This is probably the most pleasant and scenic area of the town of Margate, and it’s s worth a wonder for an hour or so. The Old Town area isn’t huge. It’s set back from Margate harbour and the beach (Margate Main Sands), in an area roughly defined by The Parade, King Street, Hawley Street and New Street. It centres on Old Town Square and Market Street. It makes a pleasant diversion from the beachfront, and with its cobbled streets and laneways. It’s an atmospheric and genteel quarter that oozes some charm and history. Much of the current streetscape dates from Victorian times, with smatterings of buildings from earlier periods. It’s lovely to wander, great for some interesting photography, and ideal for some quirky purchases (if the shops are open).
The area thrives on its collection of independent shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants. It verges on the ‘hip’ side, drawing both tourists and art lovers with its independent speciality shops, contemporary art galleries, a smattering of vintage, antique and bric-a-brac stores, and quirky souvenir and gift shops. Add in some cool cafes, traditional fish and chip shops, and a couple of pubs and you have a fairly lively area when the summer season sets in. Even on our visit, when the beach was empty, the Old Town area was almost alive with tourists and browsers. Unfortunately not all the shops were open. There’s certainly a growing number of independent art galleries and studios, where you can browse the works of local and regional artists in paint, photography, print and textiles, and perhaps find that perfect souvenir or gift as a reminder of your trip to this seaside town.
On Old Town Square you’ll find Margate Museum. It focuses on the town’s past, and is housed in a 17th century Grade II listed building. It is a unique example of a Victorian Police Station and Magistrates Court, and displays an eclectic history of the seaside town of Margate over the past 5,500 years. It takes you on a journey of the town’s history from sea-bathing machines, paddle steamers, shipwrecks and role in the World Wars. It also features Victorian prison cells. Nearby you’ll find the curious and almost bizarre Crab Museum, and a little further along King Street just after you cross Hawley Street you’ll se the beautiful black and white half-timbered Tudor House. It was built around 1525 and thought to be the oldest of its kind in Kent. It’s open at set times for self-guided tours.
It’s not a huge area to discover by any means, and it won’t take you hours to explore, but it is a pleasant part of Margate to wander, and (as an urban photographer) I enjoyed its historic and quirky sights. And after (or during) your wanderings there’s some nice opportunities to enjoy freshly brewed coffee and tempting treats at a number of cosy cosy cafes, or have a leisurely lunch at a quality cafe or pub. We had a great lunch at the Greedy Cow right on the Old Town Square; I have reviewed it separately.