Rae's Margate Guidebook

Rachel
Rae's Margate Guidebook

Sightseeing

Fascinating bit of local history, mysterious and quick to visit.
171 locals recommend
Shell Grotto
33 Grotto Hill
171 locals recommend
Fascinating bit of local history, mysterious and quick to visit.
Recently reopened and with a fascinating history, explore these underground chalk caves with lots of different paintings, decorations and graffiti through the ages.
72 locals recommend
Margate Caves
1 Northdown Rd
72 locals recommend
Recently reopened and with a fascinating history, explore these underground chalk caves with lots of different paintings, decorations and graffiti through the ages.
Sun, Sea and Sand, the main beach has it all as well as Blue Flag status but this isn't the only beach to visit, just the biggest!
78 locals recommend
Margate Beach Front
78 locals recommend
Sun, Sea and Sand, the main beach has it all as well as Blue Flag status but this isn't the only beach to visit, just the biggest!
Beautiful bay with a split chalk cliff just a short walk (20 minutes or so) from Margate. This beach also has Blue Flag status and is sandy with lifeguards present April- September.
131 locals recommend
Botany Bay
Marine Drive
131 locals recommend
Beautiful bay with a split chalk cliff just a short walk (20 minutes or so) from Margate. This beach also has Blue Flag status and is sandy with lifeguards present April- September.
Lovely long sandy beach frequented by surfers, you can get surf lessons here too.
92 locals recommend
Joss Bay
Joss Gap Road
92 locals recommend
Lovely long sandy beach frequented by surfers, you can get surf lessons here too.
If you want to learn to surf in East Kent then this is the place to come! Expert tuition by local and pro surfers.
17 locals recommend
Joss Bay Surf School
North Foreland Hill
17 locals recommend
If you want to learn to surf in East Kent then this is the place to come! Expert tuition by local and pro surfers.
Full of fascinating memorabilia and historic information, a great rainy day afternoon location.
33 locals recommend
Margate Museum
Market Place
33 locals recommend
Full of fascinating memorabilia and historic information, a great rainy day afternoon location.
Very interesting Tudor House, only open for walking round on certain days and holidays but can easily be seen from the road.
15 locals recommend
Tudor House
60 King St
15 locals recommend
Very interesting Tudor House, only open for walking round on certain days and holidays but can easily be seen from the road.
9 locals recommend
Margate Harbour Arm Gallery
Harbour Arm
9 locals recommend
World renowned contemporary art gallery and community space with ever changing exhibitions, gallery shop and in-house café. check their website for what's on.
352 locals recommend
Turner Contemporary
Rendezvous
352 locals recommend
World renowned contemporary art gallery and community space with ever changing exhibitions, gallery shop and in-house café. check their website for what's on.
Huge, beautiful Victorian Tidal Pool at Walpole Bay for open water swimming. Access this two hours either side of high tide and there are ladders to get in off the wall. Open to the public at all times but there are no facilities.
29 locals recommend
Walpole Tidal Pool
29 locals recommend
Huge, beautiful Victorian Tidal Pool at Walpole Bay for open water swimming. Access this two hours either side of high tide and there are ladders to get in off the wall. Open to the public at all times but there are no facilities.
Beautiful and quirky hotel above Walpole Bay. Come here for a drink, a cream tea, dinner or just to look around the corridors which also serve as a museum.
39 locals recommend
Walpole Bay Hotel Margate
Fifth Avenue
39 locals recommend
Beautiful and quirky hotel above Walpole Bay. Come here for a drink, a cream tea, dinner or just to look around the corridors which also serve as a museum.
Fascinating museum and country house estate and gardens with a rare ethnographic collection of animals and artefacts from around the world.
32 locals recommend
Powell-Cotton Museum
32 locals recommend
Fascinating museum and country house estate and gardens with a rare ethnographic collection of animals and artefacts from around the world.
Large estate with gardens, mini golf, kids soft play, restaurant and shop, Llamas, Paintball, Maize maze (summer only) and garden centre.
43 locals recommend
Quex Park
Park Lane
43 locals recommend
Large estate with gardens, mini golf, kids soft play, restaurant and shop, Llamas, Paintball, Maize maze (summer only) and garden centre.

Drinks & nighttime

Fabulous locally owned tiny theatre with gigs, bar, food and events. Check social media or website for opening times and what's on.
51 locals recommend
Tom Thumb Theatre
2A Eastern Esplanade
51 locals recommend
Fabulous locally owned tiny theatre with gigs, bar, food and events. Check social media or website for opening times and what's on.
Great local pub with food from the people who do Barletta.
51 locals recommend
The Rose in June
49-50 Trinity Square
51 locals recommend
Great local pub with food from the people who do Barletta.
Great pub in the Old Town with food.
53 locals recommend
The George & Heart Bar
44 King St
53 locals recommend
Great pub in the Old Town with food.
Local pub with beer garden serving tasty Carribbean food by Fusion Flavaz.
7 locals recommend
The Mulberry Tree
53 Dane Rd
7 locals recommend
Local pub with beer garden serving tasty Carribbean food by Fusion Flavaz.
Great sea front bar with a huge range of beers & wines and a large selection of cocktails with gin and tonic on tap!
38 locals recommend
Little Swift
7-8 Marine Dr
38 locals recommend
Great sea front bar with a huge range of beers & wines and a large selection of cocktails with gin and tonic on tap!
Local brewery on the seafront with a range of beers.
15 locals recommend
Xylo Brewing Ltd
2-14 High St
15 locals recommend
Local brewery on the seafront with a range of beers.
Pub with food- currently run by International Wrap Artists serving Mexican burritos and tacos.
41 locals recommend
Cinque Ports
50 Marine Terrace
41 locals recommend
Pub with food- currently run by International Wrap Artists serving Mexican burritos and tacos.
Local Tap Room in Cliftonville, small but perfectly formed.
46 locals recommend
The Tap Room
4 Prices Ave
46 locals recommend
Local Tap Room in Cliftonville, small but perfectly formed.
The Libertines bar and restaurant.
20 locals recommend
The Albion Rooms
31 Eastern Esplanade
20 locals recommend
The Libertines bar and restaurant.

Neighbourhoods

Margate Old Town is where you'll find food, drink, shopping, vintage. Wander about and look at the old buildings, get yourself a beer and some chips or fresh seafood and sit on the steps taking in the view.
68 locals recommend
Old Town
68 locals recommend
Margate Old Town is where you'll find food, drink, shopping, vintage. Wander about and look at the old buildings, get yourself a beer and some chips or fresh seafood and sit on the steps taking in the view.
Cliftonville is a sub-town of Margate, just along the coast and about 10 minutes walk from Margate centre. The area is mainly residential but has lots of coffee shops, restaurants, take aways and bars to explore plus Dane Park and the sandy beach at Walpole Bay.
19 locals recommend
Cliftonville
19 locals recommend
Cliftonville is a sub-town of Margate, just along the coast and about 10 minutes walk from Margate centre. The area is mainly residential but has lots of coffee shops, restaurants, take aways and bars to explore plus Dane Park and the sandy beach at Walpole Bay.
Westbrook is the area West of Margate just beyond the Sun Deck and the Station. There are shops and cafes here and a great, sandy beach.
Westbrook
Westbrook is the area West of Margate just beyond the Sun Deck and the Station. There are shops and cafes here and a great, sandy beach.
Further west along the coast from Margate is Westgate-on-sea. This is a small town with a local village feeling, independent cinema, grocers, butcher,. cafés and shops and another great beach.
12 locals recommend
Westgate-on-Sea
12 locals recommend
Further west along the coast from Margate is Westgate-on-sea. This is a small town with a local village feeling, independent cinema, grocers, butcher,. cafés and shops and another great beach.

Vintage shops

Fantastic vintage and new shop specialising in utilitarian clothing and menswear for women. Open wed- sun all year and mon- sun in July & August.
12 locals recommend
Margate Washhouse
30 High St
12 locals recommend
Fantastic vintage and new shop specialising in utilitarian clothing and menswear for women. Open wed- sun all year and mon- sun in July & August.
Vintage menswear
13 locals recommend
Breuer & Dawson
7 King St
13 locals recommend
Vintage menswear
Great vintage shop specialising in 70&80s womenswear.
15 locals recommend
Madam Popoff Vintage
4 King St
15 locals recommend
Great vintage shop specialising in 70&80s womenswear.
Great vintage shop with a focus on vintage streetwear and 80s & 90s clothing.
13 locals recommend
Handsome Freaks
10 Broad St
13 locals recommend
Great vintage shop with a focus on vintage streetwear and 80s & 90s clothing.
Cheap and cheerful vintage with an 80s & 90s vibe.
Margate Superstore
12 The Centre
Cheap and cheerful vintage with an 80s & 90s vibe.

Shops

Men's and women's wear designer shop selling a variety of brands, accessories and records.
14 locals recommend
Albion Stores
27 Fort Rd
14 locals recommend
Men's and women's wear designer shop selling a variety of brands, accessories and records.
Fun shop selling interiors, accessories and knick knacks that will make you smile.
9 locals recommend
Little Bit
1-3 Broad St
9 locals recommend
Fun shop selling interiors, accessories and knick knacks that will make you smile.
Brilliant local tattooists, welcoming calm environment and talented artists.
High Society Tattoo
25 High St
Brilliant local tattooists, welcoming calm environment and talented artists.
Local grocery shop selling a great selection of local fresh produce and ready-made lunches and supplies. Also has a Korean food take away at the back.
14 locals recommend
K.G. Winters
68 Northdown Rd
14 locals recommend
Local grocery shop selling a great selection of local fresh produce and ready-made lunches and supplies. Also has a Korean food take away at the back.

City advice

Getting around

Travel

Margate train station is 5 minutes walk to the Old Town and 15-20 minutes walk to Cliftonville. The Loop bus runs around Thanet from Margate- Broadstairs- Westwood X shopping centre- Ramsgate and back The 8 & 8a run from Margate to Canterbury via Westbrook, Westgate & Birchington.
Book before you go

Restaurants in Summer

Margate is a seasonal town and so a great number of visitors come to stay over the summer from June- September. It is advisable to book restaurants in advance as they can often get booked up.