Marvellous Margate! Must-do's for visitors
- Victoria
- Apr 1, 2016
- 3 min read
Margate, once the place to be and be seen had gradually over the years, lost its cool. Gone were the days when people would come from all over to be beside the seaside, for deck chairs and donkey rides. The closure of Dreamland in 2003 marked a sharp decline. The Old Town became heavily boarded up and following multiple fires along the seafront, the once glowing façade of the amusement arcades were hollow shells. Its spark from bygone eras had well and truly fizzled out.
However, there was light at the end of the tunnel. In 2011, the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery opened, attracting a fresh wave of visitors. The new high-speed rail link cut travel time from London considerably. Slowly but surely money and interest began to pour back into the area. The Old Town unbarred its shutters and became a hub for pop-up art exhibitions, independent cafes, restaurants and shops. In 2015 Dreamland reopened its doors to nostalgic thrill-seekers, young families and *ahem* 6 women in their mid-twenties who can't proclaim to be either of the above. And we had a brilliant time!!
Now, tipped in many poles to be one of the best places in the UK to invest, Margate it would seem is on the up. Here is a list of must-see's and must-do's when visiting the seaside town, besides the obvious - have an ice cream on the promenade!
Love or hate its design, perched on the sea wall, this building has cemented itself as the centrepiece of Margate's Seafront. The gallery holds multiple exhibitions and events throughout the year, previously including artists such as Grayson Perry, Tracy Emin and Turner himself. Its crowning glory is the window that takes up the entire sea-facing wall. Through it you can watch the waves, free from the elements, sampling the view that inspired Turner to paint his famous sunsets.
In 2015 Dreamland opened its doors with a new look and ethos. Largely a heritage park, many of the rides are vintage and have seen a previous life at other theme parks. The Scenic Railway, Dreamland's very own vintage ride was built in 1920 and is the oldest roller coaster in the UK; so ride it and you can tick that off your bucket list!!
There's plenty going on in the Old Town of Margate; cafes, restaurants, quirky independent shops and markets. Just off the seafront, you don't have to venture very far to reach this colourful, bunting-clad destination.
I'll probably use this grotto time and time again on this website because I'm fascinated by the complete mystery that surrounds it. Nobody knows who made it or why it was made, but the story goes that in 1835 a little boy was lowered into a hole by his father whilst they were digging for a duck pond. It was then that they discovered this man-made grotto, its walls covered in 4.6 million shells. Most mysteriously, it seems to lead to what is described as the Altar Chamber. Some believe it was used as a Masonic Temple, a rich-man's folly or a meeting place for a secret society. Its construction date could be any time in the last 3,000 years.. so they've really pinpointed that one!
Go on a bracing cliff-top walk
If you're feeling energetic, you could always walk along the coast to Cliftonville and beyond. Although a word to the wise, I've never attempted the journey on foot between Margate Seafront and the spot where this photo was taken. It seems like a perilous uphill struggle, passing the odd derelict building, an abandoned golf course (urban explorers take note!) and bored roaming teenagers. BUT if you drive from the seafront to Cliftonville, it's 5 minutes away and there's plenty of free cliff-top parking. From this point onwards the views are spectacular!
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