Photo: No Swan So Fine, CC BY-SA 4.0Margate combines a sandy main beach with Turner Contemporary, Dreamland and a lively old town. The wider Isle of Thanet adds Broadstairs and Ramsgate for a full seaside weekend.
Image: Shell GrottoMargate's Shell Grotto is a Grade I listed underground passage lined with around 4.6 million shells in intricate mosaics, and open to visitors since 1838. Its 70 feet of winding tunnels remain a mystery, with no agreed answer to who made them or why. It is a short, memorable visit for all ages.
Image: The Margate CavesMargate Caves is a charity-run attraction that takes you underground into chalk caves whose history runs from Iron Age settlement to their later use as a mine. It is an inexpensive, short visit that pairs well with the Shell Grotto nearby.
Image: Dreamland MargateDreamland is Margate's seafront amusement park, with vintage-style rides, arcades and a roller disco. Entry is free and you pay for rides with wristbands or tokens, so it works for a quick visit or a full afternoon. Opening is seasonal, so check the calendar before you go.
Image: Visit ThanetMargate Main Sands is a wide sandy bay in the centre of town, a short walk from Turner Contemporary, Dreamland and the Old Town. Build sandcastles, hire a deckchair and stay for the sunset over the bay. It is a classic seaside half day for families, with cafés and seafood stalls nearby.
Image: Crab MuseumCrab Museum is a small, playful, not-for-profit museum in Margate devoted to crabs and other decapods. Its displays of specimens and found objects mix humour with a strong message about the sea, which makes it a fun stop for families and curious adults. Allow up to an hour, then carry on exploring Margate.
Image: Turner ContemporaryTurner Contemporary is a free contemporary art gallery on Margate seafront, in a David Chipperfield-designed building overlooking the main sands. See the latest exhibition, join an event or workshop, and take in the sea views from the café. It is an easy rainy-day choice and pairs well with a walk along the beach.
Photo of Margate: No Swan So Fine, CC BY-SA 4.0The Oval Bandstand and Lawns is a historic open-air amphitheatre on the clifftop at Cliftonville, run by the not-for-profit GRASS Cliftonville CIC. Through the year, and especially in summer, it hosts live music, outdoor theatre and cinema, markets and community festivals for up to 499 people. Grab a ticket for a summer evening gig by the sea.
Image: Visit ThanetWalpole Bay in Cliftonville is a long sandy beach best known for its large tidal pool, a favourite with Margate's sea swimmers. Explore the rock pools at low tide, take a dip in the tidal pool and warm up afterwards in the community sauna by the water. It suits swimmers, rock poolers and anyone after a quieter stretch of Margate coast.
Image: Strokes Adventure GolfStrokes is an 18-hole adventure golf course on Westbrook Promenade in Margate, laid out with rockscapes, plants, water features and sea views. The course has hosted British Championship and British Open tournaments, so holes such as Heartbreak Ridge still test good players. It suits families, couples and groups, dogs are welcome, and there is coffee and snacks for afterwards.
Image: Quex House and GardensAt the start of half term, the Powell-Cotton Museum invites families to see its famous animal dioramas through nocturnal eyes. It is a one-day special in the museum galleries at Quex Park.
Image: Quex House and GardensNew for 2026, Quex House is dressed for a traditional Victorian and Edwardian Christmas, with trees, decorated rooms, period music and sparkling lights. Families can try traditional games and hands-on activities, then warm up with hot chocolate and a mince pie before a winter walk in the gardens. The museum galleries are included.
Image: Shell GrottoMargate's Shell Grotto is a Grade I listed underground passage lined with around 4.6 million shells in intricate mosaics, and open to visitors since 1838. Its 70 feet of winding tunnels remain a mystery, with no agreed answer to who made them or why. It is a short, memorable visit for all ages.
Image: The Margate CavesMargate Caves is a charity-run attraction that takes you underground into chalk caves whose history runs from Iron Age settlement to their later use as a mine. It is an inexpensive, short visit that pairs well with the Shell Grotto nearby.
Image: Crab MuseumCrab Museum is a small, playful, not-for-profit museum in Margate devoted to crabs and other decapods. Its displays of specimens and found objects mix humour with a strong message about the sea, which makes it a fun stop for families and curious adults. Allow up to an hour, then carry on exploring Margate.
Image: Dreamland MargateDreamland is Margate's seafront amusement park, with vintage-style rides, arcades and a roller disco. Entry is free and you pay for rides with wristbands or tokens, so it works for a quick visit or a full afternoon. Opening is seasonal, so check the calendar before you go.
Image: Visit ThanetMargate Main Sands is a wide sandy bay in the centre of town, a short walk from Turner Contemporary, Dreamland and the Old Town. Build sandcastles, hire a deckchair and stay for the sunset over the bay. It is a classic seaside half day for families, with cafés and seafood stalls nearby.
Image: Crab MuseumCrab Museum is a small, playful, not-for-profit museum in Margate devoted to crabs and other decapods. Its displays of specimens and found objects mix humour with a strong message about the sea, which makes it a fun stop for families and curious adults. Allow up to an hour, then carry on exploring Margate.