Things to do in Margate

Margate is one of Britain’s quintessential seaside resorts, with a great big beach with gorgeous golden sands, a harbour filled with pleasure boats and dinghies, a seafront promenade of attractions and the delicious aroma of fish and chips following you wherever you go. Follow in the footsteps of more than 250 years of holidaymakers and visit Margate. Stay with us at our Margate hotel and you’ll have the perfect base to explore the historic Dreamland theme park, the world-class Turner Contemporary art gallery and the myriad vintage shops that make up Margate’s Old Town. It’s enough to build up quite the appetite; delve into the local food scene and sample some of the best restaurants not just in Kent but the entire country, then wash it down with a drink at our favourite pubs.

Activities

Enjoy a day on Margate Beach, get your heart racing on the rollercoasters of Dreamland, soak up the culture with a trip to the world-class Turner Contemporary or marvel at the mysteries of the Shell Grotto.

Entertainment

Get a taste of Margate’s famous entertainment scene with a visit to any one of three excellent theatres in town. You can also catch some live music or a Margate FC home game.

Places to eat

Sample some of the exceptional dinners being dished up in this culinarily-creative corner of the Kent coastline. We’ve got award-winning curries, the best restaurant in the county and some of the tastiest Italian food you’ll eat in the UK.

Nightlife

Call in to some of our favourite bars and pubs in Margate, which are perfect for cooling down with a refreshing beverage after basking on Margate beach. Expect historic pubs, stylish cocktails and a couple of community club nights to tick off, too.

Shopping

Margate is home to some of the very best vintage shops around. Simply visit the Old Town area, particularly King Street, and you’ll find a treasure trove of top-class boutiques and independents excellent for fashion and homeware. If you’re looking for High Street names you can also make your way to the Westwood Cross shopping Centre, which sits dead centre in between Ramsgate and Margate. It’s home to more than 50 popular retailers and restaurants including Primark, Debenhams and Nando’s. You’ll also want to check out The Old Kent Market on Fort Hill. It’s a revamped indoor market with several independent shops and eateries, perfect for picking up something to eat or drink or a souvenir to remember your stay at our Margate hotel.

Getting Around

Margate is small enough that you can stroll from our Margate hotel to the Turner Contemporary and the Winter Garden on the opposite side of town in under twenty minutes. In terms of getting to Margate, you can drive from London in under two hours, alternatively catch the fast train that takes you straight from Margate Railway Station to London St Pancras in just an hour and a half. If you prefer to travel by coach, Stagecoach services will take you straight to Margate Bus Station, which is practically on the sands of Margate Beach.