Located less than two hours from London, this popular seaside town and its sandy beach often feature on top 10 lists but I personally think it’s overrated.
It’s less than two hours from London and often features in top 10 lists — but I think it’s overrated. Last week, The Times released a list of what it says are the 50 best beaches in the UK.
The list was wonderfully varied, with sandy and shingle beaches and more rural locations featured. Living in a seaside town in Kent, I am incredibly passionate about some of my local beaches. Deal, Kingsdown and Folkestone are some of my favourites. Scanning the list, I was intrigued to see which Kent beach would feature in the ‘South England’ section, if any at all.
I was disappointed to find Margate was the only beach to feature. It’s not a particularly bad beach — but it is the most overrated. Margate is a trendy, buzzy town that is particularly popular among Londoners who travel down on a Friday evening for a weekend by the sea.
And who can blame them? In theory, Margate has everything you could want: a sandy beach, plenty of good bars, restaurants and pubs, boutique shops and a trendy art scene, with the Turner Contemporary being particularly popular. The town is also known for Dreamland, an amusement park and music venue where the Sugababes, Olly Murs, Madness, and McFly will perform this year.
One of the town’s main attractions is its sandy beach and traditional seaside amusements, which are always good fun, even if you’re not one for coin pushers and claw machines.
However, when I last visited, I couldn’t help feeling quite underwhelmed. I was met with piles of rubbish, a lingering sewage-y scent wafting through the air and a group of drunken men who proceeded to shout lewd remarks at me and my husband as we headed back towards the train station.
The town felt rundown, unkept and the wrong side of ‘gritty’. I left feeling disappointed, and in all honesty, I haven’t dared to go near the beach since. Even the stunning sunset reflected across the beach in the evening couldn’t change my mind.
Rather than heading to Margate this summer, I’d highly recommend the quaint seaside town of Broadstairs, which is located just 10 minutes away.
Broadstairs has several beaches, with Viking Bay and Botany Bay being the most popular. Viking Bay has beautiful golden sands, beach huts, and a fantastic tidal pool. It’s the perfect spot to kick back and relax or enjoy a leisurely walk.
Further up the coast, the secluded Botany Bay offers beautiful views of the white cliffs and chalk stacks. It’s usually quieter than Viking Bay and is more suited to those who want to explore rock pools or hunt for fossils.
Joss Bay is also a popular spot with steep chalk cliffs and golden sands that stretch for 200 metres. It’s also the best beach in Thanet for surfing.
Broadstairs itself is charming with an olde-worlde feel that can only be experienced in a handful of ungentrified seaside towns in the UK. Fishermen’s cottages can be found in the heart of the town, as well as a 1950s ice cream parlour and plenty of quaint pubs.
Broadstairs was known to be Charles Dickens’ favourite spot for a holiday – and it’s easy to see why.
Next time you’re heading to the Kent coast, give trendy Margate a miss and instead give this charming town a try, you won’t be disappointed.