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The Shell Grotto

The Shell Grotto

The Shell Grotto
4.5
Caverns & CavesMysterious Sites
Thursday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Shell Grotto is one of the world’s most mysterious places: a series of underground rooms and passageways covered by 2000sqft of exquisite mosaic created with 4.6 million shells. Discovered in 1835, nobody knows who created it, when, or why. Visitor Information: Please allow approx. 20 minutes to visit the Grotto. Personal photography is allowed. Commercial photography is strictly prohibited. With the exception of registered assistance dogs, dogs are not allowed in the Grotto, but are welcome in the shop. We restrict numbers in the Grotto, both to protect the mosaic and ensure you have the best visit. At very busy times you might be asked to wait before entering; this is usually for a maximum of 15 minutes. Groups of more than 16 require pre-booking. Please email info@shellgrotto.co.uk.
Duration: < 1 hour
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  • Dan
    Basingstoke, United Kingdom7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating & mysterious attraction!
    Truly unique & intriguing attraction! The grotto is smaller than you might expect but the vast majority of people will still be utterly mesmerised by the mystery surrounding its origins & workmanship, you can easily spend a fascinating hour in both the museum room & the grotto itself & it is certainly worth the money. Staff were welcoming & lovely as-well :) Parking could be an issue as the grotto is located in a residential area (not much anyone can do about that) however we visited on a weekday & were able to park for free almost right outside. Perhaps take a taxi/bus on a weekend, i believe it would be worth the trip :)
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 November 2023
  • kentcritique
    Faversham, United Kingdom939 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    An enjoyable visit quite a clever piece of work
    having read the reviews thought we should go, its quite fascinating. Down some steps into a tunnel made of natural stone and then in the Grotto which is an incredible piece of work. Fortunately it wasn’t too busy when we went, the passages are narrow and theres not a lot of room. You need some space for a photo opportunity. As many have mentioned an excellent gift shop with plenty of choice.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 November 2023
  • Caroline B
    Walton-On-Thames, United Kingdom24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must visit in Margate
    Very unusual place. Well informed information still leaving questions about origin. Does not take long and could feel a bit claustrophobic so try to go when not crowded. Very good shop selling - shells of all shape size and colour
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 January 2024
  • Nomad5522
    Clacton-on-Sea, United Kingdom2,719 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unbelievable
    I’ve been wanting to visit the Shell Grotto for a long time and was not disappointed when I finally got here. As a shell collector it is amazing to think how long it must have took to make this grotto and the reasons behind it. All but 2 shells are from the British Isles . I loved all the information about this place and really need to come here more often to absorb all of this fascinating grotto. There is a gift shop, toilet and knowledgable staff to answer your questions. You can become a member which is so important to keep this place open in my opinion. Check opening times to avoid disappointment. Thank you , this was amazing.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 February 2024
  • John S
    21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Quirky and good value.
    Quirky attraction with rarity value, so worth seeing just for that reason. Reasonably priced. We visited in April at a time when there were no other visitors therefore we could take our time looking at all the different panels of shell illustrations. If the attraction was busy then it would be an entirely different matter.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 April 2024
  • Patrick K
    150 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best thing we did in Margate
    We spent a long weekend in Margate and this turned out to be the highlight. Very interesting underground rooms, well signed with informative panels. I find it amazing that they still do not know exactly who build this place and why.. but some nice speculation on the info panels.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 23 May 2024
  • AudreyL73
    31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit
    This is such a quirky place! We were lucky that we were alone in the grotto for almost all of our visit. It gave us time to look more closely and appreciate the effort that has gone into creating such intricate designs. I found it fascinating and I am glad that we went. I have never seen anything else like it.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 June 2024
  • teebeeNo1
    32 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating
    It's fascinating, given nothing is known about who created it, when or why. And so much work must have gone into it, it's incredible. But visually the shells are less beautiful then I expected. I thought they would be more colourful. Consequently we only took around 5 minutes to look around. But it doesn't take away from the fascination of the place, and the giftshop is lovely. Definitely good value too.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 18 July 2024
  • Zapryan D
    London, United Kingdom984 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A quirky gem!
    I visited the Shell grotto in Margate with my girlfriend last weekend and I was pleasantly surprised by this site. One of the most mysterious sites that we've ever visited, the grotto consists of multiple subterranean passages whose walls are covered in numerous kinds of shells. The shell was discovered in the mid-19th century, but no one knows exactly when it was created. Some believe that it was created as a folly for an aristocrat's mansion, others think it could be Roman in origin, yet others stipulate that it was built by the Phoenicians. Regardless, the grotto is a fascinating site and the shells in it form multiple interesting figures, including a well-known Indian god. Set aside at least 30-40 minutes to explore this heritage site and the excellent shop as it's fairly busy and you may have to wait 5-10 minutes to enter. Don't forget to collect the information sheet at the entrance as you may struggle to identify the most interesting shell figures without it. An added bonus is that the ticket price is actually reasonable.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 July 2024
  • Lindsey
    London, United Kingdom6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful place. Amazing understanding staff. Highly recommended
    Really lovely hidden gem! The place was so cool! There were people in our party with additional needs including sensory sensitivities- the website has amazing visuals to help understand what to expect when arriving at the grotto outside all the way to the grotto itself. There is also a sensory map which points out the parts of the setting that those with sensory differences may find difficult. This helped so so much. The accessibility statement on the website too goes into great detail about how accessible each part of the setting is and how they can help if you need it, absolutely fantastic. The staff In the reception area were incredibly helpful and we explained that one of our girls may not want to go in at all and they said we could do a swap of parents if need be or if it is too much for her and we'd prefer a refund to come to them and they'll sort it ASAP. The lady also disclosed that she is autistic too which made my daughter feel more relaxed and understood immediately. Really big thank you to all, you all made it an enjoyable and relaxing experience. We all got to see all of the grotto which we thought was beautiful and definitely reccomend to all.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 August 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,353 reviews
Excellent
763
Very good
444
Average
113
Poor
19
Terrible
14

archbishopjonathanblake
London, UK95 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
Captivating, mysterious and a wonderful visit. One can sense the mesmerizing thrill that must have overwhelmed the children when they first discovered this Aladdin's cave, that is every child's dream and every adult's astonishment. A secret cathedral under the ground, even with its own cupola, where secret and possibly illicit activity happened so successfully, for so long, that no one knew. In our information saturated world, it remains an intriguing mystery, that will forever tantalize. The gift shop was also an attraction in itself. Clean, stocked with an attractive range of items, from small shells to attractive crafts and all reasonably priced. Pleasant, helpful staff. One can stay a while or just briefly, but either way, its enchantment is a joy.
Written 25 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

romalind
Norwich, UK14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
Why am I reluctant? Because this is the only work of visual art I have ever seen that leaves me utterly spellbound and deeply moved. It is best appreciated with quiet contemplation, and that means no crowds. This is definitely not a place for children, who should be charged double price, not half. You need to be an adult to appreciate the stunning artistry and creativity of this most beautiful place. So find out when the grotto is likely to be at its quietest and visit then.
Written 24 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Conrad N
Whitstable, UK1,100 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
Literally millions of shells lining the walls of this grotto make for a unique attraction. Although the colour has been lost under the Victorian soot, the craftsmanship is still apparent. Good for an hour or so with a small cafe to relax afterwards. A definite gem of Margate.
Written 13 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dan
Basingstoke, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
Truly unique & intriguing attraction! The grotto is smaller than you might expect but the vast majority of people will still be utterly mesmerised by the mystery surrounding its origins & workmanship, you can easily spend a fascinating hour in both the museum room & the grotto itself & it is certainly worth the money. Staff were welcoming & lovely as-well :)
Parking could be an issue as the grotto is located in a residential area (not much anyone can do about that) however we visited on a weekday & were able to park for free almost right outside.
Perhaps take a taxi/bus on a weekend, i believe it would be worth the trip :)
Written 11 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cacher_Geoff
Beverley, UK83 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
I last visited the grotto over45 years ago as a teenager. We are in the area and were walking past the end of the road and I thought my wife would love this place. So an unplanned visit it was. The grotto is larger than I remember, the patterns created using just shells are amazing. If you are in the area this is a rather unique place for a must do visit.
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike74
Ely, UK5 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Amazing, if small, hidden gem in Kent. The grotto is extremely atmospheric, and the mystery of it's creators adds to the experience.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be too much knowledge of how the grotto was created, so the staff are unable to shed too much light.

Could really do with some financial help to promote this little wonder though. Hopefully more people will visit.
Written 23 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emms W
Isle of Sheppey, UK123 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Family
A lovely little discovery, very interesting, very clever, very busy. Staff did have controls in place to limit entry which was very reassuring. The information about the site was clear and laid out in a brief but information packed exhibition, easy to read and engaging. The grotto itself is very beautiful, be prepared to use your torch as it isn’t well lit, but that could be because constant light may damage the shells. No access for customers who have walking issues, this is a historical site with narrow walkways and stairs to enter and exit. It’s the grotto and a shop, limited street parking, but well worth a visit if you are able.
Written 15 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

peyles
UK224 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023
A truly amazing place which kept the kids quiet for an hour or so.

I have been here since I was a child nearly 40 years ago but it hasn't changed a bit. Still completely fascinating and it is great how it has been preserved for all that time.

The gift shop is also great along with very friendly staff.

We booked the first slot of the day and although there was a few people coming and going, it didn't seem packed or too crowded.

I am really glad to see this place is still going and actively looking at restoring sections of the grotto.
Written 25 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cressida
Chatham, UK169 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
A reasonable entrance fee (£4.50 at the time of this review) to visit an unusual place. There is a small room which provides some background and the actual 'grotto', although interesting, is quite small, so allow around 15-30 minutes for a visit. There is also a gift shop.
Written 10 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Charles B
Northampton, UK271 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Not to be confused with Margate caves which we also visited this is entirely different. The amount of time, effort, and shells it to to make this must have been huge.
There is a small reproduction panel at the entrance which showed the different coloured shells before years of gas lighting discoloured the shells in the grotto.
Although fragile it would be nice if they were to gently clean and restore some of the main panels in the grotto to their former glory.
Written 8 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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THE SHELL GROTTO (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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