Margate, a 19th-century Coney Island-inspired Victorian seaside resort in New York, has lately become one of the UK’s oldest antiques and fashion spots.
The city, favored by British painter JMW Turner, takes an unusual day trip from London. However, please understand that this once prosperous Victorian seaside town has seen better days. While it is now on its way again, it is not for everyone.
If you like urban and avant-garde destinations. Margate has so much to offer beyond its sandy beach and beachside amusement park. An exciting new art gallery, Turner Contemporary, makes Tracey Emin’s hometown worth a visit for fans of contemporary art. There are some amazing walks along the Thanet coast. And for vintage fans, a visit to the recently restored Dreamland, England’s original ‘pleasure park’, is a must.
Use these information resources to plan your trip based on your transportation choice and read more about Margate.
By train
Southeastern operates high-speed trains to Margate Station that depart from St. Pancras International Station every 10 to 15 minutes. The journey takes about 90 minutes. Be careful to avoid the hourly train from St Pancras which takes more than 2 hours. The price of the ticket is the same, but the train makes more stops along the way. The cheapest rates are available for a direct hourly service leaving London Victoria in about half an hour (this varies slightly during the day). In 2018, fares started at £ 24.50 for an off-peak round-trip ticket.
St Pancras trains run more frequently, but the average departure fare is a bit more.
However, a word of caution. Southeastern has been involved in a protracted labor dispute with its train drivers and its schedule is subject to frequent changes and delays. If you need to arrive at a specific time, it is a good idea to check their website to see if the trains are running on time the day before your departure.
UK Travel Tip Use the cheapest fare finder at National Rail Inquiries to get the best deal. If you are flexible about travel time and also book well in advance, this search function can save you a lot of money. Click on the small boxes marked “All Day” to the right of the time settings. Train fares in the UK can be very complicated and the same journey can cost tens or hundreds of pounds depending on the time of day. Letting the system find the cheapest rate makes perfect sense. Using this tool we were able to find a fare of £ 20.20, when purchased as two one way tickets, which would have taken an hour to find by hit and miss method.
- Read more about train travel in the UK
- Plan a trip with The National Rail Inquiries Journey Planner
- Book train tickets for the UK
By bus
National Express Coaches operate buses from London to Margate from London Victoria Coach Station every two hours. The journey lasts between 2h30min and 3 hours with round-trip fares starting at approximately £ 10, purchased as two one-way tickets.
UK Travel Tip National Express offers very cheap ‘fun fares’ for pre-purchased tickets on some routes. These sell out quickly. Use their online fare finder to find the cheapest tickets for your trip.
- Read about bus travel in the UK
- Book UK bus tickets
By car
Margate is about 75 miles south east of London on the A2 motorway and the M2 motorway. It takes at least two hours to drive. Keep in mind that gasoline, called petrol in the UK, is sold by the liter (just over a quart) and the price generally ranges from $ 1.50 to $ 2.00 per quart.
- Use the Automobile Association Route Planner to map a route with suggested stopovers and gas stations.
- Check daily gasoline prices (gasoline)
Margate is relatively small and easily walkable. Your best bet if you drive is to use the Mill Lane parking lot, with 432 spaces not far from the beach, Dreamland and Turner Contemporary. It’s a multi-story pay-and-display garage costing (in 2018) from £ 1.30 for one hour to £ 6.50 for 15 hours. It’s free on Saturdays.
