Margate, the Kent seaside town once dubbed 'Shoreditch-on-Sea', has been named one of the 30 worst seaside destinations in the UK by a Which? survey of over 5,300 people. The town scored a meagre 53% overall, with visitors slamming its 'run down' town centre, litter-strewn streets, and boarded-up shops.
Which? Survey: Margate Scores Low Across the Board
The survey, conducted by Which?, asked respondents to rate seaside towns on accommodation, beaches, scenery, food and drink, tourist attractions, and value for money. Margate received just one star out of five for shopping facilities and peace and quiet, and two stars for its seafront, food and drink, and tourist attractions. Two Kent towns made the bottom 30: Herne Bay and Margate.
One TripAdvisor review from 2024 described Margate as 'a dump', full of 'run-down shops and houses'. Another visitor said: 'Well let's cut a long story short, unless you're going just for the sandy beach, really don't bother, Margate, is totally run down, most of the shops are closed, dirty or empty, there is graffiti everywhere, the arcade machines along the sea front are tired and need a refurb, the carpets are worn and held with duct tape, the arcade machines have mould growing up from the floor... We left after 90 minutes; it took us a long time to get there... Please take your families somewhere much nicer.'
The survey also noted that crowded spots like Dreamland amusement park may deter visitors seeking a peaceful getaway.
Not All Bad: Independent Shops and the Turner Contemporary
Despite the criticism, many visitors praised Margate's independent shops and the Turner Contemporary art gallery. One visitor said: 'Margate is quirky and not overly commercialised. It's got some great events and places to eat and shop. It's still a bit rough around the edges, but it knows it.' The gallery, which is free to enter, features exhibitions from artists such as David Hockney, JMW Turner, and Antony Gormley. Gormley's cast-iron sculpture 'Another Time', installed in 2017, has become a symbol of the town.
The Old Kent Market, a former cinema turned food and craft market, earned a 4.1 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor. One August 2025 visitor said: 'Great choices of food outlets. My daughters had two different bagels, which were delicious and very filling; I had a brisket Poutine, which I could have eaten all over again if I hadn't been completely full, and Dad had a low-carb chicken poke bowl, which was beautifully tasty. Excellent value and very quick service.'
A Personal Visit: Litter, Neglect, and a Sour Ending
Deputy Editor Millie Bull visited Margate a few years ago and described her experience as starting well but ending on a sour note. 'The first thing I noticed stepping off the train was the litter lining the streets — food wrappers, crumpled papers and old cigarette butts drifting past in the breeze,' she wrote. On the way back to the train station, she and her husband were accosted by a group of 'lagered-up locals' outside a pub. Despite living just 40 minutes away by train, she hasn't returned since.
Bull summed up Margate in four words: 'Rough around the edges.' She noted that for every upscale boutique, there was an overflowing bin; for every trendy eatery, a boarded-up building. 'Even the most stunning cultural sites and beach views are offset by visible signs of decline and homelessness,' she added.
Dreamland and Other Attractions
Dreamland amusement park, dating back to 1870, offers retro rides and a 35-metre-high Ferris wheel. The historic Scenic Railway ride, which carried half a million passengers in its first year, closed earlier this year. Dreamland also hosts concerts, with acts like The Human League, The Kooks, Bastille, Royal Blood, and Fatboy Slim scheduled for summer 2026.
Margate Main Sands beach earned Blue Flag status in 2025 and features a tidal pool. Dogs are banned from May 1 to September 30. During cooler months, the beach is peaceful, but it gets packed in summer, especially during school holidays.
Dining and Shopping
Popular restaurants include Angela's, a seafood spot with a 4.7/5 TripAdvisor rating, and Lilie's, a tapas restaurant with 4.9/5 and views from the cliffs. Rise & Bun, a speciality bun bakery, offers croissant-dough buns in flavours like cinnamon, apple crumble, and Biscoff. Shopping in Margate's Old Town includes vintage stores such as Madam Popoff Vintage, Don't Blink Vintage, and Breuer & Dawson, though some items are overpriced, according to Bull.
Verdict
Despite its flaws, Bull admitted that Margate offered one last redeeming moment: a breathtaking sunset over the sandy beach. 'Shades of orange and pink rippled across the sky and reflected in the calm, glassy waters,' she wrote. 'It was a perfect and unexpected end to an otherwise peculiar day.'
