Lady’s Guide to a Day Trip to Margate

It’s not everywhere I’m greeted by a seagull when my train arrives. But given I’m in easy view of the beach, a gull seems fitting. And just like that, my day trip to Margate has begun.

Day Trip to Margate

I’ve traveled to Kent with a good friend to explore this so-called “Shoreditch-on-Sea” for a day.

The train ride from London’s Victoria station was smooth and easy, and now we’re excited to see what Margate has to show us. It’s one of the best beach day trips from London, after all.

The town’s recent resurgence as a popular seaside destination for hipsters and those that would follow in their footsteps hasn’t escaped my notice, and I’m looking forward to exploring for myself.

Things to Do in Margate

My friend and I walk along the waterfront and past the bright lights of Dreamland, the amusement park the town is known for. It’s closed today, but we still pop in to see the colorful rides and wish we could partake.

Along the beach is an eye-catching building that houses the Turner Contemporary. The museum’s bright cafe is our lunch stop, and we agonize over the appetizing menu before ordering at the counter.

Sorted, we take our trays and sit down by a window overlooking the sea. Lunch is as good as it looks, and we’re glad we’ve come.

Afterwards we spend some time in the museum, which is showing an exhibition on its namesake, J. M. W. Turner.

We admire the English Romantic landscape paintings and the artist’s signature style, then make our way back out to the waterfront to explore more on our day trip to Margate.

Shops and Streets

The places we discover are certainly to our liking. Vintage shops like Paraphernalia and Peony Vintage on King Street tempt us to browse, and the classic English streets have me reaching for my camera at every turn.

I adore the historic buildings on Love Lane, not to mention the sweets at The Cupcake Cafe (we can’t help but stop for one or two).

Emerging from the tangle of streets and squares, we continue along the waterfront, passing by the clock tower and lighthouse as we go.

Margate Day Trip

Eventually we find ourselves back at the train station waving farewell to our seagull friend as we board the train for London.

Our day trip to Margate has been a success, and I’m happy to have finally joined the crowds in flocking to this reinvented seaside town.

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