Margate, Kent: The Ultimate Travel Guide
At first glance, Margate appears to be a stereotypical British seaside town. A large sandy beach flanked by a promenade, complete with an arcade and a couple of fish and chip shops.
But look under the surface and you’ll discover a haven of incredible restaurants, bars, museums, galleries, boutique hotels and independent shops. Margate is brimming with creativity and I think it’s one of the best places in England for a weekend away.
Plus, it’s just 90 minutes from London by train, and the town itself is super walkable, so you won’t even need a car!
I’ve been to Margate twice, and just last month I spent a long weekend there, and I fell in love with this incredible seaside town all over again.
In this guide, I’ll go through everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to Margate. From how to get there, what time of year is best to go, where to stay, and my favourite restaurants, bars, and things to do whilst you’re there.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It won’t make a difference to what you pay, but I earn a small commission if you purchase something I’ve recommended. I’m really grateful for your trust in my advice, and if I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend, I won’t recommend it to you.
Short on time? Here’s the most important information about Margate
Getting there
It takes 2 hours in the car from London to Margate, or a train from London St Pancras takes just 90 minutes. You don’t need a car in Margate, but if want to explore other places in Kent (Deal, Whitstable, Canterbury), it might be easier to hire a car.
I’d recommend using Discover Cars to find the most affordable option. They compare lots of different providers to find you the best price.
I use them every time I hire a car and I’ve never had any bad experiences where they won’t give you your money back at the end like you sometimes hear about with dodgy car hire companies. The process is always really simple and stress-free.
Where to stay
No 42 by Guesthouse – Centrally located with a great restaurant & rooftop bar
Margate House – Stylish boutique hotel with quirky interiors
Fort Road Hotel – Rooms with sea views and a brilliant restaurant
The George and Heart – Individually designed rooms above a great pub
Travel tip: A lot of restaurants, galleries and museums in Margate are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Plan your trip over the weekend or towards the end of the week to avoid missing out
Map of Margate
Everywhere I’ve mentioned in this guide is pinned on the map below so you can easily find them on your trip.
The ultimate travel guide to Margate
Things to know before visiting Margate
How many days do you need in Margate?
Set aside 3 full days for your trip to Margate. This gives you enough time to visit the main sights, potter around the shops, and spend some time relaxing on the beach. Honestly, you’ll need a few days just to make your way through the long list of incredible restaurants!
Do you need a car in Margate?
No, you definitely don’t need a car in Margate. Most of the main sights, restaurants and bars are located around the city centre, where everything is walkable. You won’t even need a car to visit nearby Broadstairs, as you can simply walk along the Viking Coastal Trail.
How far is Margate from London?
Margate is about 2 hours from London by car, or just 90 minutes away on the train. Southeastern trains from London St Pancras will get you to Margate in under 90 minutes, but you can also travel from London Victoria, which takes slightly longer at 1 hour 40.
When is the best time of year to visit Margate?
To make the most of Margate’s sandy beach, visit during the summer months from June-September. But if you’re not fussed about swimming, Margate is a great year round destination. In the cooler months, it’ll be much quieter, and there’s still art galleries, museums and a brilliant food scene to explore.
Is Margate worth visiting?
Yes, Margate is absolutely worth visiting. If you’ve got children, they’ll love Margate’s large sandy beach, and Dreamland, an amusement park with loads of rides. There’s a brilliant food scene in Margate, plus great bars, boutique hotels, art galleries, independent shops, and beautiful coastal walks.
Best things to do in Margate
Relax at Main Sands
It wouldn’t be a proper trip to the seaside if you didn’t spend some time on the beach, and Main Sands is the perfect spot.
It’s Margate’s main beach, and it’s a quintessentially British one. Its long sandy shore runs next to a promenade, where you’ll find an arcade, children’s rides, an ice cream stall, and a cafe.
Grab fish and chips from Beach Buoys (a more modern chippy, with gluten free and vegan options) or Peter’s Fish Factory (a Margate institution).
Ride rollercoasters at Dreamland
Dreamland is an amusement park that sits at the heart of Margate – both geographically and culturally. It first opened its doors in 1920, and has been a constant feature as Margate has changed over the years.
There’s rides for all ages here, but it’s a great place to spend an afternoon if you’ve got children. There’s an arcade, roller disco, and even the oldest wooden rollercoaster in the UK!
Entry to Dreamland is free, you just buy £3 tokens for the rides you want to go on.
Browse the independent shops
There’s so many beautiful indie shops in the centre of Margate, selling everything from vintage clothes to locally made soaps. Some of my favourite shops in Margate are:
- Ramsay and Williams (also has its own gelato shop!)
- AARVEN
- Breuer & Dawson
- Albion Stores
- Papillon Interiors
- Clueit Webb
But if there’s only one shop you go to, make it The Margate Bookshop. This independent bookstore is located in the heart of the Old Town, and they work closely with smaller publishers in a bid to promote underrepresented authors. It’s such a beautiful shop run by the loveliest team.
Explore Botany Bay
Located a 10 minute drive away from Margate, Botany Bay is a stunning sandy beach overlooked by huge chalk cliffs and caves. You can park for free here and you’ll then take the stairs down to the beach.
Discover Stone Bay
Stone Bay is another beautiful sandy beach just a 10 minute drive from Botany Bay, famous for its beautifully decorated beach huts.
Botany Bay and Stone Bay are both large beaches, but neither have many amenities. I’d recommend bringing a picnic, or making your way to nearby Broadstairs for seasonal small plates at Twenty Seven Harbour Street, or smash burgers at Please Sir!
If you fancy some fresh sea air, you can walk or cycle along the Viking Coastal Trail from Margate to Broadstairs (about 10km total), stopping at Botany Bay and Stone Bay en route.
View the art at Turner Contemporary
Visit the contemporary art exhibitions at the Turner Contemporary, located at the end of Margate’s harbour arm overlooking the sea.
Admission to the gallery is free.
see more art at the Carl Freedman Gallery
Carl Freedman moved his contemporary art gallery from London to Margate in 2019, and here he showcases a mix of established and emerging artists.
Admission to the gallery is free.
Visit the old kent market
This former cinema has been renovated to house food and drink stands, including The Little Prince Pub, which claims to be the smallest pub in the UK. I take these claims with a pinch of salt, but there’s only space for 6 people inside, so maybe they’re telling the truth?
Go underground at the Shell Grotto
Margate’s Shell Grotto is a series of underground tunnels covered in over 4 million shells. It was discovered by accident in the 1800s, and no one knows for certain what its purpose was. There’s debates about whether it was used as a meeting point, or maybe a temple? Visit yourself and see what you think!
Entry is £4.50 for adults and £2 for children aged 4-16. Children under 4 go free.
Visit the Crab Museum
Margate’s Crab Museum might sound a little silly, after all, it’s a museum dedicated solely to crabs. But it uses humour (crabs wearing tiny hats) to educate visitors on the importance of crabs to our ecosystem.
Admission to the crab museum is free.
The best hotels in Margate
No 42 by Guesthouse
No 42 by GuestHouse is my top pick for places to stay in Margate. This stunning boutique hotel has a prime location in the centre of town, just a short walk some of the best restaurants, and directly opposite Main Sands beach.
There’s a rooftop bar, a restaurant and oyster bar, spa treatment rooms and even a pantry stocked full with sweets, drinks and brownies that you can help yourself to at anytime.
There’s 21 rooms, ranging from cosy doubles to spacious suites with freestanding bath tubs and sea views. Some rooms also accommodate dogs for an extra charge.
The hotel has a separate car park reserved for guests, at a cost of £20 per day.
Margate House
Margate House Hotel is a stunning boutique hotel with 9 beautiful bedrooms, all with king-sized beds, a soft pink colour palette and bold artwork on the walls.
The pink theme continues throughout the hotel, where you’ll find a beautiful dining room and living room.
It’s just a short stroll to the beach from Margate House, but you’re a little further away from the city centre so you can park for free which is a huge plus.
A continental breakfast sourced from the local cafes is included in your stay, and can be enjoyed in the stunning pink dining room, or from the comfort of your bed.
Fort Road Hotel
Fort Road Hotel is located just a stones throw from the Turner Contemporary and Margate’s Harbour Arm.
This Wes Anderson style building was lovingly restored a couple of years from a boarding house to a super stylish 14 bedroom hotel.
Rooms are stripped back, styled with vintage pieces and curated art.
Downstairs you’ll find Colina, the hotels restaurant, serving a modern menu, and the Fort Road Bar, open Wednesday – Sunday, for a tipple, plus a roof terrace exclusively for guests.
The George and Heart
The George and Heart is former coaching inn with 6 individually decorated bedrooms, each one designed by local artists.
As you’re staying above a pub, you have access to their brilliant restaurant (mentioned earlier), bar, and private garden. Plus, there’s the Zen Den, a treatment and chill out room on the top floor.
The George and Heart is in a great location, right in the heart of Margate’s old town and its brilliant shops and restaurants.
The Best Restaurants in Margate
The biggest reason I’d recommend planning a trip to Margate is its incredible food scene. It’s almost overwhelming trying to narrow down the best spots because they’re all so good. And best of all, everything is located in pretty close proximity so you can walk to most places.
Wildes
Plonked right in the middle of Margate’s old town, you won’t miss Wildes colourful restaurant. It’s an inclusive space that feels like a real community hub – it was pride when I visited Margate and the terrace was adorned with rainbow bunting. They’re known for their brunch, delicious cocktails, and great playlists.
Beach Bouys
It wouldn’t be a trip to the seaside without fish and chips and with its bright pink facade, Beach Bouys is the coolest chippy I’ve ever seen. They have vegan and gluten-free options available, and they’re conveniently located directly opposite Margate main sands, so you can grab dinner and enjoy it on the beach.
Sargasso
The sister restaurant to London’s Braun, Sargasso is the crown jewel on Margate’s restaurant scene. It’s located on the harbour arm with views over the water, and if the sun is shining, grab a table outside to admire the views. They serve small plates designed to be shared.
Angela’s
Angela’s is a Margate institution, and no visit would be complete without a meal here. It’s mostly seafood, sourced locally, with a few seasonal vegetable dishes. You won’t find any meat dishes here. The menu changes daily – whatever’s caught on the boats that morning is served in the restaurant.
Dory’s
Dory’s is Angela’s sister restaurant, and it has a prime location opposite Margate Main Sands. It’s a similar concept to Angela’s, the fish is caught fresh and served that day, but it classes itself as more of a “seafood bar” with a focus on small plates that are great for sharing.
Dive
Located along the harbour arm, Dive is a tiny taco restaurant (it’s so small there’s no seats inside) serving delicious tacos, nachos and margaritas. It’s perfect for a quick bite at lunch. Or, head to their other restaurant, High Dive, for bigger plates and tables indoors. high Dive takes reservations, dive doesn’t.
Palms Pizzeria
New York style pizza that you can order either by the slice or as a whole pizza. They have a great selection of flavours, and a good choice of dips, as well as beers, wines and soft drinks.
Pearly Cow
Pearly Cow is a stunning restaurant with a large terrace overlooking Main Sands. Their ingredients are sourced locally – from both the Kent countryside and the North Sea. Food is cooked in an open kitchen with all of the meat cooked over a open-flamed grill. Expect dishes like roast monkfish, lobster brioche roll, beef tartare and pea risotto.
Colina
Colina is the restaurant of the Fort Road Hotel, and it serves a curated menu of seasonal plates designed to be shared. I found the menu here the most exciting out of everywhere I ate in Margate – with dishes like shrimp burger, whipped goats cheese, and fresh crab linguini.
The George and Heart
This 18th century pub is one of the most beautiful buildings in Margate, and it has a cosy bar and restaurant inside, as well as a large terrace and private garden. As much as possible they focus on locally sourced ingredients, and their drinks list includes a selection of Kent wines and beers. It’s a great spot for lunch in the sun, their chicken caesar sandwich is delicious.
Other restaurants to check out:
- The Greedy Cow (family-run cafe)
- Sète (restaurant and wine bar)
- The Pickled Fox (pizza and cocktails)
- Hays (Burgers)
- Mori Mori (Japanese)
- Bottega Caruso (Italian)
Cafes and breakfast places
Forts Café
If there’s one restaurant you visit in Margate, make it Forts. Arguably Margate’s most popular brunch spot, and with good reason. The food here is seriously good, it’s up there with the best breakfast I’ve ever had. The menu changes regularly but expect breakfast classics with a twist – we opted for french toast, ndjua eggs and a gojuchang fried chicken sandwich (yes, at 8 in the morning…).
Giant Coffee
Fairly new to the Margate scene, Giant Coffee serves coffee and tea alongside a fully plant-based menu, serving sweet treats and pastries plus delicious toasties.
Curve Coffee
Curve is a cafe and brunch spot serving food until 3pm daily. Alongside their pastries and curated menu, they serve quality coffee roasts, and they take great care to source and produce their coffee in a sustainable way.
The Good Egg
The Good Egg’s menu takes inspiration from Middle Eastern flavours, with dishes like shakshuka, falafel pita and crispy za’atar potaoes. Whilst egg does feature heavily on the menu, they also serve alternatives, like their fish hash, or a salt beef pita.
The Modern Provider
Owner Ben ditched his corporate job as a designer for Burberry to set up The Modern Provider, where everything is baked fresh on-site. The big focus here is their sourdough bread, and they supply a lot of the local shops and cafes around Margate with their loaves. Pop in here for fresh, flaky pastries in a retro shop.
The Bus Cafe
Probably Margate’s coolest breakfast spot, The Bus Cafe serves delicious breakfasts inside a red double decker bus. As well as fry ups (with vegan and veggie options too), they have crumpet sliders, and comforting smaller plates like cheesy beans on toast and sausage sarnies.
The Dalby Cafe
Greasy spoons have had a resurgence, and this old school cafe is the place to go for a proper fry up. They’ve been open since the 1940s so they know a thing or to about a good breakfast here.
Sub Rosa
If you’ve ever had a New York bagel you’ll know they leave a lasting impression on you, and Sub Rosa is the place to get your fix in Margate. They hand bake their NYC style bagels each day.
Other coffee shops I’d recommend:
- Oast
- Staple Store
- Scissortail
- Cliffs
The best Bars in Margate
Little SwifT
Little Swift was my favourite bar in Margate. This deli-come-bar is well stocked with cheese, wine and picky bits if you fancy an impromptu picnic on the beach. But id recommend stopping for one first, out front their terrace overlooks the beach, and they serve delicious frozen cocktails from their slushie machine.
Big Shot Diner
Next door to Little Swift is Big Shot Diner, which serves breakfast plates and toasties all day, alongside cocktails and coffee. They also have a great bottomless brunch offering, you get unlimited prosecco for 90 minutes, as well as unlimited coffee or tea, a Bloody Mary or espresso martini, and a brunch item for £38 per person.
Mariachi
Head here for drinks Mexican style. Mariachi serves tequila and mezcal based cocktails from their cosy bar just a short stroll from Main Sands. It’s also opposite Palms Pizzeria if you fancied a quick slice beforehand.
Daisy
Located opposite the Margate Lido, Daisy is a cocktail bar and restaurant specialising in unique drinks and bbq food. They have a really interesting menu where each cocktail has a super creative name and description, that makes the process of deciding which one to have a bit more enjoyable. It’s a meat-heavy menu, with bbq classics like cornbread, buttermilk slaw, fried chicken, beef short rib, and pork steak.
Off License
A couple of doors down from Daisy, Off License only opens on Friday and Saturday, and offers a relaxed vibe with good views. You can enjoy drinks in the bar, or grab a beer or a bottle of wine from the fridge to take out.
Pomus
This uber cool wine bar serves a great selection of sparkling, white, red and orange wine, some sourced from just down the road (including the coveted Chapel Down), alongside a small plates menu that changes with the seasons. It’s a casual affair here – they want to foster a space for everyone – whether you want a quick solo glass or a big 4 hour catch up with pals over a bottle.
Harbour Arms Micropub
A few steps away from Sargasso, this tiny pub serves a good selection of ciders and beers with views over the beach. It’s a quirky place with a great atmosphere – you’ll often find a band playing outside.
THE Rooftop Bar at No.42 Margate
There’s a shortage of rooftop bars in Margate, but No 42 has more than made up for it. With a prime position opposite Margate’s Main Sands, the rooftop bar of the No.42 Guesthouse hotel has unrivalled views over the ocean.
