| Important Information about London to Margate Day Trip by Car Rental via Canterbury | |
|---|---|
| Duration of Trip | 1 Day |
| Best Time to visit | During Summers |
| Type of Trip | Road Trip |
| What is Margate Famous for | Beach, Churches, Countryside View |
London to Margate is a perfect London day trip with the scenic beauty of countryside. A two hours of straight drive to the East from London includes many local stops but with only a day trip kind of schedule, we suggest you stop only at Canterbury.
If you are someone who has already seen enough of the many iconic attractions of central London city, has tried the gastronomic English cuisines and cafes, visited the various popular book shops and vintage shopping areas, then a countryside road trip is basically the next big thing to do.
While, London is surrounded by many charming towns and villages from East to West, but this particular road trip itinerary here will guide you on how to plan a one-day East London road trip. And to make the road trip worth your while, we suggest you pick the scenic route via Canterbury. The pit-stop via the town with lots of charm and lot of history would only add to your Margate itinerary.
Places to See in Canterbury During Trip from London to Margate
When you take M2 and A2 route to Margate, there comes a few local spots but nothing stands out like Canterbury with its castles, history, and medieval attractions. Located at a driving distance of just 2 km from London city, Canterbury has some interesting attractions, beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites and more.
This church city is very famous for its Norman-era Cathedral, its 6th century church and museum St Augustine’s Abbey, Beaney House of Arts & Knowledge with its interesting library collection and building architecture, Canterbury museum with roman history and artefacts, gorgeous medieval gatehouse of Westgate Towers and captivating ruins of Canterbury castle. For more family-oriented sightseeing, this city also has beautiful riverside Westgate Gardens and of course, the boat tour of the city’s historic sights via River Tours. Canterbury has much to offer for a small pit-stop break on the way to Margate.
Where to Park your Car Parking at Canterbury
- Canterbury Pound Lane Car Park
- Queningate Car Park
- Northgate Car Park
- Rosemary Lane Car Park
- Whitefriars Car park
- Canterbury Chaucer Travelodge Car Park – Canter
Highlights of Margate
If a local or a regular tourist has to explain Margate in one word it would be quirky. This lovely little town has its own exquisiteness and mostly gets you access to the most gorgeous countryside views that a city tour can’t give. The beach city, Margate is ideal for Summer loving folks with the urge to get some sun, sand and beach view at the end of their journey.
Major hit among couples and families, Margate not only has a gorgeous beach but very next to it is the jackpot attraction Dreamland. A vintage 19th century amusement park with UK’s oldest roller coaster, Dreamland and its rides, events and concerts is magnet to vacationers from various part of UK and Europe.
With old town feel, pretty unusual cafes, vintage shops, beach culture and neighbouring seaside towns, Margate is basically a refreshing town and thus fall perfectly in various day-tour lists.
Top Attractions of Margate
Turner Contemporary
An artistic structure facing the sea, Turney Contemporary is as contemporary from the outside as the name suggest. This art gallery owns the onus for regenerating the town from his drying spell of liveliness. Named after J.M.W Turner, a renowned landscape painter who lived there all his life, this art gallery and seafront museum is open to visitors till 5 PM. The design of the building always becomes the talk of town for every new visitor and the venue has also been graced by a visit from Queen Elizabeth II
Dreamland & the Scenic Railway
19th century attraction, Dreamland amusement park was a sea facing funfair park for locals for a long time. By early 2000s, the vintage park started losing its shine and has gone through many attempts to reopen and refurbish the park. Today, this Margate amusement park is an attraction largely because of the giant Scenic Railway wooden rollercoaster. Popular rides from Dreamland include Scenic Railway as its top attraction along with Austin Cars, Beehive Coaster, Chair-O-Plane and Double Decker among others.
The Scenic Railway is a vintage wooden rollercoaster that came to life in 1920 and since then has been a savior grace for the park. One of the oldest UK rollercoasters, Scenic Railway often gets ogling looks from beach visitors.
Margate Main Sands
Margate Main Sands is the lovely sea facing beach area that is often filled with locals and tourists. With picturesque sea on one side and charming town structres on the others, this beach area is walking distance from the town and its bars, seafood stalls, restaurants and local cafes.
Shell Grotto
Amid the sea facing beach and museums, lies a very unusual Margate attraction that is totally underrated and must not leave your things-to-do list. A subterranean passageway, Shell Grotto has walls and roof all covered with seashells and its mysterious structure is open to public visit.
Though it was discovered in year 1835, the reason for its creation of exact age of the structure is still unknown. The endless number of seashells and the fascinating dome makes it an ideal tourist attraction.
Best Cafes in Margate Cafes
The Bus Cafe is such an unusual cafe with amazing vegan burgers and bacon sandwiches is often a hotspot for tourists. Cliffs is favourite among coffee and bagel lovers. For free wifi, vegan and veg friendly lunches get yourself to Proper Coffee House.
The Curious Cupcake Cafe with its vintage building and outside sitting is a place to get European British feel with good coffee, cupcakes and sandwiches. Greedy Cow is fresh and popular option for breakfast, brunch and lunch. This English cafe was also featured in Waitrose Good Food Guide and Hardens restaurant guide 2016.
Best Places to Stay in Margate
From Airbnb to vintage lodges to independent hotels, Margate has some pretty decent accommodation scene to offer to tourists. Even if you are in the town for half a day or for night, we would recommend you to check-in and get some rest before you head out to the absorb the sparkling vibes of a beachy vintage town that just never stops amusing travellers and wanderers. Here are few options to stay at Margate, UK:
- Sans Hotel Margate
- Broadstairs Apartment
- Travelodge Margate Westwood
- Comfort Inn Ramsgate
- Smugglers Cottage
- Beach Gust House
- The Dalby Rooms Margate
- The Reading Rooms
- Old Barrel Store
Where to Parking at Margate, UK
Though the seafront located next to Lifeboat Station offers free Margate parking, with additional benefit of everything else at a walking distance, the city also has other parking points.
- Dreamland Car Park
- Market Street Car Park
- Mill Lane Car Park
- Comfort Inn Ramsgate
- Trinity Square Car Park
- St Mildreds Bay
- Margate Station