If you want a dose of salty, coastal fresh air at a place with great restaurants that’s perfect for a weekend getaway, look no further than this seaside town in Kent. It has stonkingly good restaurants and a rather special hotel which opened a couple of years ago and already has the full five stars on TripAdvisor.
Margate has a much-mentioned artsy vibe, and it’s a little bit cool, but the town doesn’t forget its roots, so expect ‘beside the seaside, beside the sea’ vibes and a vintage amusement park.
Although it’s too early to do traditional beach things – children, move away from the buckets and spades – the sun seems to shine more often in Margate than in other parts of Kent, so why not a brisk walk on the promenade?
If you’ve been hunting for places in Kent to visit, Margate will have popped up in your searches. If you like little streets with funky coloured independent shops, bars, cafes and restaurants; interesting people to look at; a rainbow of multi-coloured parasols, tables and chairs outside in warmer weather; and features such as elegant, period streetlamps, this lovely town has them.
And there’s loads of things to do and they’re not weather-dependent, so whether you’re on your own, a couple on a romantic break, a groups of friends or a family, you’ll find something. In fact, the following are all indoors or inside: Margate Museum, the Crab Museum, and the magical Shell Grotto and Margate Caves.
A wander into Margate Old Town will bring you to smaller museums. If one of your highlights in a coastal town is fish and chips, you’ll find them. When it gets warmer, you can enjoy the ice cream vans, sitting outside at the seafront pubs and crazy golf.
You will have to wait until Saturday, April 5 until the spectacular vintage amusement park Dreamland opens its doors for the season. You’d better save the dates as there will be rides, the retro arcade, amusements, and get your 70s funk on, there’s a roller disco.
There are critically acclaimed restaurants in Margate such as Angela’s of Margate, and Dory’s. It’s an interesting set up. They are situated around the corner from each other, the first in The Parade, the latter in the High Street, but the two sites are “all part of the same idea”, they said.
Stunning Margate – a place you’d fall in love with
(Image: Hedi Mehrez)
A must-visit, Angela’s and Dory’s
Angela’s came first, and it’s a small seafood restaurant serving stunning, local seafood, alongside “simple, seasonal vegetable-based dishes”. It’s “little sister Dory’s”, is a seafood bar, serving raw, pickled, cured and baked seafood and vegetable dishes – and best of all, it overlooks Margate Main Sands. It also has a wine shop.
And there’s Bottega Caruso, along with later arrivals Sargasso and Fort Road Hotel. Again in 2024, as in the previous year, Sargasso with fantastic sea views was in SquareMeal’s Top 100 UK restaurants.
It said this: “From the team behind London’s Brawn, comes Sargasso in Margate offering platefuls of fresh seafood right on the harbour. This relaxed restaurant has stunning sea views and event the occasional live music act.”
You’re also in for a treat if you visit family-run Bottega Caruso in the heart of Margate. It’s a restaurant shops, so goodies to take home too.
For culture vultures, there’s the Turner Contemporary, and has so much going on. It hosts the latest art exhibitions, has tours and activities, or you can just relax in the café overlooking the harbour.
If you’re brave enough for a dip now, and many are, go to Margate’s stunning four acre tidal pool. It’s in a bay only 1.4 miles away from Margate Main Sands.
Hardy swimmers use it all year round. This glittering lido is the magnificent Walpole Bay Tidal Pool in Walpole Bay. The tidal pool is believed to be the largest in the UK.
This has to be one of Kent’s showstoppers – this incredible tidal pool fed by fresh water springs
(Image: Getty Images/500px/Triston Wallace)
Stay in this Tripadvisor hit
There are plenty of bed and breakfast places, hotels and other accommodation in the town. But what about the Fort Road Hotel with fabulous sea views? It has the full five stars out of five from 102 reviews on Tripadvisor and is very close to the beach, the Old Town, and the Turner Contemporary.
It’s a 19th century boarding house, beautifully refurbished in 2022. There are 14 en suite rooms, artwork in the rooms, a 35-cover restaurant, a roof terrace for guests, and a tall ceilinged basement bar – and wait for it, 400 thread count sheets.
There’s a roaring fire in the restaurant, so you can feel cosy at this time of year. One review from November says: “Loved it. Came on a trip by myself to get some writing done in comfortable surroundings with an inspiring sea view, and that’s exactly what I got! Perfect place to be based to pop out and explore Margate itself and lovely restaurant too, with very friendly staff.”
Where to park for Margate Main Sands
Dreamland Car Park with 400 spaces – five minutes’ walk from seafront. Prices: 1 Hour £1.75 ; 2 Hours £3.50 ; 4 Hours £7; 15 Hours £10
Mill Lane multi-storey car park with 432 spaces – five to ten minutes’ walk from seafront. Prices: One hour £1.70; two hours £3.40; three hours £5.10; four hours £6.80
For more parking options including disabled Blue Badge parking, visit Thanet District Council’s really well set out parking page here.
Toilets
Toilets next to the Round Café are seasonal opening from April to September. The toilets nearest the Nayland Rock Shelter are open all year.
Getting to Margate Main Sands
Address: Droit House, Stone Pier, Margate, CT9 1JD
By Rail
Margate Railway Station is opposite the Main Sands. HS1 journey time from St Pancras to Margate is 1 hour 20 minutes.
By Road
From London – M2, A2, A299 (Thanet Way), A28
From Dover – A256, A253 Hengist Way, A256, A254
From Canterbury – A28
Are dogs allowed on Margate Main Sands?
You’re in luck if you are going in the next few months, as dogs are not allowed on the beach only between May 1 and September 30.