Seaside towns were once booming tourist destinations, but over the past several decades, many have been “forgotten.” The rise of cheap abroad holiday deals, a boom in city breaks, unreliable weather, and a lack of economic investment made seaside holidays less favourable to Brits across the country and, therefore, neglected.
However, these family-friendly beach breaks never lost their charm, and a “remarkable revival” has begun. Travel experts at National Geographic have praised Margate, in Kent, as one of the few seaside towns making a comeback. This can be credited to a number of factors, but at the heart of this resurgence is the “unshakable sense of community and culture.”
Travel experts at the National Geographic further explained: “Overcoming the restrictions of seasonality is top of every coastal town’s wish list. Margate, on the eastern tip of Kent, is the exemplar of this.
“When the weather sends visitors scurrying inland from the 656ft expanse of sand, there’s a near-endless array of distractions: artistic, retro, retail or just good old-fashioned seaside fun. Culture, embodied by the Turner Contemporary, helped the town turn the corner — but it’s the unshakeable sense of community that’s driving the resurgence.”
Margate is home to over 51,766 residents, and within its bustling community, there is a diverse blend of creativity, activism, and inclusivity. Only an hour and 40 minutes by train from central London, it is a favoured choice for Londoners who want to visit a golden sandy beach.
The seaside town is so popular that it has been dubbed the “Shoreditch-on-Sea or the Camden of the south-east,” with the number of “hipsters” from urban areas moving into the affordable homes and transforming the culture.
Local businessman Keith Marsh, from Sunset Rock Shop, remarked, “Every shop in Market Place was for sale or derelict. Now you’ve got your hipsters coming down, and every shop is occupied,” Kent Live reported.
Margate has also been compared to Ibiza, with its array of trendy bars and restaurants for tourists and residents to enjoy. The seaside town is home to the Main Sands beach, which is about 200 meters in length.
The beach remains clean thanks to a group of local volunteers. Rise Up, Clean UP Margate is a community-driven movement with the mission to protect Margate’s beaches and keep the waters clean.
The beach currently boasts four stars on TripAdvisor. One person shared: “It was lovely to see Margate main sands buzzing with people today. The sands were clear, but sadly, the seaweed was quite potent. Honestly, think it’s one of the best beaches in the UK.”
Another person commented: “It’s on par with Weymouth but much quieter. We visited from Allhallows Haven and came back for another day! The beach is amazing. There are lifeguards everywhere, and it feels safe and clean. There are enough shops to potter around in, and Dreamland was fantastic. I’m looking forward to coming back.”
For those visiting with families, Margate has one of the most iconic amusement parks in the UK: Dreamland. This amusement park first opened in 1880 and is situated on the beachfront.
Dreamland is “home to vintage-style rides and amusements, a roller disco, and a great line-up of must-see ticketed live music and events. Rides, amusements, and the roller disco are open seasonally from spring through the end of summer.”
However, at the centre of the town’s identity is the Turner Contemporary gallery, which opened in 2011. According to the gallery’s website, it has attracted over 4.5 million visitors and has contributed approximately £100 million to the local economy.
If you’re looking to book your stay in Margate, National Geographic recommends No 42 by GuestHouse. This opened in the summer of 2023 and “has an enviable location fronting the beach and opening onto the High Street to the rear.”
“It’s a well-heeled crowd who come for the 21 stylish rooms and the brand’s signature Pearly Cow surf-and-turf restaurant.”