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Margate Walpole Bay

Kent, England


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Walpole Bay in Margate is a popular beach destination on the north Kent coast, offering a unique blend of sandy beach, rocky shoreline, and tidal bathing pool. .

Walpole Bay is a long, sandy beach with a gently shelving shoreline and a promenade that runs along its length. The beach is backed by small cliffs and features a tidal pool at its eastern end, which is one of the largest in the UK. The pool was built in the 1930s and remains a popular spot for swimmers, particularly open-water enthusiasts. The beach itself is a mix of sand and rock, with exposed chalk reefs and seaweed-covered rocks visible at low tide, making it a great place for kids to explore rockpools and marine life.

The beach offers a range of activities for watersports enthusiasts, including swimming, paddle-boarding, and exploring the tidal pool. On the promenade, visitors can enjoy crazy golf, a bowling green, and other entertainments. There are also cafes and restaurants in the area, including the Palm Bay Cafe & Games Centre, which is located to the east of the beach. Parking is available along Fifth Avenue and nearby residential roads, and access to the beach is reasonable, with steps and sloped paths leading down from the promenade.

The beach has basic but available facilities, including public toilets and bins for rubbish. The area around the Walpole Bay Hotel offers some local charm, and Margate's main town centre is just a short walk or drive away for those looking for more amenities. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, making it a great destination for dog walkers. The wide promenade and cliff-top lawns above the beach also make it a great area for a longer walk, with scenic views stretching along the coast.

Visitors are advised to check the tide times before visiting the beach, as the tide can come in quickly and leave little sand exposed. When the tide is in, much of the sand disappears under water, but at low tide, a wide beach opens up with plenty of room for a stroll or paddle. However, there are no lifeguards on duty, so anyone using the tidal pool or venturing into the sea does so at their own risk.

Margate Walpole Bay is adjacent to the Kent Coastline Walk and the Viking Coastal Trail.

Sand Rock

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 78%
Max temperature 17°C
feels like 17°C
Wind 25mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 57%
Min temperature 12°C
feels like 13°C
Wind 19mph

The tide at Margate Walpole Bay is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 3:17 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 9:36 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near Margate Walpole Bay

Things to do and see in the area

The Escapement - Margate Escape Rooms (0.4 miles)
CTRL ALT ESC Technology Based Escape Rooms (0.5 miles)
Margate Museum (0.8 miles)
Yard of Ale (2 miles)
St Peter's Village Tour (2.2 miles)
Stone Bay (2.7 miles)
Carlton Cinema (2.8 miles)
Kent Surf School (3 miles)
Viking Bay (3 miles)
Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum (3.6 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Cliftonville, Margate

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: TR366714

Coordinates: 51°23'32"N 1°23'59"E

Mapcode: GBR WZT.LRC

What 3 Words: grin.rested.arts

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

County: Kent

Country: England

Local Authority: Thanet

Nearest postcode: CT9 2LQ

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for Margate Walpole Bay, Kent, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:15:57 +0100