After spending too many summers as a child in various British seaside towns, I had grown somewhat allergic to them.
All I wanted was to go abroad, instead my dad would huddle us into his battered up Skoda and whisk us away to the not-so-glamorous depths of Blackpool or Skegness. It was like asking for haute cuisine and receiving a tin of baked beans.
However, now that I’m a fully fledged adult (not in the responsible sense), I find myself defiantly trying to preserve the memories I have from my childhood spent building sand castles and shell hunting along the British coastline.
Recently, when my friends suggested that we catch the train to Margate on the east coast of England for the day, I told them to count me in.
How to get from London to Margate
Doing a day trip to Margate from London by train is easy-peasy. We booked return tickets from St. Pancras and we were there in 1 hour 30 minutes. It costs us approx £25 for an off peak but expect it to be more during peak times. For the best prices and times, I recommend booking in advance via the Trainline.
The train station is super easy to navigate due to its small size, and it also has a free public toilet in case nature calls. I usually wouldn’t be as so practical to write about toilets, but since Margate is a seaside town, I figure it’s good to know that you can conveniently dust the sand off your hands and feet before jumping back on the train to London.
"Shoreditch by the Sea"
We all know London is expensive, but in the last few years rent and property prices have shot through the roof, basically millennials can’t afford to buy without a massive loan from the bank of mum and dad. So if you’re from a very working class background like me, it would be hard to even afford a shed.
As a result of this, more and more people scraping by in London have started looking for other places to live, and one of these places is Margate. Although it’s 1h 30m away from London, Margate is still considered a commuting town for many. Surprisingly, we ended up bumping into someone who my friend knew in the station. As we were heading back to London, she was getting off the train from London. She told us she had recently bought a house in Margate and was coming back from work. It’s a pretty crazy commute to do everyday, but people are doing it.
Margate has become really popular due to its super cheap rent and house prices. After scraping by, and being completely pushed out of the housing market in London, there’s something really incredible about seeing a 2-bedroom house for £60,000 – that’s the cost of three year’s rent in London for some!
You can now see why Margate has become popular – it’s cheap, commutable to London, and by the sea. As a result, Margate has transformed over the last few years into Kent’s capital of cool. Dubbed “Shoreditch on sea”, it’s now home to hip cafes, boutique shops and a growing arts scene, all framed by the craggy whitewashed cliffs of the southeast coast.
Things to do in Margate
Dreamland
Just a short walk from the train station is Dreamland, the optimistic name given to Margate’s main amusement park. Situated overlooking the beach, you’ll find the entrance to Dreamland just off the promenade.
Bar a few, all seaside towns have an obligatory amusement park. So much so they have established themselves as a sort of curious cultural institution – and some say a blight upon coastal England’s landscape.
All the kids looked like they were enjoying themselves – probably way more than us – so we had a quick wander around before we could be accused of trying to steal the fun away from all the kids by hogging the rides for ourselves.
While Dreamland wasn’t exactly a dreamland from me, I’m sure it will would provide a couple of hours of fun for a family with young kids.
Play and relax on the beach
Next up, we headed to the beach. You can see it as soon as you exit the train station which was a super pleasant surprise. Since it was still quite chilly we didn’t go in the sea, but the stroll along the beach was gorgeous.
My favourite bit was the Anthony Gormley statue which is part of 100 cast iron statues across the UK titled Another Time.
Visit Turner Contemporary Museum
The Antony Gormley statue is situated very close to the Turner Contemporary Museum. The museum’s modern architect looks striking against the beach, and after hearing great things about it we were really looking forward to visiting.
However, in wasn’t meant to be. In true fashion, we discovered the museum is closed on Mondays – the day we happened to be there. I guess it’s always good to have a reason to return…
In case you’re wondering, the name of the museum commemorates the association of the town with noted landscape painter J. M. W. Turner, who went to school in Margate, and visited throughout his life.
Enter the Shell Grotto
One of the quirkiest things you’ll find in Margate is the Shell Grotto. This subterranean shell grotto was discovered in 1835 and nobody knows when or why this elaborate work was created, or by who. The detail that has gone into this grotto, is what makes visiting a unique experience. Take a wander through the winding passageway covered with an ornate mosaic of about 4.5 million shells.
Opening times: Daily, 10am-5pm until 28 October, then open for winter hours, 11am-4pm, Friday to Sunday.
Admission: £5
Browse the vintage shops
The town centre is full of charm with narrow streets, wizened building facades, vintage shops, independent businesses and cosy cafes.
We found lots of shops that we could easy have whittled away more time inside. Shops to note are The Light Keeper, Mor, Papillon Interiors, Peony Vintage, Fox & Spindle, Plinth, Margate Retro and Madam Popoff Vintage.
Walk to Broadstairs
The Kent coastline is beautiful, and one of the loveliest walks is the Margate to Broadstairs route via Botany Bay (or you can do the walk beginning in Broadstairs).
The walk is 7 miles in total and will take approximately 2.5 hours, though longer if you stop to enjoy the scenery, particularly at Botany Bay which is home to a collection of impressive chalk rock formations that jut out of the beach. Broadstairs is a very charming little seaside town, making it an alternative area to stay if you are visiting this section of the Kent coast.
You might also like: Best Places to Visit in Kent, South East England
Would I recommend visiting Margate?
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure how much I’d like Margate since I’m not a huge fan of British seaside towns. However, it looks like my opinions and tastes are changing because I think Margate is great. I’m starting to realise that not all seaside towns are like the ones I visited in my summer school holidays.
I’d definitely visit Margate again – just not on a Monday when more things happen to be closed. I would also urge you to visit Whitstable, which is another seaside town located 30 minutes west of Margate along the coast. While there is more to do in Margate, Whistable is arguably more charming and serves up some of the freshest oysters you’ll find across the whole country.
I’d also recommend staying overnight in the area if you have time. You can search for options via Booking.com.
Looking for more London day trips?
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