A Day by the Sea in Margate

Margate, a quintessential British beach town.

An old amusement park, sandy beaches, cute pubs, plenty of vintage shops and endless Mr. Whippy. A++

In June, I ventured out to Margate for a day spent seaside. With direct trains running hourly from King’s Cross, getting to/from Margate is incredible easy. And, if you want to make a full day of it, you could also stop at Whitstable on your way back to London.

What’s there to do in Margate, you ask?

Plenty.

Start by walking along the shoreline, unlike the pebbly beaches in the south of England, Margate’s are real sand
Pop into Dreamland, a renovated amusement park that locals know as one of the happiest places on earth. Vintage games, a roller rink, lots of rides and so many flavours of candy floss. Reversion to childhood, complete
Rummage around some of the town’s best vintage shops, a few favourites: Paraphernalia, Junk Deluxe, and Handsome Freaks
Admire art at the Turner Contemporary, an art gallery on the site of where JMW Turner once lived- a man devoted to capturing the expanse of the skies surrounding Margate (Bonus: The gallery is free to visit)
Stop at The Curious Cupcake Cafe or The Greedy Cow for a spot of tea or sweet treat. Highly recommend the mocha at The Greedy Cow, and the Victoria sponge at the Cupcake Cafe
Lounge in the late-afternoon, watching people play on the beach at BeBeached or Mala Kaffe. The menu at BeBeached is great too- so many awesome vegetarian options
Pop into any of the town’s pubs for a pint. Loved the Lifeboat for their craft drafts
Eats wise, The Greedy Cow is awesome for breakfast, and GB Pizza Co is great for lunch or dinner- a pizzeria with prosecco on tap? Sign me up
Finally, don’t forget to grab a Mr. Whippy from any of the beachfront vendors. Classic part of the British seaside experience 🙂