Margate, UK.
Walking into Dreamland.
There is a Margate back in Australia near where I lived. It's by the water and full of old people but that is about where the similarities end.
Margate over here has a lot more going on which is why it had been on my radar for a day trip from London since last Summer. Plus I am a sucker for a theme-park.
Visit Here.
Dreamland.
This cute theme-park has only a handful of rides I actually wanted to go on but the vibe of the place is just so good I had to visit. It is apparently one of the oldest surviving theme-parks of Great Britain and thanks to locals, it hasn't turned into a block of flats. Instead, they have reinvigorated the space to a fun day out for all with food stalls, rides, pin ball machines (love them!) and roller disco whilst keeping true to its retro aesthetics.
There is also live music all through Summer so I kind of wish I planned better as a band I quite like Slaves were playing in a couple of weeks after we visited. If you are visiting in Summer and live music is your bag, then I recommend checking out what is playing at Dreamland. This place would also be a blast when the sun goes down as there are neon signs all over the joint.
Botany Bay.
The Aussie in me wanted to check out Botany Bay for its name but a little bit past here is Fort Kings Bay where you can see Kingsgate Castle upon the cliffs. It's a lovely little bay that isn't as busy as Margate with a pub at the top of the cliffs should you fancy a cold one.
If you keep an eye out as you walk from Botany Bay to Fort Kings Bay, there is a narrow path you can walk down to the foot of the cliffs. When the tide is out, you can then go to the left to a secret bay but be careful to watch the tides. You miss it and you will be stuck there all night.
We caught a bus to Botany Bay then walked back to Margate along the Viking Coastal Trail which took just under an hour.
Haeckels.
Located along Cliff Terrace, I made sure we stopped here en route back to Margate (and after lunch at Roost) as I love a shop that sells lovely smelling things. The amazing thing about all of their products is that the base ingredient is using seaweed they hand harvest. There is a therapy room at the back of the store which I can only imagine would be the dreamiest of treatments.
Old Town.
From the main street of Margate, you can wander through the Old Town which has a plethora of galleries, second hand shops and restaurants. We wanted to eat lunch at Hantverk & Found but it was booked out so I recommend booking in advance if your heart is set on eating here. The menu looks excellent for seafood lovers and at a good price. If you are rejected from the restaurant like we were, then you can continue jaunting through the Old Town.
Turner Contemporary.
We ran out of time to visit this gallery but it is on my list for the next time I visit. If you are into art then it is highly recommended and it is free! It hosted Tracey Emin's controversial "My Bed" installation so it would have been a good excuse to come back to see what a £2.2 million bed looks like.
The Shell Grotto.
Something else I also missed out on but strangely enough I wanted to check out is the Shell Grotto. It reminds me of The Mighty Boosh Old Greg episode where the fisherman likes to put shells on things. The grotto indeed sounds as mysterious as Old Greg as it was discovered in 1835 however no one yet knows its origins.
Eat Here.
Roost.
If you are looking for good food, at a good price with a decent portion then you need to go to Roost. The ambience is perfect with friendly staff and classic Elvis and Roy Orbison tunes playing as you tuck into the delicious food. I shared the whitebait starter with G then had a quarter chicken with Asian slaw and sweet potato fries, and it was so on point. The coriander and lime sauce went really well with it too.
Melt.
So I don't have much of a sweet tooth but I absolutely love ice-cream, sorbet, gelato.. whatever frozen form it comes in, I will eat it. Melt is a must for those with a craving for ice-cream like me. They make all of the ice-cream using local Kent milk and cream, and you can tell. I had the banoffee flavour which was yummy, creamy and some of the best ice-cream I have had in a very long time. G had the salted caramel and that was divine as well.
Fort's Cafe.
We walked past this cafe after lunch at Roost and it looks really cool. By the looks of the menu, it does a mean all day breakfast.
Ziggy's Rooftop Bar.
We stumbled upon this bar as we left Dreamland in the AM and made a mental note to come here for a drink before we got the train back to London. It is actually part of Dreamland with a vibe similar to Frank's Cafe in London but without the "hipsters" (for now). The bar opened this year and whilst chatting to the person behind the bar, I found out they are looking to trial it staying open during the Winter. The music is reggae, the drinks include cocktails and the vibe is chill. It overlooks the beach so a perfect spot for some bevvies in the sun. I really digged it so do visit if you get the chance.
Margate is a really fun day out of London and a bonus being that it has a sandy beach. I am tempted to say I liked it more than Brighton but I think I will have to make that call the next time I visit...
Trains to Margate from London take about 1hr 45min from Victoria. There is a high-speed train option but this will cost a little bit more. Put a train ticket alert on using Trainline so you are first in the know for when cheap tickets are released.
We didn't need to stay the night but check out Booking.com and Air BnB as there are loads of options for all budgets. My dream stay however would be in The Reading Rooms. Divine.
