How To Have Fun In Margate – Kent
Margate, Kent is a seaside village in the Eastern part of Kent in England. It is situated just over 60km northeast of the town of Maidstone. The history of Margate is intertwined with the sea. It used to be a ‘limb’ of Dover in the historical alliance of the Cinque Ports.
All the amenities of this seaside resort in the East of Kent, with its lovely beaches and many entertainment options, were originally developed as a holiday area for Londoners. The town has excellent facilities, including two theatres, more than one cinema, a golf course, fishing opportunities and as mentioned, great beaches.
The town plays host to two excellent museums. Margate Museum (the old town hall) near the old market place, houses displays portraying the history of the town. The Powell Cotton Museum, to be found in Quex Park, has numerous displays of items that were brought back from his many trips to Asia and Africa by this intrepid explorer.
At the time of going to press, the old Dreamland Amusement Park was closed for renovations, but it could be open again by now. It’s home to one of the oldest roller coaster in the United Kingdom.
The Scenic Railway, the second oldest in the world, was badly damaged in a fire during 2008. Plans are to incorporate the railway with Dreamland Park mentioned above, offering trips to tourists.
The Shell Grotto, with both walls and roof decorated in elaborate fashion by more than four million shells arranged in complex patterns covers about 200 square meters. It was rediscovered during the 1930s, but the original age and origin is unknown.
In the Old Town area at the back of the promenade, you’ll find a lovely old 16th century two storey timber framed Tudor house that was originally built on a flint base. It’s in quite a good condition and well worth a visit.
On the Margate seafront you will find a lovely old clock tower that was erected in honor of Queen Victoria in the year of 1897. The harbor building itself, built in 1810 by John Rennie, is in quite a good state of repair. Some of the other buildings along the promenade are not in the same state of repair, although there are still fine examples of Victorian seaside resort buildings to enjoy.
The quite fascinating Old Town lies at the back of the promenade and although not visited by many day trippers, it actually has a lot to offer. There are well preserved examples of Georgian and Victorian buildings, some of them nearly 500 years old. It’s a lovely spot to just stroll around for a couple of hours.
When it comes to accommodation options, Margate – Kent has more than enough to satisfy the needs of every visitor. There are cozy little bed-and-breakfasts in Margate and also good quality hotels for those who want to enjoy the facilities that only hotels normally offer.