Margate Day Trip From London: Tips + Itinerary!

My Margate day trip from London was one of my favourite days of September. If you’re looking to escape the busy capital and explore more of England, I would highly recommend spending 1 day in Margate.

I first heard of Margate when a colleague took a trip to Dreamland and raved about it. Dreamland is a giant permanent fairground that was possibly created with Instagram in mind as it’s full of colourful rides and quirky sets.

That’s not the only reason to visit though; there are plenty of things to do in Margate and the coastal surrounds are gorgeous.

Margate day trip from London

Margate 1 day itinerary

My friend Hannah and I grabbed coffee and breakfast and boarded the 10am train (the coffee was necessary at that time on a Sunday) and arrived before the morning was over. We had a great day spotting colourful beach huts, eating candy floss and overlooking Margate harbour.

In this Margate 1 day itinerary I’m going to run through the best things to do in Margate in the order we did them. Enjoy!

Broadstairs has everything a British beach town should: fish and chips, colourful beach huts and a sandy (although not very warm) beach.

A modern feel? Not so much. Hannah and I mused we were bringing down the average age in town by about 40 years and felt like we might be offered tea and a Worthers Original at any moment (sadly this didn’t actually happen).

The unusual chalky, white cliff faces made me think of the White Cliffs of Dover which made sense as they’re just 20 miles down the coast.

Arriving in Margate – 12.30pm

We hopped back on the London to Margate train and arrived six minutes after departing Broadstairs – barely even time to sit down. As soon as we arrived, I noticed how colourful the town was. You can expect street art, bright shop fronts and coloured boats bobbing in the harbour.

Continue your Margate day trip with the following activities…

Dreamland Margate – 1pm

Our first stop after travelling from London to Margate was Dreamland. It was indeed dreamy and we didn’t know what to go and look at first. We decided on the giant rainbow slide then followed it up with a spin on the big wheel where every carriage was a different candy colour.

Dreamland is free to enter and you pay for the rides by topping up a fake debit card – the big slide cost £2 and the wheel was £3.50 each.

Margate’s cheese cafe – 2.30pm

After leaving Dreamland we were feeling hungry and headed over to Cheesy Tiger, Margate’s very own cheese cafe. There are plenty of places to eat in Margate but I can never say no to cheese.

Afternoon – things to do during a Margate day trip

Margate is definitely up-and-coming with lots of quickly shops and cafes to while away an afternoon.

Margate Main Sands: You can’t visit Margate and miss the beach! This stretch of sand is busy in the summer months with holidaymakers sunbathing, eating ice creams and making sandcastles. Take a dip in the tidal pools or try your luck at the arcades.

Margate Harbour Arm: Near the beach, Margate Harbour Arm is a curving pier built in the 1800s with a lighthouse perched on the end. Nowadays, there’s a selection of outdoor bars and restaurants (including Cheesy Tiger) stretching along it. Visit the Turner Contemporary Gallery, sip coffee at Mala Kaffe Coffee Shop or drink something stronger at the Lighthouse Bar.

Old Kent Market: you physically can’t miss this eye-catching scarlet building which was once the Parade Cinema. Old Kent Market is full of craft stalls, food, local ales, cocktails and a big piano for any guests who want to play.

Turner Contemporary: Displaying the work of J. M. W. Turner and built upon what was once his old boarding house, this is Margate’s largest arts venue. Check what exhibitions are taking place on the website. Entry is free.

Shell Grotto: This intriguing location is a bit of a local mystery. No one knows why it was created but whoever did deserves an award: the 30-metre tunnel is decorated with 4.6 million shells, intricately displayed into spectacular artwork. Look closely and you may see animals and ancient gods and goddesses. Entry is £4.50.

Visiting Ramsgate during a Margate day trip

Nearby Ramsgate is known for its royal harbour and beautiful beaches. We didn’t have time during our Margate day trip and generally wouldn’t recommend attempting squeezing it in as well as Broadstairs.

However, if you’re staying overnight or are super speedy, have Ramsgate on your radar as another lovely place to visit in Kent. The London to Margate train calls there too (before Broadstairs on the way from London and afterwards on the way back).