A timeless English seaside town that combines old-world charm with the 21st century has been cited as one of the coolest and most desirable places to live. Margate offers tourists and locals alike the opportunity to bask in the sunshine and take a stroll through its array of independent shops.

Renowned for its sandy beaches and historical attractions, this magical corner of the East Coast was voted the most desirable place to move to in the UK in 2025 by My Baggage, - and is constantly cropping up on lists of the "coolest" seaside towns in the British Isles. Margate has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance as it was previously ranked as the fourth worst beach resort in the UK by Which?.

However, Margate’s charismatic Old Town has seen vintage boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and bookshops opening up in recent years.

Meanwhile, joggers and dog walkers love to head past the Walpole Bay tidal pool and the outdoor sauna installed by the natural skincare brand Haeckels. 

This is something Kate McKenzie, a foodie and owner of The Store Collective, has fallen in love with.

Tired of the hustle and bustle of London, Kate told the Express how she decided to uproot her life and move to Margate two years after falling in love with the seaside town in 2019.

Despite knowing very little about the area, Kate knew deep in her heart that this Kent seaside town was calling her name, and she hasn't looked back since.

The first three words she says to me are “I love it."

She continued: “I live right on the beach, and when the sun is shining, it is just so beautiful. It is a lovely place to live, life is much slower and calmer. I feel incredibly lucky.

“I've made some brilliant friends, there's so many women here who are inspiring and supportive. I’ve embraced life here, and it was one of my best decisions.

“The food scene may be smaller than London, but there are so many incredible brunch places, coffee spots and restaurants.

“I’ve grown to love winter more than summer. The art scene is also fabulous, and Margate Pride is one of the best in the country.”

Just last year, Kate decided to move her shop from West London to the old town, which she says is full of beautiful little independents.

“Business is doing well, we have a different clientele here and are open seven days a week. The old town is full of loads of independent shops.

"Its full of loads of independent shops, particularly in the old town.

“I often pop up to Pomus, a wine bar and restaurant, on a Saturday. It’s just so friendly and welcoming here.

“There are saunas on the beach and tidal pools you can swim all year round in, and it's extremely dog friendly, which is great for my pup Frank.

“We are also on the high-speed link and have trains into Stratford, Kings Cross and Victoria.”

With the town being just under an hour and a half away from London, Margate’s charm appears to be spreading, with average prices more than doubling in the past decade. 

It has even been named as the house price hotspot of the decade, with average asking prices jumping by 102% since 2012, according to Rightmove.

Kate said: ”It is cheaper than London, but it has increased massively.”

This is something Ben Lika, a trained chef, agrees with. The owner of Gloria’s Lounge & Cafe told the Express that house prices now “are not that much cheaper than London".

He said: “When myself and my wife moved here from London in 2014 we were looking for a nice three bedroom semi-detached house for between £95k to 160k.

“Now there is nothing decent for under £350k and if you want a nice semi-detached three bed you’re looking between £600k-£800k.

Ben, who earned himself a great reputation through working in high end restaurants in London for almost two decades believes Margate is “the exact opposite” to the capital.

He said: “It is the exact opposite to London, it’s cool and the people are very friendly. I have more time for people and people have more time for me.

“Everything here is walkable, nothing is more than 15 minutes away. 

“We have established our business here and I know all my customers by name. Whereas in London you wouldn’t see the same faces from day to day.

“I lived in London previously, when my wife and I wanted to raise a family we moved here and it's become our home.

“We also get loads of tourists from London seeking a weekend by the seaside.

“We are starting to attract some big names also as last year Brian Adams performed here and this year Tom Jones is”

After an 11 year campaign Dreamland in Margate reopened its doors to the public in 2015, originally opening in 1920 it was the oldest surviving amusement park in Britain.  It originally closed in 2005 due to financial issues and declining visitor numbers.