How to spend one day in Margate, Kent

One Day in Margate

Margate is a coastal town in Thanet, Kent. Once a small fishing village, it’s now a popular holiday destination for Londoners, or even for a day trip, being just 1.5 hours by train from the capital. I loved it because of its quirky, vibrant feel, it reminded me a little bit of Wellington in New Zealand!

I spent one day in Margate with Traverse Events and Visit England on a press trip with several other bloggers who were taking part in Traverse’s Give Back campaign – this was a great fit for me as it focused so much on sustainability. In this post I’ll share what I got up to on my trip alongside other ideas to help you decide how to spend one day in Margate.

A quirky street in Margate, with vintage stores on each side of the narrow road. The buildings are a clash of brick, wood, chimneys, rendered cream fronts, and brightly coloured signs. The railings and streetlights and windows all clash too. A few people are taking photos. — One Day in Margate wouldn’t be complete without visiting the vintage and antiques shops!

One Day in Margate: An Itinerary

8AM: Travel to Margate – How to get there:

I travelled to Margate from London Kings Cross on the train. Since I’m based in Peterborough this meant catching a train to London beforehand – which meant an early morning for me! The journey took around 1.5 hours from London so is easily doable as a day trip from the capital. You can buy your tickets through the Trainline here.

By car, Margate is about 1.5 hours from the Dartford crossing (near London). If you’re visiting Margate as part of a longer trip in England, the closest airports are London Heathrow and London Gatwick (you can search for flights here). Margate is only a 40 minute drive or 50 minute train journey from Dover, where you can catch the ferry to France.

The sign for Margate's train station with a blue sky behind it - One Day in Margate — It’s easy to spend one day in Margate with great transport links

10AM: How to spend the morning in Margate:

Margate is undoubtedly charming. The Old Town’s streets are a mix of retro stores, quirky cafes and trendy art galleries. If you are interested in antiques and vintage, spend your morning wandering the shops; in Margate you’ll find collectibles and unique items that you won’t find anywhere else.

A vintage shopfront with a rail of vibrantly coloured clothes outside - One Day in Margate — Margate’s trendy vibe spreads out onto the pavements

Rows of brightly coloured women's vintage garments on a clothing rack in a vintage clothing store in Margate - One Day in Margate — Vintage shops galore in Margate

1PM: Where to have lunch in Margate:

Foody Moody’s in the Old Kent Market does an amazing vegan curry, as well as burgers and wraps! It’s tucked away in the arcade, but you can grab your dishes to takeaway and sit on the steps by the beach to eat. Otherwise, you can’t beat traditional fish ‘n’ chips when you’re by the British seaside.

2PM: How to spend the afternoon in Margate:

In the afternoon, why not give something back to the local community by doing a beach clean? This is a rewarding way to help keep the environment on the coastline clear – just an hour of your time can make such a difference. The Thanet Coast Project organises these and will set you up with equipment and checklists.

No trip to the British seaside is complete without visiting a funfair. Dreamland is an amusement park which first opened its doors in 1880 and is home to the classic fairground rides such as the Big Wheel, Dodgems, Teacups and Swing Boats as well as a Roller-Disco! They often host gigs in their music venue too.

The Dreamland Building has a sign to show its services: Cinema, Ballroom, Restaurant, Cafe and Bars, Amusement Park - One Day in Margate — Dreamland is Margate’s famous amusement park

6PM: Where to have dinner in Margate:

According to Happy Cow, Alexandria Café on the seafront is an Egyptian restaurant with many vegan options available. Giorgio’s is located near the clock tower and is an Italian restaurant with a separate vegan menu. Great British Pizza is on the seafront and has vegan cheese.

8PM: How to spend the evening in Margate:

Margate is a lovely place to spend a weekend, but trains run well into the evening so you can make it a daytrip too.

Stop for a drink in Cinque Ports, a cosy pub along the seafront, before heading back to the capital.

If you can stay a little later, head back to Dreamland to go to a gig – they have a variety of live music acts play.

Margate's ornate Clock Tower stands in front of more modern buildings - One Day in Margate — Margate’s clock tower

Abbi is standing in front of pastel-coloured buildings on Margate's seafront - One Day in Margate — Pretty pastel buildings on Margate’s seafront

10PM: Want to stay the night and spend two days in Margate instead?

You’ve seen from this post that there are heaps of things to do in Margate so it’s very likely you’ll want to stay longer than just one day! Here are some recommendations of where to stay:

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Have you spent one day in Margate? What would be your ideal way to spend the day?

Thanks for reading and happy travels!

Abbi X

Disclaimer: I visited Margate as a press trip organised by Traverse Events with Visit England in October 2019. The experience was complimentary (including transport, ticket costs, meals & refreshments) in return for social media coverage. I have chosen to write this post based on my experience; it was not as a required deliverable. All opinions are, as always, my own.

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