Best hotels in Margate 2023

It’s been a big year for Margate. Things kicked off glamorously in January with the release of Sam Mendes’s 1980s-themed flick Empire of Light. Filmed largely around the old town and seafront, it’s put Margate on a much bigger map.

Speaking of, a new downloadable map will allow visitors to navigate set locations in the Kent seaside town, starting with revamped Dreamland, Margate’s free-to-enter theme park. Big-name acts draw in the crowds for outdoor gigs throughout the warmer months.

Meanwhile, Frieze Art Fair founder Matthew Slotover described Margate as the third-most important art destination in England, with artists moving here from Brooklyn, New York, to be part of the scene. Duly, new galleries are popping up – particularly in Cliftonville – all the time.

Of course, the sea remains a major draw, with a string of beautiful sandy beaches and tidal pools to enjoy – not to mention those famous Turneresque sunsets. To meet the ever-increasing demand, a handful of new restaurants and hotels have appeared, ready in time for summer.

Here are our favourite places to stay (incuding some golden oldies).

Neighbourhood: Cliftonville

Margate’s rock ’n’ roll hotel. You wouldn’t expect anything less from indie rockers The Libertines, would you? Pete Doherty and his gang opened The Albion Rooms with the best intentions: to create an affordable boutique hotel that nurtures and celebrates music. And they’re sticking to their word. There’s a recording studio at the back and the subterranean bar – a paean to crusty Camden chic – regularly hosts decent bands, poets and other performers on its small-step stage. The individually designed rooms are full of decadent, gothic drama; as is the restaurant, whose kitchen is serious about quality food, made from Kentish ingredients.