Margate

Margate is a place of two very different worlds sitting side by side. And almost rather wonderful for it. I wasn't looking forward to going, but the prospect of the new art gallery was at least intriguing and I was expecting something like the Tate at St. Ives. As we arrived the day turned into skinpeeling consistent sunshine. Starving we headed for the wimpy - it had to be something like that - as it seemed so sort of Margate. The staff were polite and the food just about edible. So onto the beach. And its a large flat glorious beach full of proper sand that god designed just for beaches. There's something slightly moody and romantic about the view out to ...  Read the complete review

I've had annual daytrips to Margate since early childhood because of the central position of the railway station. Over the years there has been a gradual decline of the standard of Dreamland. As my parents met outside the scenic railway almost 70 years ago, I have always had nostalgic feelings about the place. As a child there were so many more rides there and at one time I remember a zoo being there.though not a good one. Nowadays the rides there seem to be rejects from Germany and most need a good lick of paint. The whole place needs a good injection of cash to spruce it up and encourage more visitors. Margate is a lovely,old-fashioned type of resort but I think ...  Read the complete review

Its 1970. I'm a kid. My grandparents live in Margate. We visit them often. They live in a bungelow. On a road. The back garden leads onto a field. Running across that field. Across the road. Then grass and sand. Feel the wind, smell the sea salt. Grandfather sits in his lounge watching through his telescope. Big ship tankers go by in the distance. Little path cuts through the chalk cliffs. Down to the beach. Pebbles. Race back across the field. Race against my brother. Have a head start. But lose. Grandmothers cooking mmmm. Go and play pitch and put. The course seems huge. Launch the ball over the cliff (again). Dad wins (again). Run back ...  Read the complete review

Margate has got to be one of the most popular seaside towns in Kent and I have been going there since I was a little girl. Ok, so it has changed over the years. They have finally got rid of the pier that was bombed many moons ago and sadly the penny arcade (where I spent many a happy hour!) has disappeared. Not all has changed though. One of the most popular attractions in Margate is Dreamland which is a small (compared to todays standards but years ago really was the bees knees!) theme park. My nan and grandad actually met on one of the rides there, The Scenic railway, and they have been married for 58 years now! Dreamland does try and put a few new rides in each year ...  Read the complete review

Beware though! When we decided at the last minute to take the kids away, we hadn1t decided where, so we got a paper and looked through the B&B`s, after `sorry full up` to numerous places, we finally got booked in Maragate. On the way my other half kept joking about what the B&B would be like..."they`ll give us Stew everynight, I bet" was one of his lines. By the time we got there he really had me worried. As we arrived we were greeted in the hall & asked to pay upfront for our weeks stay...which we did. Then the nightmare began, the room was basic, & grubby, the baby`s cot was ancient...then the ladylady knocked to see if we would ...  Read the complete review