Escape to Margate

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Margate was one of the first English seaside destinations to start entertaining visitors to the coast for the health benefits of exhilarating sea air and salt water bathing.

As the passion and fashion for seaside fun and frivolity became more accessible with boat trips from London and the arrival of the railways, Margate became synonymous with family holiday fun, weekend escapes (including romantic liaisons) and day trips.

Unsurprisingly, many visitors wanted to hold on to their holiday experiences and set up home on the coast. High quality estates were built in adjoining Cliftonville. Initially these were detached and semi-detached houses with gardens but were quickly followed by newly fashionable bungalows, set along wide avenues leading down to the seafront.

Cliftonville accommodated the newer residents and provided numerous guest houses and smaller private hotels for visitors to Margate. Larger hotels took pride of place high on the chalk cliffs overlooking the sea.

Visitors today soak up the sun, sands and sea with all the enthusiasm of previous generations of the bucket and spade brigade, as well as a wealth of innovative and revived seaside pleasures alongside internationally-acclaimed exhibitions. 

• World-class art and cultural exhibitions at Turner Contemporary which opened in 2011

• Dreamland Margate, the UK’s original pleasure park, re-imagined for the 21st Century

• Vibrant and expanding creative sector, known as ‘Shoreditch-on-Sea’

• Classic seaside heritage featuring magnificent sands, water sports, rockpools, cockles and whelks, fish ‘n chips and candyfloss

•Three beaches with a Seaside Award (2024 Awards)

• Margate Old Town, vibrant and expanding creative sector - independent galleries, vintage and retro hotspots, and quirky and contemporary shops along cobbled streets

• Grade II listed tidal pool at Walpole Bay

• Major attractions and entertainments alongside many hidden gems - include Margate Caves, Shell Grotto, Margate Museum, Tudor House, Drapers Windmill and Hornby Visitor Centre

• Time and space to relax and enjoy the resort’s famous Turner sunsets, clifftop walks and contemporary culture

• Independent galleries, vintage and retro hotspots, contemporary and quirky shops along cobbled streets

• New galleries and music venues in Cliftonville enhance the cultural offering and give the area a trendy vibe

• Full diary of events and festivals include POW! Thanet (March), Mods & 60s Festival, Margate Meltdown (May), Skagate Weekend (July), Soul Festival (August), Oh So Retro Show (September) and music events at Dreamland throughout the year

Discover more about Margate at www.enjoymargate.co.uk