Current Weather14°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

Margate Rock Festival

Sat 24th October

An all-day indoor rock festival

Florence Black | Daniel Byrne | Elephant Tree | Cage Fight | Atomic Rooster | Bildtstar | Kim Jennett | Flamebearer | Gianni Scalera and The Jury

7+, 7-17 with an adult

12:00 to 22:30, last entry 20:00.

Margate's Local Beaches

Thursday, 15th October 2026

2 am
14°C
Feels like 12°C
Current Weather
Cloudy
Day High 14°C
Wind Max 18 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

2 am - 3 am
Tide direction
Water temp 18°C

Smooth seas
Tide
Time
Height
High
4.43 m
Low
0.9 m
High
4.39 m
Low
1.08 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

Closed Thu
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

Closed Thu
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

Closed Thu
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

Closed Thu
Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate
Attraction

Pie Factory

Open –
Margate
Gallery

Carl Freedman Gallery

Open –
Margate
Gallery

TKE Studios

Closed Thu
Margate
Gallery

Liminal Gallery

Open –
Margate
Gallery

LIMBO

Closed Thu
Margate
Gallery

The Oval Bandstand & Lawns

Margate
Attraction

Lovelys Gallery

Open –
Margate
Gallery

Anthony Wait Gallery

Margate
Gallery

The Harbour Arm Gallery

Margate
Gallery

Margo in Margate

Open –
Margate
Gallery

Anthony Giles Studio

Closed Thu
Margate
Gallery
Explore 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
Dane Valley Woods

Dane Valley Woods

Margate
Park
Marine Terrace Tidal Pool

Marine Terrace Tidal Pool

Margate
Landmark
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
Take Your Trash Home

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

Margate
Mural
Smug

SmugRise Up Residency

Margate
Mural
The Lifesavers

The LifesaversRise Up Residency & RNLI Margate

Margate
Mural
Standing Stones

Standing StonesPaul Wehrle and Suzannah Dunn

Margate
Sculpture
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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

Open –
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

Lost Island Adventure Golf

Open –
Margate
Activity

Widget's World

Open –
Margate
Amusement

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

Thanet Indoor Bowls Club

Margate
Sports Club

Frames Snooker & Pool Club

Open –
Margate
Sports Club

Margate Lawn Tennis Club

Margate
Sports Club

Margate Women Football Club

Margate
Sports Club

Foreness Waterski and Boat Club

Closed Thu
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
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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 Thu
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

Barnacles

Open –
Margate
££ Pub

The Sun Deck

Closed Thu
Margate
££ Bar

Big Shot

Open –
Margate
££ Cafe

Pom

Closed Thu
Margate
£££ Wine Bar

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

Cockle and Hen

Open –
Margate
££ Bar

Olby's Soul Café

Open –
Margate
£££Tex-Mex & Caribbean
Explore 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

Open – & –
Margate
£££Italian

Peters Fish Factory

Open –
Margate
££Fish & Chips

Pearly Cow

Open –
Margate
££££British & Seafood

Alexandria Cafe

Open –
Margate
££ Cafe

GB Pizza Co

Open –
Margate
££Pizza

Dosa Palace

Open –
Margate
££Srilankan & Indian

The Pickled Fox

Open –
Margate
£££Pizza

Pan Asian Cuisine

Open –
Margate
££Thai

Beach Buoys

Open –
Margate
£££Fish & Chips & Seafood

Olby's Soul Café

Open –
Margate
£££Tex-Mex & Caribbean

Masala Gate

Open – & –
Margate
££Indian

Willy's

Open –
Margate
£££British

Faith in Strangers

Open –
Margate
£££ Restaurant

Little Havana

Open –
Margate
£££Cuban

Smoke & Co

Open –
Margate
£££Grill & Burgers

Lesters

Open –
Margate
££British

The Santa Carla

Closed Thu
Margate
£££Burgers

F.A.T Bagel

Open –
Margate
£££Sandwiches

Sète

Open –
Margate
£££European

Okie Poke

Open –
Margate
££Poke
Explore 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

Fort Road Hotel

Open –
Margate
£££ Hotel

Angela’s Rooms

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Salmestone Grange

Margate
£££ Venue

Rosslyn Court

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Unico Hotel

Margate
£££ Hotel

The Old Town House

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Lydden Farm

Margate
£££ Holiday Park

Modja Modja House

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

The Reading Rooms

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Cliftonville Townhouse

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Margate House

Margate
£££ Hotel

Doghouse Margate

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

The Lynton Lookout

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Hopewell Margate

Margate
£££ Bed And Breakfast

Home from Home Stay Margate

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