Serviced Apartments in Margate

Discover the best activities and attractions Margate has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Turner Contemporary
Turner Contemporary is a major modern art gallery on Margate’s seafront, founded in 2011 and named after J.M.W. Turner, who painted the area. It has become a cultural anchor for Margate, drawing national and international visitors to exhibitions, learning programmes and community projects. Its presence has stimulated local regeneration—boosting footfall to nearby cafés, shops and accommodation, creating jobs in the creative and hospitality sectors, and raising Margate’s profile as an arts destination.

Dreamland
Dreamland is a restored vintage amusement park and events venue known for its heritage rides (including the restored Scenic Railway), open-air concerts, film nights and seasonal festivals. As a leisure and entertainment hub it attracts families and young adults, extends the visitor season beyond summer, and supports local employment in hospitality, events and maintenance. Dreamland’s revival has been central to the town’s leisure-led economic recovery and cultural calendar.

Margate Old Town (shops, galleries and restaurants)
Margate Old Town is a compact area of independent boutiques, vintage and antique shops, contemporary art galleries, bars and standout restaurants. It’s popular for its unique mix of local artisans, food entrepreneurs and creative businesses—offering products and experiences you won’t find on the high street. The Old Town drives local small-business growth, nurtures the creative community, and encourages longer stays and repeat visits that benefit the wider town economy.

Margate Main Sands & Harbour Arm (beachfront, food and events)
Margate Main Sands is a wide sandy beach popular for swimming, paddleboarding and family days out; adjacent, the Margate Harbour Arm hosts pop-up food stalls, bars, and seasonal events. The beachfront and Harbour Arm are central to Margate’s tourism economy—supporting seaside hospitality businesses, informal markets and cultural programming—while offering iconic seaside views and relaxed social spaces that are a big draw for day-trippers and longer-stay visitors.

Tom Thumb Theatre and Local Performance Scene
The Tom Thumb Theatre is a small, grassroots venue in Margate that programmes local and touring theatre, comedy and community-led events, alongside workshops and youth projects. It contributes to the town’s cultural vibrancy by providing affordable performance space, fostering local talent, and engaging residents in creative activities. The venue and the wider fringe performance scene help diversify Margate’s cultural offer, support careers in the arts, and bring year-round audiences to the town.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Margate, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail (Southeastern services) - Regular train services from Margate station operated by Southeastern provide direct connections to nearby Thanet towns (Ramsgate, Broadstairs) and onward to Canterbury and Ashford; high‑speed services run to London St Pancras (HS1), with conventional services to London Victoria/Cannon Street and other Kent destinations.
- Local buses (Stagecoach East Kent and others) - Frequent local and regional bus routes serve Margate town centre, the seafront, Westwood Cross shopping area and neighbouring towns; services include commuter and local feeders with day‑time and evening frequencies.
- Thanet Loop - A high‑frequency circular bus service linking Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Westwood Cross, popular for short local trips and tourism.
- National and regional coach services - Coach connections (including National Express and other operators at nearby stops) provide longer‑distance/coach links to London and national destinations (subject to timetables and seasonal changes).
- Taxis and ride‑hailing - Licensed local taxi firms operate from ranks and on demand; app‑based ride‑hailing services operate in the area but availability can vary by time and location.
- Ferry and boat services - There are no regular cross‑channel ferry services from Margate; the seafront supports leisure boat trips, fishing charters and seasonal excursions rather than scheduled passenger ferry routes.

Major Highways
- A299 (Thanet Way) - Primary trunk road linking Margate with the rest of Thanet and providing the main road route towards the A2/M2 motorway network and the rest of Kent.
- A28 - Road connecting Margate with Canterbury and further inland Kent destinations.
- A254 - Local arterial route linking Margate with neighbouring coastal towns such as Broadstairs and the local road network.
- A256 - Regional route providing connections between Thanet and areas to the south and the Port of Dover, accessible from the Thanet network.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Viking Coastal Trail and seafront cycle provision - A well‑used mix of traffic‑free paths and on‑road cycle links (the Viking Coastal Trail circular route around Thanet connects Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate), complemented by seafront promenades and local town centre cycle lanes/parking; active‑travel improvements have been introduced in recent years to expand and improve these links.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Thanet Parkway station (opened 2023) - New park‑and‑ride rail station near Manston providing an additional rail access point to Thanet, improving connectivity to Margate and offering parking and regular Southeastern services.
- Margate seafront and harbour regeneration projects - Ongoing public‑realm, harbour and town‑centre regeneration schemes have improved pedestrian access, public spaces and links between transport hubs and tourist areas.
- Active travel and cycling investment - Kent County Council and local partners have funded walking and cycling schemes in Thanet (new/segregated cycle lanes, improved signage and crossings) to boost sustainable local travel and commuter routes.
- Bus network and fleet updates - Continued service reviews and fleet modernisation by operators aim to maintain high‑frequency routes like the Thanet Loop and introduce lower‑emission vehicles where funding and contracts allow.
- Manston Airport proposals (planning/consultation status) - Proposals and planning activity to reopen or redevelop Manston for aviation or cargo use have been made in recent years; these remain subject to planning decisions and commercial progress and are not a confirmed transport service at present.
- Rail service and station enhancements - Incremental upgrades to station facilities, accessibility improvements and rolling‑stock/timetable adjustments by rail operators aim to improve journey times and passenger experience between Margate, London and regional centres.