Journey time
1 hr 30 from London
Nearest station
Margate
Ticket price
Free to visit
Top attraction
Dreamland
Best time
May–Sept
Margate has reinvented itself as the “capital of British cool” — age-old seaside traditions (sandy beaches, fish & chips, seafood stalls) meeting a buzzing contemporary art and music scene. There's a Blue Flag beach right by the station, the free Turner Contemporary gallery, the retro Dreamland pleasure park and an Old Town packed with independents. The high-speed train from St Pancras makes it a very doable day trip.
Why go?
Blue Flag beach
Golden sand right next to the station.
Turner Contemporary
A free, world-class seafront gallery.
Dreamland
Retro pleasure park and live music.
Famous sunsets
The west-facing bay glows at golden hour.
ROAM Snapshot
The day at a glance.
Avg travel time
~1h 30
Typical spend
£20–40pp
Crowd level
Busy summer
Best weather
Sunny coast
Family friendly
Great
Thrill rating
Relaxed
Accessibility
Good
Things to do
Highlights worth building your day around.
Dreamland
Britain's original pleasure park — home to the UK's oldest wooden rollercoaster, plus roller disco and live music.
Turner Contemporary
A free seafront gallery with world-class, ever-changing exhibitions — named for the painter who loved Margate's light.
Margate Main Sands
A sandy Blue Flag beach right next to the station — proper bucket-and-spade nostalgia.
Shell Grotto
A mysterious underground passage covered in 4.6 million shells — nobody knows who made it, or why.
Margate Caves
Hand-dug chalk caves with Iron Age roots and centuries of graffiti.
Crab Museum
A wonderfully weird little museum all about crabs and the sea.
Old Town & Harbour Arm
Regenerated lanes of independent cafés, galleries, vintage shops and seafood.
Turner's sunsets
The wide, west-facing bay serves up some of the best sunsets in England — grab a seafront drink.
Gallery
5 photos
Photos: Visit Thanet
Getting there
1 hr 30 from London · ~£40 return
- London St Pancras
- High-speed train
- Margate
- Seafront & Old Town
Nearby things to do
Stretch it into a bigger day out.
Planning a Margate trip?
Roamer knows live trains, fares and crowds — just ask.
