Are you struggling to decide where to go on holiday next year? Forget the French Riviera or the Caribbean, Margate is apparently the place to go in 2013. (Featured image by Ben Sutherland)
The seaside town on the Kent coast has been named as one of the must-visit destinations of 2013 by the Rough Guide Travel Hot List for 2013.
Margate was once a hugely popular holiday destination Brits in previous decades. However, the region suffered as advances in air travel opened up the opportunities for consumers to head abroad for their annual break.
However, an influx of trendy cafes and bars, vintage shops and contemporary art spaces are giving the seaside town a new lease of life.
The opening of the £17.5 million Turner Contemporary art gallery last year is at the heart of Margate’s regeneration, and is already attracting more visitors to the town.
“From the Turner Contemporary gallery to the proliferation of other indie art spaces, vintage shops and cute cafes in the Old Town, Margate now offers much more than its golden sands and dilapidated seaside charm,” a Rough Guide spokesman said.
“The gem on the Isle of Thanet constitutes one of the highlights of the forthcoming Rough Guide to Kent, Sussex and Surrey for many good reasons.”
Margate sits seventh in the Rough Guide’s list of must-see destinations for 2013, and is the only UK destination featured.
“It is brilliant to see Margate highlighted by Rough Guide as a key international destination,” said Richard Morsley, deputy director at Turner Contemporary.
“Visitors come for our exhibitions but also to experience the town, the beach, the boutique shops, cafes, Margate’s amazing history and of course our Turner sunsets.”
Other destinations on the Rough Guide list are a little less surprising, with places in Croatia, Chile and Spain all making the cut.
Topping the must-see list for 2013 was North Cyprus, followed by Stockholm, in Sweden, and the Croatian city of Dubrovnik.
