The South East England / Kent region:
As the first seaside resort in the country, Margate has drawn visitors ever since the 1730s. The 700 year old harbour had been extensively used by the sailing hoys which regularly plied their trade from London. However, a new cargo inundated the town in the 18th century when boatloads of holiday makers came to try out Benjamin Beale's wonderful, new innovation. A local inventor, he patented a bathing machine which allowed for therapeutic and modest bathing. Little, wooden huts were pulled into the sea and the bather could then descend into the water covered by a canvas. The introduction in 1814 of 'Steam Yachts' caused rapid expansion which continued throughout the 19th century. The wooden jetty was constructed in 1824 and the famous iron jetty in 1855 which allowed visitors to disembark from the visiting steam packs.
Margate area:
The harbour town of Ramsgate, with its lively marina and ferry port is 5 miles away, whilst ever popular Broadstairs is only 4 miles away. The whole Thanet coastline has miles of sandy beaches and dramatic cliff top walks for you to explore.
The Winter Gardens are our neighbours and host year round live entertainments to suit the entire family.
To see more of the area, from April to September an open-top bus tour operates from a stop outside the apartments, covering the whole Thanet area. A full tour takes about 1 1/2 hours, but you can 'hop-on/hop-off' throughout the day on the same ticket.
For more detailed information on the many events in the area:
Visitor Information Call Centre on 0870 264 6111 or visit
For the more active, the scenic Viking Coastal Trail is a 27 mile-long route or six shorter themed routes for cycling or walking. Bike hire is available locally.
Sea View Holiday Apartment guests also get automatic membership to Walkers Friend for the duration of their stay with us for free guided tours and more walks
There are several golf courses in the area, so bring your clubs.
Watersports are very popular and jet skiing, surfing, boat trips and fishing are all readily available.
Margate has direct rail links to London so you might want to head into the city to catch some West End Theatre and shopping or visit the famous London Landmarks. London is approximate 90 mins away by train - Train timetables & information on 08457 484950
If travelling a little further afield is for you, Trans Europa Car Ferries operate 4 sailings a day to Ostende in Belgium from Ramsgate Harbour. Great for a day trip to Europe!
