Brief description
Margate Main Sands is approximately 200 metres long with a promenade and board-walks. There is a tidal bathing pool and a children’s play area with traditional swing boats (play area operates from Easter to September). The bay is very close to the High Street, the Old Town, and the Turner Contemporary Gallery. The wide sandy beach has a café, traditional seafood stall, and amusement arcades nearby. The wide promenade is lined with heraldic dolphin lamps. Margate seafront now has a sea flood defence which includes a walled promenade, seating and new steps down to the sea. The walled promenade has three sets of wooden exit gates with gates on either end of the promenade.
NB. There is a dog ban between 1 May and 30 September.
Margate is a Blue Flag Beach 2019
Facilities
Parking
Dreamland Car Park with 400 spaces – five minute walk from seafront.
Mill Lane multi-storey car park with 432 spaces – five to ten minute walk from seafront.
There are a number of on/street parking bays on Marine Drive that can be suspended (cost on request).
Toilets
Facilities next to the Round Café are seasonal opening from April to September. The facilities nearest the Nayland Rock Shelter are open all year.
Food/Drink
The Round Café next to the Clocktower can provide tea/coffee and snacks. There is an increasing number of cafés, bars and restaurants within a short walk from the main sands. Note a number of these will deliver to you on-site.
Getting here
By Rail
Margate Railway Station is opposite the Main Sands. NB. HS1 journey time from St Pancras to Margate is 1 hour 20 minutes.
By Road
From London – M2, A2, A299 (Thanet Way), A28
From Dover – A256, A253 Hengist Way, A256, A254
From Canterbury – A28