Margate is a popular Victorian seaside town (Image: Getty)
Margate was on my list for a while – a chance to escape the sea, suck up the sun, wander around the quirky shops, and perhaps soak my toes into the ocean. Called Shoreditch On Sea for its trendy shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, this Victorian seaside town in Kent is popular with tourists in the summer.
It is famous for its Beach Promenade, Tidal Pool, Shelglott, Art Gallery and Dreamland amusement park. The trendy coastal spots even link to famous faces such as the Libertins, which owns a boutique hotel, but artist Tracy Emin has called it home. Other celebrities such as Pedro Pascal, Rami Marek and Emma Colin have also been found strolling around in a town with a population of around 63,000 people.
Read more: European seaside towns are as clean as Dubrovnik, but no tourists
The beach was flocked with loud people (Image: Sophie's Law)
So when my husband and I booked a one-night stay at Airbnb in the summer, I was excited. I imagined golden sand, fresh sea air, and typically the seaside towns in the UK. However, the reality was a little different.
The train journey off London was smooth enough, and as we stepped onto the platform, the warm and salty breeze had promised to be one of the hottest days of the year.
We started by wandering around town and soaking in separate shops and vintage boutiques. We could see why people rave about the artistic side of the town – a cafe with a pastel painted exterior, a small gallery with local artwork, and an antique shop filled with strange treasures.
After all, it has been repeatedly named in recent years within the coolest seaside towns.
Margate had a pocket of unique charm and creativity, but in all the quirky shops there was another boarded building, a tired look, or something that felt like seeing a better day.
We saw seagulls fighting over empty food packets (Image: Sophie's Law)
Then the beach came. The sun was high, the heat was merciless and we wanted to sit by the sea and chill. But the moment we stepped into the sand, the disappointment began.
It was filthy. The Seagulls circled overhead like a vulture, swooping down and fighting abandoned food packets.
People were portable speakers, McDonald's rappers, empty cans, packets of fish and chips littered across the beach in the sand.
It smelled as clearly as seaweed or sewage, making it difficult to relax without attacking the sensation.
The water I wanted was a refreshing escape from the heat, but it was vague and charming. It wasn't the picturesque beach hideaway I had imagined.
The shops and arcades remained in the center (Image: Sophie's Law)
Determined to save the day, we found a restaurant for dinner. This is a place that looked promising with good reviews.
After feeling like we were waiting for food forever, we realized they had completely forgotten our order. By the time our meal finally arrived we were the last people in the restaurant. That wasn't the ending I wanted.
It's clear that there was a faint light on what Margate was, whether it's quirky shops, creative spaces, and more possibilities.
In 2022, the Cliftonville region in Margate was voted among the “coolest” regions of timeout in the world. Joining Mexico's Colonia Americana and CAIS do Sodré Lisbon was the only UK person to win the top 10 in the world.
However, negligence was difficult to ignore. Worker Helen Whitehead, a deputy leader and minister of housing, claimed that the time-out descriptions of “great coffee” and “quirky attractions” portrayed a somewhat false story.
Some aspects of Margate were quirky, while others felt tired (Image: Sophie's Law)
“Rebirth should provide a future for everyone. Gentrification is not. And the world described in the timeout article excludes the reality of most of the residents I work with,” she told Thanet News in 2022. It is in a state of hyperinflation and has a constant displacement. ”
A survey published by RightMove in 2022 found that home prices rose the most on Margate, doubled in 10 years. Home prices averaged £305,136 from last year.
In reality, Margate felt like a ghost of his former self. This was trying to bring back the golden age that had disappeared for a long time. The beaches, the town, and even the overall atmosphere, it was all tired and obviously needed regeneration.
Will you come back? Probably not. Some places are eager to have you back, but for me Margate wasn't one of them.
