Margate is compact enough to walk and washed in bright sea light.
Sonder Margate Places to Stay
Margate is a compact town of streets and corners, made for wandering and remembering.

Old streets, creative pulse, easy pace.
Margate moves at an easy, tide-washed pace, with artist energy, seafront views, and the Turner Contemporary giving the town a distinct edge that feels both local and memorable.
What Makes Margate Margate
- Old Town and civic squares
- Turner Contemporary by the harbor
- Dreamland’s neon and nostalgia
- Independent shops on winding streets
Pick the part of the city to wake up in.
Stays grouped by the way people travel, so you can start from the trip you want rather than a list of rooms in Margate.
- Oceanfront
- Ocean View
- Balcony/Terrace
- View
- Oceanfront
- Parking
- Ocean View
- Balcony/Terrace
- Balcony/Terrace
- Internet
- Bedding/Linens
- Security/Safety
- Parking
- View
- Internet
- Pet Friendly
- Oceanfront
- Ocean View
- View
- Internet
- Oceanfront
- Parking
- Ocean View
- Balcony/Terrace
- Parking
- Balcony/Terrace
- View
- Air Conditioner
- Oceanfront
- Parking
- Ocean View
- View
- Parking
- Internet
- Bedding/Linens
- Security/Safety
- Internet
- Child Friendly
- Bedding/Linens
- Security/Safety
Aparthotels in Margate
- Private Beach
- Oceanfront
- Breakfast
- Parking
Business Hotels & Aparthotels in Margate
- Parking
- View
- Internet
- Pet Friendly
- Private Beach
- Oceanfront
- Ocean View
- View
- Private Beach
- Oceanfront
- Ocean View
- Balcony/Terrace
- Private Beach
- Oceanfront
- Ocean View
- View
- View
- Internet
- Child Friendly
- Sports/Activities
- Private Beach
- Oceanfront
- Ocean View
- Balcony/Terrace
Where artful streets set the pace.
Walkable, artful, and easy to settle into, Margate moves at a relaxed, local pace for curious explorers.
Known for
Turner Contemporary, an arts-led town center, and a mix of vintage storefronts, galleries, and independent cafes around Old Town.
Best for
Best for art-minded weekends, easygoing food trips, and first-time visitors who want a compact stay with plenty to browse on foot.
Walkability
The town center and Old Town are easy to explore on foot, with galleries, shops, and cafes clustered within a small, walkable core.
Closest airport
London Southend Airport (SEN), to the northwest of the center.
Ideal trip length
A long weekend gives you enough time to settle in, explore the core, and linger over a few neighborhood spots.
Vibe
creative, compact, relaxed, slightly nostalgic
What stays with you after Margate.
Some moments feel more Margate than others, the things to do in Margate that linger longest are the ones woven into daily rhythm.
Start with coffee at a corner cafe
Begin the day with a flat white and a pastry in a small cafe, where locals linger over newspapers, laptops, and quick catch-ups before work.
Pick up lunch from a neighborhood bakery
Choose a sandwich, pastry, or loaf from a bakery counter, then carry it along the high street for an easy midday break.
Linger over a pub meal after work
Settle into a pub for a casual dinner, with a steady mix of regulars, simple plates, and the unhurried pace of an ordinary evening out.
Browse independent shops on the high street
Spend an hour drifting between independent shops, from record stores to gift counters, and notice how errands turn into an afternoon ritual.
Every few blocks, a different Margate.
From historic streets to leafy waterfront, each neighborhood offers its own way
to spend a day in the city.
Seasons at Margate’s own pace.
August draws many travelers to Margate for the Margate Carnival and the town’s parade route.
Spring
Spring brings a slower, lighter rhythm to Margate’s center streets. Cafes spill into doorways, gallery visits feel unhurried, and the town settles into an easy pace of browsing, walking, and lingering over lunch between independent shops and public spaces.
Summer
Summer gives the town a later pulse, with longer days for walking between the Old Town, the harbor, and the main streets. Evenings stretch out over casual dinners, late gallery openings, and a steady flow of people moving through the center.
Fall
Fall feels more grounded, with a crisp city rhythm that draws attention back to cafes, shops, and cultural spaces. The streets quiet a little, which makes room for slower meals, exhibition time, and thoughtful walks through the center.
Winter
Winter narrows the focus to indoor life and after-dark atmosphere. The town feels calmer and more local, with gallery visits, pub stops, and short walks between warm, well-used spaces shaping the rhythm of the season.
Spring brings a slower, lighter rhythm to Margate’s center streets. Cafes spill into doorways, gallery visits feel unhurried, and the town settles into an easy pace of browsing, walking, and lingering over lunch between independent shops and public spaces.
Summer gives the town a later pulse, with longer days for walking between the Old Town, the harbor, and the main streets. Evenings stretch out over casual dinners, late gallery openings, and a steady flow of people moving through the center.
Fall feels more grounded, with a crisp city rhythm that draws attention back to cafes, shops, and cultural spaces. The streets quiet a little, which makes room for slower meals, exhibition time, and thoughtful walks through the center.
Winter narrows the focus to indoor life and after-dark atmosphere. The town feels calmer and more local, with gallery visits, pub stops, and short walks between warm, well-used spaces shaping the rhythm of the season.
Where locals linger
From cafe counters in Cliftonville to late walks through Old Town, these are the Margate places locals keep in rotation.
Start the day on Northdown Road
Independent cafés and practical little shops line Northdown Road, where locals pick up coffee, chat at the counter, and ease into the day at street level.
Browse around Margate Old Town
Margate Old Town brings together small galleries, pubs, and secondhand shops, giving you the everyday drift locals use for errands, late lunches, and unhurried weekends.
Finish at a small venue near Turner Contemporary
Near Turner Contemporary, people linger for talks, screenings, and small gigs, then wander back through the town center, keeping evenings low-key and local.
A few things worth knowing.
Notes that help you plan a trip to Margate.
Most walkable areas
Old Town and the town center are easy to explore on foot, with Cliftonville close enough for a longer wander.
Getting around
Margate station puts the center within easy reach, and buses help with Cliftonville, Westbrook, and other nearby areas.
Ideal trip length
Two to three nights suits a first visit, giving time for Old Town, the station area, and a slower neighborhood walk.
Good for work trips
Look for apartment-style stays near the center, where workdays feel smoother with cafes, rail links, and quiet evenings.
Margate travel questions, answered.
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most.
Discover top family-friendly travel options in or near Margate. If you're planning a trip or vacation to Margate, consider spending a week or two at any of our welcoming family-allowed hotels, resorts, or other recommended properties. These are renowned as the Top Vacation Rentals and Places to Stay in Margate:
- Sea View - Family Pad - Games Room- Margate -Dreamland
- Trinity Garden Apartment - Margate Old Town
- The Seaview Apartment - Margate Beach - By Goldex Coastal Breaks
- Margate Duplex with Private Terrace Air Conditioning The Duplex Margate
- Luxury 2 Bed Apartment with Stunning Sea View Steps from Old Town and Dreamland
- Sunset Point Apts - Aqua Therapy Suite
- Margate Beach Front Apt With Sea Views Sleeps 4
- Beachfront Bliss Margate With Sea Views Sleeps 5
- Stylish Westbrook Apartment
- Margate Penthouse Private Balconies Sea Glimpses Gated Parking Air-Con The Penthouse Margate
Sonder™ regularly updates its listings to offer a diverse selection of accommodations, each with clear details on family amenities. Currently, there are over 73 active properties listed by Sonder in 2026 in the Margate area, with new additions daily. By aggregating listings from various websites and travel providers, Sonder delivers a vast array of top places to stay that are perfect for families visiting Margate.
Discover top family-friendly travel options in or near Margate. If you're planning a trip or vacation to Margate, consider spending a week or two at any of our welcoming family-allowed hotels, resorts, or other recommended properties. These are renowned as the Top Vacation Rentals and Places to Stay in Margate:
- Sea View - Family Pad - Games Room- Margate -Dreamland
- Trinity Garden Apartment - Margate Old Town
- The Seaview Apartment - Margate Beach - By Goldex Coastal Breaks
- Margate Duplex with Private Terrace Air Conditioning The Duplex Margate
- Luxury 2 Bed Apartment with Stunning Sea View Steps from Old Town and Dreamland
- Sunset Point Apts - Aqua Therapy Suite
- Margate Beach Front Apt With Sea Views Sleeps 4
- Beachfront Bliss Margate With Sea Views Sleeps 5
- Stylish Westbrook Apartment
- Margate Penthouse Private Balconies Sea Glimpses Gated Parking Air-Con The Penthouse Margate
Sonder™ regularly updates its listings to offer a diverse selection of accommodations, each with clear details on family amenities. Currently, there are over 73 active properties listed by Sonder in 2026 in the Margate area, with new additions daily. By aggregating listings from various websites and travel providers, Sonder delivers a vast array of top places to stay that are perfect for families visiting Margate.
Go with curiosity. Come back with stories.
The best trips rarely go exactly as planned. Sonder keeps you closer to the neighborhoods, kitchens, and small moments that make a city worth remembering.











