Margate

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Margate is a place where memories are as golden as the sand and the magical pleasures of childhood can be recaptured and relived time and time again. This is the place for buckets and spades, donkey rides, kiss-me-quick hats, candy floss and sandcastles.

It was the first resort to have donkey rides in 1790 and the first to introduce deck chairs in 1898. Since then generations of visitors have fallen under its spell.

Traditional seaside delights stroll arm-in-arm with a vibrant nightlife, great sporting opportunities and peaceful coastal retreats. Its spectacular sunsets inspired painter JMW Turner and his links with the town are being celebrated in a state-of-the-art visual arts centre due to open in 2007. More details about how Margate’s Old Town is being transformed are revealed at the Turner Visitor Centre on the seafront.

During the day miles of golden sands and a colourful seafront parade of arcades, restaurants and cafes beckon visitors. And when the sun finally goes down over the sea and the sands are empty, Margate steps up the beat. There are shows to see, places to dance the night away, casinos, theatres, cinemas, bowling alleys and pubs that throb with live music.

A truly magical place.