Living in Margate

Living in Margate

Margate has undergone a remarkable renaissance in recent years, evolving from a traditional seaside resort into one of Kent's most exciting and culturally vibrant destinations. The town strikes an appealing balance between its coastal heritage and a thriving contemporary arts scene, attracting a diverse mix of families, creatives and commuters who are drawn by its character, affordability and improving connectivity. At its heart, the historic Old Town remains a focal point — a tight network of independent boutiques, galleries, cafés and restaurants that speaks to Margate's growing reputation as a creative hub by the sea. Alongside this, the rejuvenated seafront and the sweeping sands of Main Sands beach provide year-round recreation, ensuring that the classic appeal of the British seaside is very much intact.

Schools and education

Families moving to Margate have a solid range of schooling options to consider. At primary level, well-regarded local schools include Drapers Mills Primary, St Saviour's CE Primary and Garlinge Primary School, offering choice across different parts of the town. For secondary education, Hartsdown Academy is the main local option. Those seeking selective education will find grammar school places available in the wider area, with options in nearby Canterbury, Ramsgate and Broadstairs all within reasonable travelling distance. As with much of Kent, the grammar school system gives families additional pathways to consider, making early research and registration important.

Transport and connectivity

Margate is well connected for a coastal town, and its transport links are a significant draw for buyers who work in London. Margate Station provides direct rail services to London St Pancras International, with journey times of around 90 minutes — making the town a genuinely viable base for regular commuters. High-speed services via the Javelin route have been a key factor in driving demand from buyers priced out of closer commuter towns. By road, the A28 offers a straightforward route into Canterbury and connects onward to the M2 motorway, opening up access to the wider motorway network and to other parts of Kent and beyond.

Food, drink and shopping

For everyday retail, Margate is well served by major supermarkets including Tesco Extra and Asda, while Westwood Cross shopping centre — a short drive from the town centre — brings together a wide range of national retailers and dining chains under one roof. The High Street provides a more traditional mix, from well-known pub chains to independent cafés and eateries catering to different tastes and budgets. The Old Town is where Margate's most characterful food and drink scene is concentrated: independent restaurants, specialty coffee shops and creative dining concepts have taken root here, reflecting the town's evolving identity. The culinary offer ranges from traditional seaside fish and chips to contemporary restaurants that would not look out of place in a major city, making it a genuinely enjoyable place to eat and socialise.

What's nearby

Margate's cultural highlights are considerable for a town of its size. The Turner Contemporary gallery on the seafront is internationally recognised and stages a rolling programme of exhibitions that draws visitors from across the country — it has been central to the town's cultural reinvention. Dreamland, the revived vintage amusement park, adds a distinctive family-friendly attraction with a nostalgic edge that sets Margate apart from other coastal towns. Main Sands beach remains one of the finest stretches of sand on the Kent coast, and the wider seafront has benefited significantly from ongoing investment and regeneration.

Beyond the town itself, Margate sits within easy reach of a varied and rewarding wider area. The North Downs offer accessible countryside walking and cycling for those who want green space beyond the coast, while the nearby towns of Broadstairs and Ramsgate each have their own distinct characters and amenities. Canterbury, with its cathedral, universities, further retail offer and grammar schools, is comfortably reachable along the A28. For those who want to explore further afield, the Channel coast and the ports of Dover and Folkestone are within reasonable driving distance, adding an international dimension to life in this corner of Kent.