Margate

Where retro kitsch meets modern art, Margate is the cool older sibling of the Kent coast.

Famous for its sandy beaches, the Turner Contemporary, and the vintage wonderland of the Old Town, Margate has reinvented itself as a dog-friendly cultural hub. From gallery hopping (dogs in the foyer!) to sunset beach walks, it's a sensory overload in the best possible way. Margate's transformation over the last decade — from forgotten seaside town to the art world's favourite coastal escape — has coincided with a wave of independent businesses that are pointedly dog-welcoming. The Old Town in particular, with its cobbled lanes, vintage shops, and artisan food traders, is the kind of neighbourhood where dogs are expected and welcomed rather than tolerated. Walpole Bay at the eastern end of the town offers a huge tidal pool — four acres of seawater — that is year-round dog friendly, making it Thanet's best all-season option. Margate Main Sands has seasonal restrictions between May and September, but the beach at Walpole Bay and the stretch beyond the Lido remains open year-round. For food and drink, the town has a cluster of genuinely dog-friendly options: the rooftop terrace at Xylo microbrewery has views across the bay, and the Harbour Arm's container-unit food traders almost universally have water bowls out. The Turner Contemporary doesn't allow dogs inside the gallery but the forecourt and seafront ramp outside are a popular meeting point for dog owners on weekend mornings.