How To Spend A Classic British Seaside Weekend in Margate
I’ve been to Margate three times now – twice as a day trip from London, but more recently, as a weekend away with a small group of friends. With a direct train from London that takes under two hours, it’s an easy jaunt, and perfect for a relaxed weekend, a world away from the bustle of the city but still with plenty to do and a lively atmosphere.
The town has a historical reputation for being a bit ‘rough around the edges’, something you can absolutely see once you venture beyond the curated shop fronts and welcoming hospitality venues that have popped up in the Old Town. As someone who grew up in a UK seaside town, it’s a story I’m familiar with.
Don’t let that reputation put you off, though – Margate offers the perfect mix of traditional seaside escape with a growing creative culture, with touches of history and foodie delights. We visited during the first full weekend of September, which was a perfect time to go – quieter due to the school holidays being over, but still with sunny stunning weather.
If you’re contemplating a weekend in Margate, this guide is perfect for couples and groups of friends looking to blend retro seaside magic with a laid-back and stylish escape.
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Quick Guide to Margate
Getting there: Direct trains run from St Pancras International (around 1hr 30mins) or London Victoria (around 1hr 50mins)
Getting around: The centre of Margate is super compact, so everything is within easy walking reach.
Top things to do: Hit the rides at Dreamland, feed your money into the 2p machines at the arcades, wander and shop in the hip Old Town area, explore underground at Margate Caves and Shell Grotto, enjoy the beach.
Where to stay: George and Heart House, The Pearl Suite, Sherwood Hotel
Where to eat: Peter’s Fish Factory (classic fish & chips), Beach Buoys (fish & chips with vegan options), Lafayette’s (breakfast and brunch), Cinque Ports (classic gastro pub dishes).
Day 1: Creativity, culture and curiosities
Take a seafront stroll to the Old Town
Margate beach is a lovely little bay, and the best thing to do once you arrive is take a stroll along the seafront!
We spent the first day of our weekend doing some classic ‘mooching’, spending time in the Old Town area of Margate. In contrast to the flashing, noisy arcades (which we’ll talk about tomorrow), this area’s much more hipster-friendly, with vintage boutiques, stylish restaurants and welcoming pubs.
Shop the independent boutiques
If you’re a fan of unique finds, Margate’s old town is perfect for a bit of retail therapy. These are a couple of my favourites:
- Silly: With its vibrant orange facade and trinket trade box outside, you can’t miss it! This joyful store is packed with quirky treasures and collectibles.
- Harbour & Tide: Fresh and colourful clothing, homeware and gifts, heavily inspired by retro seaside design with a modern, stylish twist.
- AARVEN: Ethically sourced home treasures and jewellery, inspired by makers around the world.
- Madam Popoffs and Don’t Blink Vintage: Rummage through second-hand fashion finds at two of Margate’s essential vintage clothing stores.
- The Margate Bookshop: A curated selection of new and pre-loved titles.
- The Old Bank Bookshop: Rummage for second hand bargains across three stories, with proceeds going to Pilgrims Hospices.
Don’t miss the Crab Museum
A museum dedicated to this humble crustacean species might not sound like a travel highlight; but Margate’s Crab Museum isn’t your average museum. And I love it.
Well-known for their meme-friendly and progressive Instagram posts, the humorous and offbeat tone is weaved through the genuinely interesting displays. If you didn’t care about crabs before going in, you might come out with a new obsession.
Also, the gift shop rocks, and entry is free (with a suggested donation of £4).
Opening times: 11am-5pm (Fri-Sun during winter, Wed-Sun during summer)
Go underground at Margate Caves
Honestly, I didn’t even know this place existed from my first two day trips, until one of our group suggested it. I’m glad they did, as caves are ALWAYS a winner for me.
Re-discovered by a property owner’s gardener in 1798, these subterranean caves were originally dug in the early 1700s for chalk mining. The space was used as a wine store and an ice well, and in 1863, opened for the first time as a tourist site. Throughout the caves, colourful paintings adorn the walls depicting animals and soldiers.
Maybe bring a light jacket, as it gets a bit chilly down there…
Opening times: 10am-4pm, Wed-Sun
Admission fee: £5
Discover the mystery of Shell Grotto
Who knew there was so much going on under the streets of Margate? The Shell Grotto is one of the county’s biggest mysteries. The grotto is an underground passage leading to an altar room, adorned with 4.6 million shells on the walls. No one’s quite sure exactly who built it or what its original purpose was.
Opening times: 10am-4pm, Wed-Sun
Admission fee: £6
View works of art at Turner Contemporary
I have to confess, I’m not a gallery girl, so we did skip one of the attractions that features heavily in most Margate guides. Sorry, not sorry. However, if you do have an interest in art, the Turner Contemporary features works that bridge contemporary and historical art styles. It’s free to enter, and you can read a bit more about what you’ll see here.
Where to eat in Margate Old Town
- Lafayette’s: We found Lafayettes when searching for vegan-friendly brunch options, and this fun bistro has plant-based options for basi
- Old Kent Market: We actually only discovered this on our final morning after eating a huge breakfast, but it’s an ideal spot to grab lunch with a range of food stalls to choose from.
- The Greedy Cow: Daytime cafe serving breakfast and lunch, including burgers, salads and toasties.
- Angela’s: Elevated dining in an intimate setting, with a changing menu focused on fresh seafood from the boats that day. Bookings recommended.
How to spend the evening in Margate
We spent quite a bit of time crawling the pubs of Margate. For research reasons, of course.
- Xylo Brewing: There’s a small but vibrant craft beer scene in this small town, and Xylo offers a range of delicious ales, from their own offerings to limited edition guest pours.
- The Bull’s Head: As the final destination of our first night before rolling back to our accommodation across the road, we took up a bench outside this welcoming and spacious spot to yap, sip and recap our day.
- Fez: A quirkily decorated bar, with a stylish younger crowd. I really wanted us to go here, but there was never a table free!
- The Glass Jar: For a livelier evening, this seafront bar opens until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays – we didn’t go in, but as we walked past the music was pumping and a good crowd had gathered.
- Barnacles: For classic, old-timey seaside pub vibes and chatty local punters.
- Little Swift: One for fans of natural wine and cocktails, with outdoor seafront seating.
Day 2: Retro seaside magic
In Margate, I always have a sense of being transported back in time, recapturing my childhood with the sights, sounds and smells of simple seaside holidays. The second day of this weekend’s all about that.
Enjoy the atmosphere at a relaxed place, load up on some change for the amusements, and enjoy a traditional fish and chip lunch before finishing up your weekend with a refreshing drink on the harbour.
Feel the fun of the fair at Dreamland
[if the second day of your visit falls on a weekday outside of school holidays, Dreamland won’t be open – in this case, switch the days over!]
It’s fair to say, I’m a bit obsessed with the stylishly preserved retro vibes at Dreamland. Quite a while ago now, I spent an afternoon there, nibbling on candyfloss and riding the (sadly now closed) scenic railway. We re-visited on our recent weekender, a quiet Saturday just after the school holidays had finished and had a really fun morning.
Okay, the fairground rides aren’t exactly Thorpe Park thrill levels, but I had a lot of fun giggling on the rollercoaster, laughing on the waltzers and cackling as we bashed each other with dodgem cars. It’s basically a hub for infectious joy, and I’m absolutely here for it.
Make sure you check out the fun local art in the gift shop too!
Eat fish and chips on the beach
Classic seaside fare for lunch is a must when you’re in Margate – yep, that’s fish and chips!
The pink-fronted Beach Buoys seaside fish and chips, with vegan banana blossom ‘fish’ option – which was great for our mixed group. If you’re happy with the more traditional choice, Peter’s Fish Factory is widely regarded as one of Margate’s best fish and chip spots.
Not feeling fish and chips? Check out Cinque Ports for charming gastropub vibes.
Spend your 2ps at the amusement arcades
One thing I really missed on our day trip to Whitstable was a seafront staple – a bright, noisy, flashing amusement arcade. Luckily, Margate has a few to spend your adult pocket money in.
The amusement arcades linked to Dreamland were actually my favourite – especially with the retro pinball room from local collector, ‘Pinball Geoff’. These vintage machines have been lovingly maintained, and honestly? They’re even more fun than the flashy, modern ones.
Outside of Dreamland, there are two other arcades along the seafront, with your typical games. Think Down The Clown, Skee-Ball, Dance Dance Revolution; and of course, more 2p machines than you can shake a pot of coins at. I spent around a tenner, and came away with a foam glider and some popping candy. Perfection.
Hang out at the beach (or take a walk)
Once we’d exhausted ourselves with childlike fun and games, we lowered the tempo, finding a spot to sit by the sea and enjoy stretching out on Margate’s sandy beach. For a couple of hours, we simply chatted the time away, with a couple of tins from the off-license in hand. A couple of the group headed into the sea for a paddle, and we even saw some swimmers enjoying a dip in the late summer water. (Don’t get TOO excited – this is England, so it’s still pretty nippy when you first get your toes in.)
For a boujie treat, check out the beachfront sauna and plunge tubs.
If you have a car, or prefer taking a walk to sitting on the beach, the Margate-Botany Bay section of the King Charles III England Coast Path is perfect for exploring the limestone cliffs and bays of north east Kent. The walk to Botany Bay itself takes around 45 minutes one-way, via quieter natural bays and beaches and Walpole Bay Tidal Pool – the biggest of its kind in the UK.
End your weekend on the harbour
To end our Margate weekend, we grabbed a bench at the Harbour Arms, with views back to the town across the harbour. The pub itself has a pirate tavern feel, with a good selection of drinks on offer – the perfect place to end your stay before heading back to the city.
Where to stay in Margate
We stayed in a cute little seafront apartment, booked via AirBnB. If you’re visiting Margate with a group, it’s usually the most affordable (and fun option). For singles and couples, there are plenty of smaller self-catering flats too.
If fun, quirky décor is your vibe, check out the design-led Margate Suites. They offer The Courtyard Suite, The Samphire Suite (up to 5 guests), The Emerald Suite (one double bed, two singles) and The Pearl Suite (one large double plus a sofa bed).
For a more traditional hotel stay, the George and Heart House offers gorgeously designed rooms, with exposed brickwork, rich colours and well thought out details offering a warm, high-end experience.
The Sherwood Hotel offers a budget-friendly, no-frills modern seaside hotel stay.
Go beyond Margate…
For a more laid back, scenic seaside experience in the South East of England, check out nearby Whitstable – another spot that’s perfect for a day trip from London!
Head into Canterbury for a day trip to check out Kent’s historic cathedral city. You can combine your visit with a day tour that also visits the White Cliffs of Dover.
