves comprised a former chalk mine that has had multitude of uses over its lifespan including as an air raid shelter, smugglers' cave, Victorian tourist attraction and a wine cellar. It has even had long periods of being forgotten or simply disused. The caves were most recently reopened in 2019, with a new Community Building, Café, Shop and Exhibition and Interpretation spaces.
It is worth exploring the caves to learn about its colourful past, and the space itself is also something to marvel at, with its murals and awe-inspiring cavernous spaces. This is a great place for children to explore.
I found the caves particularly inspiring for my own artwork. The way the light reflected off the walls created some beautiful shapes and textures. I took some really interesting photos and I’ve started sketching ideas for some abstract lino prints inspired by the images I took.
I would suggest spending between one to two hours for your visit. There is an entrance fee of £4.50 per adult and £2 per child to be mindful of, which I believe contributes to the maintenance of the caves.
Interestingly, there is also a room for hire at The Margate Caves and it’s also possible to host a children’s party that includes 1 hour access to the caves. If I lived locally, I would definitely look into these in more detail!
6. Admire Margate’s Murals
In and around Dreamland Margate, there are a number of murals. Arguably the most eye-catching are the hoardings at Dreamland. The mural depicts ‘Black British History – Past & Present Icons’ and was put together using artwork submitted by Thanet schoolchildren. This mural is headed up by artist Ben Connors working with People Dem Collective. Also involved is artist Leondre Ansah, whose first exhibition ‘Colour Blind’, took place at Resort Studios as part of Margate NOW 2020.
7. Enjoy the Rides at Dreamland Margate
Dreamland Margate is an iconic amusement park that re-opened in 2015, following a major refurbishment. It has a rich history dating back to the 19th century and has been a popular destination for generations of visitors.
Dreamland Margate first opened in 1880 and is one of the oldest surviving amusement parks in the UK. It gained popularity during the heyday of the British seaside holiday culture and became synonymous with traditional funfair entertainment.
Dreamland has a distinct retro charm that references back to the golden age of amusement parks. It features vintage rides, classic fairground attractions, and a nostalgic atmosphere. The Park includes many retro rides from every decade, including the Grade II listed scenic railway, the Ghost Train, Dodgems, and Waltzer amongst others. These rides are full of colour and are a visual treat.
Tickets fr the rides are purchased at a kiosk and used per ride. The advantage is that you can pop in and enjoy one or two rides, however the cost can mount up if you want to spend a lot longer.
Dreamland Margate is also known for its collection of vintage amusement arcades. Visitors can step back in time and try their luck at traditional slot machines, arcade games, and other retro gaming experiences.
Dreamland hosts a range of events and entertainment throughout the year. These include live music concerts, DJ performances, outdoor cinema screenings, art exhibitions, and family-friendly festivals. The park's event calendar offers a diverse lineup of activities for visitors to enjoy. Its outdoor event space can accommodate 15,000 people.
There is an excellent outdoor food and seating area at the heart of The Park that has a number of food options sold from the converted and colourful shipping containers. There are restaurants, food stalls, and kiosks serving a range of snacks, treats, and traditional fairground favorites like candy floss and ice cream.
There is so much fun to be had at Dreamland, and being located next to the train station, it is conveniently located to finish off a wonderful day before heading home by train. Dreamland also has a reasonably priced all day car park for those who have travelled to Margate by car.
8. Discover the Shell Grotto
The Shell Grotto, located at Grotto Hill, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 2BU, is a fascinating underground passageway adorned with intricate shell mosaics. It is a unique and mysterious attraction.
The Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835 when a man was digging in his garden. He uncovered a passageway leading to a chamber entirely decorated with seashells. The origins of the grotto remain a mystery, as its purpose. Various theories suggest that it may have been a religious shrine, a private folly, or an ancient temple.
The walls and ceilings of the underground passages are covered with around 4.6 million shells arranged in intricate patterns and designs. The shells come from a variety of species, including scallops, mussels, oysters, and whelks. The mosaics depict symbols, motifs, and geometric patterns, creating a visually stunning and otherworldly environment.
Visitors to the Shell Grotto can explore the underground passages and marvel at the intricate shell mosaics. There is a visitor center that provides information about the grotto's history, ongoing research, and theories surrounding its creation.
The Shell Grotto in Margate is a truly remarkable and intriguing attraction.
9. Discover the Town’s History at Margate Museum
Margate Museum is a historical museum located in Margate's vibrant Old Town at at Market Place, Margate CT9 1EN.
Margate Museum is located in the heart of Margate's Old Town, just a short walk from the seafront. It is housed in a Grade II listed building, which is a unique example of a Victorian Police Station and Magistrates Court. The museum showcases the history of Margate, including its seaside heritage, famous residents, and local industries.
The Margate Museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11am to 5pm. Tickets cost are: Adults £2, Senior £1.50, Children Under 16s go free.
10. Visit The Tudor House
The Tudor House, located at 60 King Street, Margate CT9 1QE, is one of the oldest buildings in Margate, dating back to the early 1500s and and is a unique example of a 'transitional house' between medieval and early modern architecture.
Tudor House is open to the public and visitors can explore the house and learn about its history.
How to Get to Margate
Margate has excellent rail and road links from London.
Train - Southeastern operates a high speed train service from London St Pancras International Station to Margate, with journey times of approximately 90 minutes. There are also trains to London Victoria, London Waterloo East and London Charing Cross, which can take up to 2 hours.
Road - The M20 and M2 motorways are located close to Margate and provide easy access to and from London. Journey times to central London can take between 90 minutes and 2 hours.
Margate is also about 45 minutes from Dover, if travelling from Europe.
Use Margate as a Base to Explore the Kent Coast and Countryside
If you are staying in Margate but looking to explore attractions and places to visit outside of the town, there are several nearby destinations that offer diverse experiences. Here are a few suggestions:
Canterbury: Located approximately 17 miles west of Margate, Canterbury is a historic city renowned for its magnificent cathedral, medieval architecture, and charming cobbled streets. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canterbury Cathedral, visit St. Augustine's Abbey, and wander through the city center to discover unique shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Dover: Situated about 20 miles southeast of Margate, Dover is famous for its iconic white cliffs and the historic Dover Castle. Take a walk along the cliffs for breathtaking views, visit Dover Castle to delve into its rich history, and explore the secret wartime tunnels within the cliffs at the Dover Western Heights.
Ramsgate: Just a short distance from Margate, Ramsgate is another coastal town worth visiting. It boasts a picturesque harbor, beautiful sandy beaches, and a lively marina. Explore the vibrant Royal Harbour, visit the Ramsgate Tunnels for a unique underground experience, and enjoy the town's selection of cafes, bars, and seafood restaurants.
Broadstairs: Discover beautiful sandy beaches, explore the quaint town center, and visit attractions like Viking Bay and Dickens House Museum. Experience the annual Folk Week festival.
Sandwich: Immerse yourself in the medieval history of this well-preserved town. Explore the ancient architecture, visit historic sites, and enjoy the scenic riverfront.
Whitstable: Located approximately 25 miles west of Margate, Whitstable is a charming seaside town known for its oysters, independent boutiques, and picturesque beach huts. Enjoy a stroll along the pebble beach, explore the quirky shops and art galleries in the town center, and savor fresh seafood at one of the local seafood restaurants.
These are just a few examples of the attractions and places to visit near Margate. The area offers a mix of history, natural beauty, and cultural experiences, ensuring there's something for every interest.
Interesting Facts About Margate
Here are some interesting facts about Margate to help you get to know the town before your visit:
Seaside Resort: Margate became a popular seaside resort in the late 18th century, attracting visitors seeking the healing powers of the sea and fresh air.
Georgian Architecture: Margate experienced significant development during the Georgian era, leading to the construction of numerous elegant Georgian-style buildings that still stand today.
J.M.W. Turner: The renowned British artist J.M.W. Turner had a strong connection to Margate. He frequently visited the town and described the skies over Margate as "the loveliest in all Europe."
Royal Sea Bathing Hospital: Margate was home to the Royal Sea Bathing Hospital, which opened in 1791. It offered seawater bathing as a medical treatment for various ailments.
Traditional Fishing Industry: In the past, Margate had a thriving fishing industry. Fishing boats were an integral part of the town's coastal landscape and played a significant role in its economy.
Historic Harbour: Margate's harbour has been an important aspect of the town's history. It was once a bustling port for trade and fishing activities, contributing to Margate's growth and prosperity.
The Margate Clock Tower: The Margate Clock Tower, also known as the Jubilee Clock Tower, was built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It stands as a prominent landmark in the town.
Second World War: During World War II, Margate played a crucial role as a coastal defence and a safe haven for evacuees fleeing London. The town endured bombings and saw the construction of various defence structures.
Decline and Revitalisation: Like many British seaside resorts, Margate faced a decline in the latter half of the 20th century. However, in recent years, it has experienced a revitalisation with the restoration of its historic buildings, the development of cultural attractions, and a resurgence in tourism.
These historical facts provide a glimpse into Margate's past, highlighting its transformation from a fashionable seaside resort to a town rich in history, art, and cultural heritage.
I hope you have found this post useful. If you have visited Margate yourself, I would love to hear your thoughts or if you feel something is missing from this post, please email me and let me know at [email protected]
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