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Back in February, when half term crept up on us and we hadn’t planned anything (classic), a good friend kindly offered us a few nights at her place in Margate. I don’t think I’d set foot in Margate since my university ball,  which, rather glamorously, was held in the sadly now-derelict Winter Gardens, a beautiful old art-deco venue that still holds a special place in my memory.

So we booked our tortoise sitter (the most important bit), threw some bags together, and jumped at the chance of a spontaneous weekend in Margate. A seaside town that’s equal parts creative, nostalgic, slightly scruffy, a bit wild, and totally charming.

From home, Margate is an easy hop down the M2,  around 1.5 hours,  and our electric car did the journey with zero fuss. The only mildly stressful part? Parking in Margate. If you’re not a resident, it can take a bit of circling to find a car park with electric charging and overnight options, so factor in a little extra time for that.

We stayed in my friend’s gorgeous ground-floor apartment near Dreamland,  think cosy, quirky, and complete with a pretty courtyard. It was the perfect base for a chilled, slightly windswept coastal escape. This friend has also just written a book, so here’s a shameless plug for it, it makes a great gift for children “The Amazing Adventures of Archie: How Archie Got His Scarf“.

Things to Do on a Weekend in Margate

Here are the places and experiences we loved,  and a few that will be on our list for next time.

1. Visit the Turner Contemporary

Or as I (accidentally) called it: the “Tate Modern” of Margate.
Just… don’t do what I did and choose the one weekend a year when it’s closed for exhibition changeover. I may have attempted to talk my way into the VIP preview (it may have worked elsewhere before!) but no such luck this time. When it is open, it’s absolutely worth visiting, sweeping sea views, ever-changing exhibitions, and a huge part of Margate’s creative revival.

2. Walk to Broadstairs

One of the loveliest parts of a Margate weekend itinerary is how easy it is to walk between coastal towns. By coincidence, one of my oldest friends and her family were staying in Broadstairs, so we met halfway and walked the rest of the route with them.

It’s one of those beautiful, breezy coastal walks with sandy stretches, rugged cliff tops and big sky views. The kind of refreshing, wind-in-your-face stroll that makes the post-walk drink feel completely earned.

3. Browse The Margate Bookshop

The Margate Bookshop is one of my favourite independent bookshops in the UK. Thoughtfully curated shelves, brilliant recommendations, and just the right mix of familiar favourites and books you didn’t know you needed. A dream for bookish travellers.

4. Try Margate’s Best Cafés & Coffee Spots

Margate’s café scene is thriving, and we did our best to sample as many as possible. Favourites included:

• The Greedy Cow
• Giant Coffee
• The Good Egg
• The Pickled Fox

Perfect for pastries, brunch, and warming up after long seaside walks.

5. Visit the Crab Museum

A quirky Margate must-do. The Crab Museum may be small, but it kept my teens entertained for a good hour. The team were friendly, funny, and armed with more crab facts than you’d think possible. A great stop on a rainy day.

6. Try a Community Beach Sauna

People Care Planet Care Sauna. We forgot our swimsuits (rookie error), but next time we’ll be booking ourselves in for a seaside sauna followed by a bracing dip. The perfect blend of wholesome and hardcore.

7. Browse Margate’s Independent Art Galleries

Margate is full of small, creative spaces. We wandered through a handful of galleries, and my favourites were:

• Margot in Margate
• Steven McGuiness

Steven McGuiness especially was so generous with his time, talking art with us and giving my daughter painting tips. Those are the moments that make a trip feel special.

Summary,  Our Weekend in Margate

Our little Margate weekend getaway was everything we needed: simple, breezy, full of good food, coastal walks, unexpected art and crab chats and that nostalgic British-seaside charm. Margate has this lovely mix of creativity, grit, community and whimsy,  the kind of place that welcomes you in and wraps around you.

Would we go back?

Absolutely. Next time with swimsuits, an open Turner Contemporary, and maybe enough space in the car for a painting or two.

If you enjoyed this post you might also like A day trip to Whitstable from London or 9 Best Things to Do in Shere, Surrey, A Perfect Day Trip Itinerary.