Growing up in a seaside town, I got a bit ‘funny’ when Tom suggested we go to Margate for the day. When I visit other seaside towns, I feel like I’m cheating on Bournemouth. But, having heard that it seems to be the hot new place to move if you’re bored AF of living in London (we’re all feeling it really aren’t we?), this bank holiday we hopped on a train at Victoria for a day by the sea.
Only 1hr45 outside of London and super cheap to get to, Margate seems to be the ‘in’ place to move to at the moment. So, when we heard it was forecast to be 20+ this weekend, myself, Tom and our two best pals went on an adventure. After just five minutes there, I realised why people love it so much. With the charm of an old-school seaside resort and the cafés, restaurants and boutiques of Shoreditch, Margate’s got a lot going for it. In just 12 shorts hours, we hunted out the best of the best and here’s what we discovered…
The Greedy Cow
This little café is centred right in the heart of Margate’s historic old town. It’s cute, small and very popular. All of the tables outside were taken, but we’d heard that the food was too good to miss. Despite the seriously Instagrammable interiors (seriously you should check out the toilet), you’d be highly mistaken for thinking The Greedy Cow favours style over substance. The breakfast menu is so impressive it took us a solid 15 minutes to decide what we wanted. I advise you not to miss out on the Turkish Eggs though…
Ruskin
This little fashion boutique could have been pulled straight out of Hoxton. In fact, I’d push my luck and say Ruskin gives the likes of Goodhood a run for their money. Nestled in amongst hanging plants, expect to find a carefully selected edit of incredible clothes and accessories. Offering an array of high-quality brands, from Kate Sheridan to Sunspel, you’re bound to leave with your purse a few pounds lighter.
The Harbour Arms
This nautical inspired micro-pub is the perfect place to sit with an ice cold cider. I will warn you, it really is micro. In fact, it doesn’t even have a loo (there are some next door, don’t worry). Sit outside, take in the beautiful views and watch the tide come in. If you time it right, you can witness one of the best sunsets around from this gem of a pub.
Dreamland
You didn’t think I’d forget it, did you? Situated right in the heart of Margate sits a playground you’d have no idea was there. Suitable for both kids and adults (trust me, we did not get bored), Dreamland is a huuuuuuge amusement park. Hop on a ride, take in views from the ferris wheel or just bask in the sun with a beer and an ice cream, whatever you fancy doing, Dreamland is a bubble of fun.
Ziggy’s
There really is no better place to catch some rays than this rooftop bar. The ultimate sun trap, you could easily be in any cool European capital while sipping on Aperol at Ziggy’s. With sea views to die for and a seriously impressive mojito (A PINT MAY I ADD), be prepared to lose a few hours in this place. Oh, and don’t feel like you can’t pay a visit if the sun isn’t shining. The whole place is lined with heaters!
GB Pizza Co
Don’t miss this place. Honestly. After walking past it in the morning and having seen that pink tiled wall on Instagram, I knew I wanted to pay a visit to GB Pizza Co. so we were sure to reserve a table for dinner. And we’re lucky we did. The wait time was up to 45 minutes for a table by 5.30pm. Super affordable and absolutely delicious, the stone-baked pizzas at this trendy spot are second to none. I went for the pear and blue cheese and I’m still dreaming about it now…
And that’s it! Honestly, I wish we had spend a few more days exploring and seeing what else Margate has to offer because I know we barely even scratched the surface. If anyone has been and has suggestions of where to go next time, please do let me know! Also, if there are any other UK spots similar that I should check out, just drop me a message.