Easy Escapes: Margate, Kent

We take a trip to Margate to see what's happening in hipsterville by the sea.

Why go: Margate has become the out of town destination for London’s hipsters. And it’s pretty easy to see why – it’s an easy drive or 90 minutes by train from London’s St Pancras and has that quaint grotty-chic thing that Brighton has – minus the stag do brigade. There’s the Turner Contemporary gallery, infamous Shell Grotto (literally a mad underground cavern discovered in 1835 decorated with shells) and it’s also a haven for vintage shopping and antique furniture at far better prices than London.

Last year also saw the re-opening of Dreamland an original seaside pleasure park after 12 years. It’s been has been resurrected by Red Or Dead designer Wayne Hemingway in true retro style – and has become a focal point once more for the seaside town.

Lights up at Dreamland

When: Summer, ideally. There’s no lack of cute coffee shops to spend

time in if the weather’s crap - but a British beach in the winter is

borderline depressing – wherever it is. Truth.

Stay at: The Sands. This boutique hotel has beautiful views over the Margate sands and is one of the more luxury hotel options available. There’s an elegant first floor restaurant and cocktail bar – plus a private rooftop and prices start from £120 a night. However, your best and cheapest option is an Air Bnb – take your pick from a plethora of Victorian houses and Grand Design-esque spaces, which are ultra, cool and far more chilled.

View across the seaside

Dine at: Margate has quite the culinary mix. Ambrette a modern Indian restaurant is highly rated by both Trip Advisor and Restaurant magazine. But Yamas Thai restaurant was a serious hoot – it’s BYOB and packed with locals having a killer time. GB Pizza Co comes highly rated too (and they deliver!) After dinner head to The Lifeboat which specialises in Kentish ales – and is brilliantly rustic. You couldn’t be further away from a big city if you tried.

The Turner Contemporary - Margate

Bring home: A stash from the huge array of vintage and antique shops in Margate. There are loads to pick from – and we spied a divine red floor length Ossie Clark for £400 in Madam Popoff Vintage.