How to spend a wintery day in Margate

Situated in Kent, Margate is a timeless English seaside town. Packed with unique history, art and plenty of vintage shopping, Margate makes for a perfect day trip from London.

Getting to Margate

If, like me, you can’t drive, Margate is easily accessible on public transport. Trains run daily from London St Pancras International. A super off-peak day return (with a railcard) will set you back £20.80. The journey takes one hour and 26 minutes, and it’s a comfortable one too.

If your budget can’t stretch to twenty quid, there are cheaper bus routes available too.

Things to do

Art galleries and museums

In recent years, Margate town centre has had a revival. That being said, Margate’s culture and history goes back much further than the last couple of years.

The first stop on a day trip to Margate should be the Turner Contemporary. The Turner Contemporary opened its doors in 2011 and is free to enter. I visited the Turner Contemporary in the middle of January 2022 and there were several exhibitions to explore. In order to make the most of your visit, download the recommended audio guide. There are lots of QR codes around to scan, so be sure to take a snap and have a listen. Make sure you leave plenty of time to soak in the views from the gallery’s long glass windows including the Anthony Gormley statue.

Shell Grotto

Once you’ve had your fill of all the art on offer, make a beeline for Shell Grotto. The Grotto’s discovery in 1885 came as a surprise to renovators, home owners and locals alike.

When you arrive in the Grotto (and you’ve bought your ticket), you’ll be led down a small set of steps that leads into the museum. This museum is packed full of memorabilia, newspaper cuttings and theories around the Grotto’s discovery and purpose. I’d recommend coming back to the museum after you’ve wandered around the Grotto.

As you head into the grotto, follow the map and tick of the main points of interest. These are often intricate designs and patterns adorned onto the walls. Take your time to soak in each one and ponder what they mean, I certainly did!

Entry into the grotto is £4.50 for an adult.

There are plenty more museums to explore in Margate including Margate Museum. But if two museums in one day is enough for you, then it’s time to hit the independent shops.

Shopping

For the remainder of my day, I went around the vintage shops. First, I headed to Peony Vintage – a cute vintage clothing shop. While a few pieces caught my eye, none of them were in the right size so ti wasn’t meant to be! If you still want to give vintage shopping a go then have a mooch around Handsome Freaks and Pie in the Sky Vintage Emporium.

For an independent shop that’s guaranteed to deliver, head to the Margate Bookshop. Personally, I’m a bookworm and enjoy nothing more than supporting an indie bookstore. Take your time to wander around the bookshop. While it’s only small, it’s filled with plenty of pages.

Finally, grab a drink with a sea-view and watch the world go by before jumping on the train home.

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