A weekend trip to Margate? Why would you go there? – is the question some people will ask. We took a trip down to the South East coast to see how Margate’s recent revival had left it and if it is worth revisiting now.
As you exit the train station you are greeted immediately by the eyesore block of flats that dominates the Margate skyline but next to that you can see the golden sands that have attracted so many people in the past. Today the sands are empty as it is November (when this was written), however the beaches have been a lot busier during the summer months.
Past the arcades and around the bay find the area that has had the majority of Margate’s regeneration. The old town is quaint and quiet but offers lots of different restaurants and cafes where you can have lunch. The area has somewhat reinvented itself and now hosts a large array of shops selling vintage clothing and items. The front of the old town overlooking the new flood and coastal protection promenade looks amazing, almost something you would expect to find in Southern France.
Across the road from the old town you find the juxtaposed ultra modern Turner Contemporary art gallery at the start of the harbour arm. The gallery itself is very nice and has a cafe but I can’t really say much about the art – not being a great appreciator of art. Some of the sculptures that were there though are interesting to look at. Even at a non busy time the gallery still had a handful of people looking around.
Going back towards the centre of Margate you begin to see many of its’ troubles. The town is filled with empty and boarded up windows. All of this is just 2 minutes walk from the Turner Centre and the old town. Walking around Margate is a strange experience, you can see the towns’ struggles and the towns recent successes almost all at once. If Margate’s high-street could regenerate the same way the old town has it would do a lot for the area.
From the top of the town you can see the town’s once again pride and joy – Dreamland, with the newly rebuilt Scenic railway. Now I must confess during this visit Dreamland was actually shut, to prepare for its’ Christmas opening and to clear away its’ Haloween ‘Screamland’. The park will be reopening though in mid December when I will be revisiting to do a short blog post dedicated to Dreamland.
These are the things you expect to see when you go to Margate, but if you move away from what you expect to find there are some real hidden gems. The Shell Grotto is just a short journey from Margate town and is absolutely amazing. It is like nothing else. The grotto was discovered in 1835 and contains 4.6 million shells. Nobody is sure how, when or why the grotto was made but for certain it is worth visiting.
Finally if plays and musicals are your kind of thing Margate also has two notable theatres. Firstly it has The Theatre Royal which is the second oldest theatre in the country and secondly in has The Tom Thumb Theatre which is the second smallest theatre in the country.
While Margate may not be back to its’ former glory like it was in the 60s and 70s it is undoubtedly a marked improvement and it is definitely worth a visit – to see a town in transition with some great visiting points such as Dreamland, The Turner Contemporary and The Shell Grotto.
For a brief history of the Margate’s demise and revival click here.
To see our video focusing on Margate’s regeneration with an interview from Thanet North MP Roger Gale click here.
Seaside Pride 
I find it very interesting to see a place off the beaten track. It looks so much more like really than most other places…
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