Current Weather19°C

Margate Local GuideMargate Town Crest

Discover Margate: The Original Seaside, Where the Sea Meets the Soul

If you're looking for a quintessentially British seaside town with plenty of activities to keep you busy, Margate is a great option.

Population 64,000
Area 4.20 sq mi

Located on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, Margate is a cool town with a rich history and plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. Margate is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Whether you're interested in exploring art galleries, relaxing on one of the beaches, or trying out some of the highly rated local cuisine, Margate has something for everyone.

From historic landmarks to modern attractions, whether you're travelling with family, friends, or solo, you're sure to find plenty of fun and interesting activities to fill your days in Margate. So pack your bags, grab your sun cream, and get ready to explore this charming seaside town.

One of the most popular attractions in Margate is Dreamland, a vintage amusement park that has been restored to its former glory. Here, you can ride classic fairground attractions like the Ferris wheel, dodgems, and roller coasters. There's also a variety of food and drink options, as well as live music and events throughout the year.

For a taste of Margate's artistic side, head to the Turner Contemporary art gallery. This modern gallery is located on the seafront and features a range of contemporary art exhibitions and installations. There's also a café with stunning sea views, making it the perfect place to relax and take in the scenery. Can you spot the sculpture in the sea?

Of course, no trip to Margate would be complete without a visit to the beach. Margate has five sandy beaches that are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and exploring rock pools or building sandcastles. There are also plenty of beach side cafes and great restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat or a refreshing drink. If it's something stronger you're after, try one of the many pubs and bars.

Listed as "King of the Kent Coast" in the Michelin Guide's 10 Best Seaside Towns for food lovers.

Named in Time Out's The 15 best places to visit in the UK, "Margate is great for art... and has a burgeoning restaurant scene unrivalled for a town of its size".

Local Train Station

What's On in Margate

Bank Holiday

Monday, 31st August

Summer Bank Holiday

Babyshambles

Sun 30th August

Bank Holiday outdoor music extravaganza

With special guests Big Special, Warm Duscher, Gans, Pregoblin.

18+ event, no re-entry.

OhSoRetro

Sun 27th September

Over 1,700 classic, vintage and retro cars and bikes

Under 16s free with full paying adults.

Margate's Local Beaches

Sunday, 30th August 2026

8 am
19°C
Feels like 19°C
Current Weather
Partly cloudy
Day High 19°C
Wind Max 20 mph
The wide Margate Main Sands, north-east towards the Harbour Arm and Turner Contemporary.

Margate Main Sands

Margate
Beach
Remnants of the former jetty with the Anthony Gormley installation Another Time at Fulsam Rock Beach.

Fulsam Rock Beach

Margate
Beach
A view west along Walpole Bay Beach with the large tidal pool.

Walpole Bay Beach

Margate
Beach
A view east following Westbrook Promenade towards Margate.

Westbrook Bay Beach

Margate
Beach
Palm Bay Beach

Palm Bay Beach

Margate
Beach

Sea Conditions

8 am - 9 am
Tide direction
Water temp 21.1°C

Slight waves from the west
Tide
Time
Height
High
4.77 m
Low
0.45 m

Popular Local Attractions and Places to Visit in Margate

The picturesque tree-lined square of Margate Old Town with the Margate Museum to the right, and the outdoor seating of the various pubs, cafes and shops.

Margate Old Town

Margate
Attraction
A view from the large, open, events area showing the Dreamland sign.

Dreamland

Open
Margate
Attraction
The Turner Contemporary architectural shape, viewed from Margate Harbour Arm.

Turner Contemporary

Open
Margate
Gallery
Shell Grotto

Shell Grotto

Open
Margate
Attraction
The long main tunnel with side cut away tunnels and figures drawn on the chalk walls.

Margate Caves

Open
Margate
Attraction
The freshly painted red front of the Old Kent Market, viewed from across the road near the Turner Contemporary.

Old Kent Market

Open
Margate
Attraction
The full length of Margate Harbour Arm down at high-tide. Margate Lighthouse can be seen on the left (west).

Margate Harbour ArmStone Pier

Margate
Attraction
Crab Museum

Crab Museum

Open
Margate
Museum
The iconic Lido sign with large red light at the top.

Margate Lido Complex

Margate
Attraction
Photo from St. Peter's Footpath showing Drapers Windmill and it's white sails.

Drapers Windmill

Open
Margate
Attraction
The pink neon sign above the entrance is by Tracey Emin, in her handwriting, and says I Never Stopped Loving You.

Thanet Visitor Information Centre

Open
Margate
Attraction
The WonderWorks by Hornby Hobbies

The WonderWorks by Hornby Hobbies

Open
Margate
Museum

Thanet Open Top Bus

Open
Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate
Attraction

Pie Factory

Open
Margate
Gallery

Carl Freedman Gallery

Open
Margate
Gallery

Liminal Gallery

Closed Sun
Margate
Gallery

TKE Studios

Open
Margate
Gallery

LIMBO

Open
Margate
Gallery

The Oval Bandstand & Lawns

Margate
Attraction

Lovelys Gallery

Closed Sun
Margate
Gallery

Anthony Wait Gallery

Margate
Gallery

The Harbour Arm Gallery

Margate
Gallery

Margo in Margate

Open
Margate
Gallery

Anthony Giles Studio

Open
Margate
Gallery
See all Attractions and Places to Visit in Margate

Popular Local Places of Interest and Things to See in Margate

Margate Clock Tower

Margate Clock TowerJubilee Clock Tower

Margate
Landmark
The Kings Steps

The Kings Steps

Margate
Landmark
Mrs Booth

Mrs BoothAnn Carrington

Margate
Sculpture
Another Time

Another TimeAntony Gormley

Margate
Sculpture
Walpole Bay Tidal Pool

Walpole Bay Tidal Pool

Margate
Landmark
An aerial view of Sunken Gardens clearly showing the baroque style layout and surrounding hedge border.

Sunken Gardens

Margate
Park
Margate Lighthouse

Margate Lighthouse

Margate
Lighthouse
Dane Park

Dane Park

Margate
Park
Lifeboatman Memorial Statue

Lifeboatman Memorial Statue

Margate
Sculpture
Margate Station Murals

Margate Station MuralsGraham Upton & Southeastern

Margate
Mural
Doudou

DoudouRise Up Residency

Margate
Mural
Nayland Rock Shelter

Nayland Rock Shelter

Margate
Landmark
Dane Park Fountain

Dane Park Fountain

Margate
Landmark
Tivoli Park

Tivoli Park

Margate
Park
Marine Terrace Tidal Pool

Marine Terrace Tidal Pool

Margate
Landmark
Dane Valley Woods

Dane Valley Woods

Margate
Park
Marine Gardens

Marine Gardens

Margate
Park
Hartsdown Park

Hartsdown Park

Margate
Park
Hera

HeraRise Up Residency

Margate
Mural
Margate Millennium Milepost

Margate Millennium MilepostJon Mills

Margate
Milepost
Smug

SmugRise Up Residency

Margate
Mural
Take Your Trash Home

Take Your Trash HomeRise Up. Clean Up. Margate x Louis Masai

Margate
Mural
The Lifesavers

The LifesaversRise Up Residency & RNLI Margate

Margate
Mural
Standing Stones

Standing StonesPaul Wehrle and Suzannah Dunn

Margate
Sculpture
See all Places of Interest and Things to See in Margate

Popular Local Activities and Things to Do in Margate

Sea Scrub Sauna

Sea Scrub Sauna

Open
Margate
Activity
Tom Thumb Theatre

Tom Thumb Theatre

Margate
Theatre

The Escapement Margate

Open
Margate
Activity

Community Sauna

Closed Sun
Margate
Activity

Westgate-On-Sea Tennis Courts

Margate
Activity

CTRL ALT ESC - Escape Rooms

Open
Margate
Activity

Blue Wave Pool & Gym

Open
Margate
Sports Club

Margate Football Club

Margate
Sports Club

Widget's World

Open
Margate
Amusement

Lost Island Adventure Golf

Open
Margate
Activity

Bugsy's Tenpin Bowling

Open
Margate
Activity

Infinity Fitness UK Margate

Margate
Sports Club

Hartsdown Leisure Centre

Margate
Sports Club

Walpole Bay Bowls Club

Margate
Sports Club

Frames Snooker & Pool Club

Open
Margate
Sports Club

Thanet Indoor Bowls Club

Margate
Sports Club

Margate Lawn Tennis Club

Margate
Sports Club

Margate Women Football Club

Margate
Sports Club

Foreness Waterski and Boat Club

Open
Margate
Sports Club

Cliftonville Outdoor Bowls Club

Margate
Sports Club

Margate Cricket Club

Margate
Sports Club

Lido Snooker & Pool Club

Open
Margate
Activity

Dane Park Bowls Club

Margate
Sports Club

Jet Ski World

Open
Margate
Activity
See all Activities and Things to Do in Margate

Popular Local Drinks in Margate

Buoy and Oyster

Open
Margate
£££Seafood

Cinque Ports

Open
Margate
££ Pub

Sargasso

Open &
Margate
£££British

Pomus

Open
Margate
£££ Wine Bar

The Bulls Head

Open
Margate
££ Pub

La!

Open
Margate
£££ Bar

The Mechanical Elephant

Open
Margate
££ Pub

Bar Nothing

Closed Sun
Margate
££ Bar

Alexandria Cafe

Open
Margate
££ Cafe

Fez

Open
Margate
££ Pub

The Shakespeare

Open
Margate
££ Pub

The Last Light

Open
Margate
££ Pub

Rose in June

Open
Margate
££ Pub

The Sun Deck

Open
Margate
££ Bar

Pom

Open
Margate
£££ Wine Bar

Big Shot

Open
Margate
££ Cafe

Barnacles

Open
Margate
££ Pub

The Two Halves

Open
Margate
££ Pub

Lost Cargo

Open
Margate
££ Cafe

Doubloons

Open
Margate
££ Cafe

The Pickled Fox

Open
Margate
£££Pizza

Imperial Bar Meze

Open
Margate
££ Bar

Olby's Soul Café

Open
Margate
£££Tex-Mex & Caribbean

Cockle and Hen

Open
Margate
££ Bar
See all Drinks in Margate

Popular Local Eats in Margate

Buoy and Oyster

Open
Margate
£££Seafood

Angela's

Open &
Margate
£££British & Seafood

Sargasso

Open &
Margate
£££British

Pomus

Open
Margate
£££ Wine Bar

Bottega Caruso

Closed Sun
Margate
£££Italian

Peters Fish Factory

Open
Margate
££Fish & Chips

Alexandria Cafe

Open
Margate
££ Cafe

Pearly Cow

Open &
Margate
££££British & Seafood

GB Pizza Co

Open
Margate
££Pizza

Dosa Palace

Open
Margate
££Srilankan & Indian

Beach Buoys

Open
Margate
£££Fish & Chips & Seafood

Pan Asian Cuisine

Open
Margate
££Thai

The Pickled Fox

Open
Margate
£££Pizza

Olby's Soul Café

Open
Margate
£££Tex-Mex & Caribbean

Masala Gate

Open &
Margate
££Indian

Faith in Strangers

Open
Margate
£££ Restaurant

Little Havana

Open
Margate
£££Cuban

Smoke & Co

Open
Margate
£££Grill & Burgers

Willy's

Open
Margate
£££British

Lesters

Open
Margate
££British

F.A.T Bagel

Open
Margate
£££Sandwiches

Sète

Closed Sun
Margate
£££European

Okie Poke

Open
Margate
££Poke

Mori Mori

Closed Sun
Margate
£££Japanese & Izakaya
See all Eats in Margate

Local Accommodation in Margate

Bradgate Holiday Park

Margate
£££ Holiday Park

The Lord Byron

Open
Margate
££ Pub

Premier Inn

Margate
££ Hotel

Walpole Bay Hotel

Margate
£££ Hotel

Northern Belle

Open
Margate
£££ Pub

The Hussar

Open
Margate
££ Hotel

The Albion Rooms

Open
Margate
£££ Venue

The George & Heart

Open
Margate
££ Pub

No. 42 by GuestHouse

Margate
£££ Hotel

Angela’s Rooms

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Fort Road Hotel

Open
Margate
£££ Hotel

Rosslyn Court

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Salmestone Grange

Margate
£££ Venue

Lydden Farm

Margate
£££ Holiday Park

Modja Modja House

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Cliftonville Townhouse

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

The Reading Rooms

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Margate House

Margate
£££ Hotel

The Old Town House

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Unico Hotel

Margate
£££ Hotel

Doghouse Margate

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Home from Home Stay Margate

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

The Lynton Lookout

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Hopewell Margate

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast
See all Accommodation in Margate
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