How to spend a weekend on the Kent coast

The towns along the Kent coast have been busy ports since the Middle Ages, forming a significant as the ‘Cinque Ports’ since the 15th Century. Easy access via the Thames, and then with the arrival of the railways and the improvement of workers' rights meant that by the 19th century, towns like Margate were very popular with holiday-goers in the UK. Fishing villages were transformed into holiday hubs, with fairgrounds and holiday camps popping up from Blackpool to Brighton. The British seaside was booming by the 1920s and 30s and images of melting ice creams, striped swimming suits and boater hats are still synonymous with the UK summertime. But the advent of affordable air travel by the 1970s meant British families were starting to look further afield for their summer trips.

But since the mid-2010s, Kent's coastline has undergone a major makeover and subsequent re-emergence onto the holiday scene. Architect Eryk Ulanowski (of Studio Ulanowski) lives and works around the Kent coast and has witnessed its flourishing creative scene for the past few years. “There is this eclectic collection of creative people that live here, and everyone seems to be interconnected somehow,” he tells us, “There's always a new restaurant opening or a guest DJ at a local bar." His excellent eye and thirst for a good time made him the perfect host for my stay in the Kent coast, so I thought it was only fair to share some of our tips.

With the help of some local experts, we've drawn up a jam-packed weekend to enjoy on the Kent coast, from the wonderfully weird Shell Grotto to the impeccable food at Updown Farmhouse, via some of the best bites you'll experience.

A weekend on the Kent coast

Friday

We recommend that you clock off work a little early on Friday and get yourself down to the coast in time for lunch – you won't regret it.

Described by our travel editor as ‘the perfect post for a weekend escape’, Margate House is comfortable, pretty, and well-located. Here is the full review.

A bustling spot right on the seafront, The Dive has a very limited, seasonal menu – that's how you know it's really good. Enjoy a cold beer, a spicy fish taco and watch the flow of people stream by – is there a nicer way to start a weekend away?

One of the largest dedicated art galleries outside of London, you can't miss this striking modernist building on the seafront in Margate; the Turner Contemporary was set up in 2011 and hosts an array of contemporary art exhibitions.

For something a little less established and a little more classically British in its odd surreality, you'll want to stop by at the Shell Grotto, an underground set of tunnels covered totally in 4.6 million shells. The origins of the grotto are unknown, adding to its strangeness! It's fun for kids, and even better for adults with a love of kitsch design.

Eryk also recommends visiting the Carl Friedman Gallery and the super cool Quench Gallery, both of which host events and workshops that might be worth exploring for your trip.

All of that art and you'll be ready for a drink. One of Eryk's absolute top spots for drinks in Margate, Sète was announced as one of the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 restaurants in the UK. Their wine list is ‘all about getting you out of your comfort zone,’ they say, so expect some funky choices here.

Locally sourced seafood in a cozy, intimate setting, you'll find Angela's right on the parade, with its sister restaurant Dory’s sitting beachfront just a couple of minutes away. A prime example of the radical gentrifying process that's been going on for the last ten years in Margate, the restaurant continues to receive a lot of hype since its opening. But with a focus on delicious, local produce cooked simply, this spot is worth all the fuss. Book early to avoid disappointment on busy weekends!

Saturday

Is it safe to say you ‘got out of your comfort zone’ with the wine choices last night? If so, what better way than a refreshing swim in the Walpole Tidal Pool and a visit to the Haeckels Beach Sauna. A quick trip to Haeckels for a shopping experience that feels more like a museum visit wouldn't go amiss either. Before you leave Margate you could pick up a coffee and stroll around the Old Town for some great antique furniture and vintage clothes shopping.' The curated resale shop Positive Retail (in Margate, tkt, aktk) is not to be missed!

A short drive or a long and beautiful walk down the coast is the perfect way to start your Sunday morning. For the full Kent seaside experience, expect some minor downpours. Come rain or shine, you'll be in the mood for a coffee by the time you reach the impeccable Staple Stores in Broadstairs. The queues outside are justified, and you'll think so too once you've tried one of their vast buns, pastries or croissants. Eryk recommends stopping by at Albie & Pearl too, for all your vintage homeware and antique needs.

Calmer and less ‘sceney’ than Margate, Ramsgate is picturesque, with a lovely seafront strip. Stop into Potters if you want to guarantee you won't leave empty-handed, the small high street shop is full of great picks from ceramics to rugs, lights to art and candles.

Just the right side of stereotypically ‘cool’ Seabird is a guaranteed good time, with consistently excellent food and even better cocktails and wine selection. They also host great music events.

Back to Margate House for a nightcap.

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Sunday

(Reluctantly) check out of your hotel and start the day with breakfast at Forts Café in Broadstairs (specifically the French toast).

Now it's time to head down the coast, which can be done on foot, by car or a combination of both. Bottany Bay is a great place to begin a walk, known for its chalk cliffs and rock pools. From there you can join up to the the famous Saxon Shore Walk (from Sandwich) which has gorgeous views down the coast. We're heading for Deal, which would take around five hours by foot, but only 40 minutes by car or an hour by train.

Whether you've trudged 25km up the Kent coast with a backpack of vintage homeware, or you've chosen the ‘passenger princess’ method and taken the car, it's safe to assume you're ready for lunch. The Rose is a much-loved bar and restaurant with a terrace and courtyard for sunnier afternoons. They also have rooms for those wanting to stay a while longer in Deal, which has great interiors shops like Dunlin + Diver.

Updown Farmhouse, run by Ruth and Oli, is welcoming, homely and exquisitely stylish, with mismatching furniture and art by Studio Lenca. You'll eat in their vast greenhouse space, full of plants and the noise of a bustling kitchen. It's the perfect way to end a busy weekend on the Kent coast, but you might need more than one night to enjoy all the delights of the hotel, including the cosy honesty bar fit with games and books.