Margate

The enigmatic seaside town of Margate is found in the county of Kent and is a truly British seaside resort. Margate's history is closely tied to the sea, from its early maritime successes to the present day tourism. Margate has been a leading seaside resort for over 250 years and just like its neighbour Ramsgate, has been a traditional holiday destination for Londoners. Sandy beaches, seaside town amusements and plenty of attractions including a theatre, cinemas, golf, fishing and historic buildings bring today’s visitors from across the world. The Theatre Royal dates from 1787 and is one of the oldest in the country. Margate, like many coastal resorts in Britain, once had a Victorian pier but it was sadly destroyed by a violent storm in 1978.

In keeping with its geography, an excellent visitor attraction is the Shell Grotto, where you will find 4.6 million shells as well as a 2000 sq ft mosaic. Back in 1835, a man named James Newlove, lowered his young son Joshua into a hole in the ground that had appeared during the digging of a duck pond. Joshua emerged describing tunnels covered with shells. He had discovered the Shell Grotto; 70ft of winding underground passages leading to an oblong chamber, its walls decorated with strange symbols, mosaiced in millions of shells. Nobody can explain who, why or when this amazing place was built but visitors from all over the world have been intrigued it.

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