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"Bird-watching colonels on the old sea wall"

St Margaret`s Bay

Kent, England


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St Margaret's Bay is a small, picturesque bay located near Dover on the Kent coast, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and interesting attractions. .

St Margaret's Bay is a small bay with a shingle beach backed by steep white chalk cliffs. The bay is situated at the eastern foothills of the North Downs, near Dover. The beach is approximately 500 metres wide, framed by rocky ledges on either side, and is predominantly shingle with sand exposed at low water.

The sheltered, shingle beach at St Margaret's Bay has a spectacular backdrop of white chalk cliffs. The beach is divided up by a series of wooden groynes and has good rock pools revealed at low tide, perfect for young explorers looking for interesting sea-life. From the beach, there are spectacular views across the Channel and towards the White Cliffs of Dover. On sunny days, it might even be possible to get a glimpse of the French Coast, which is only 18 miles away. The beach is often used as the starting point for attempts to swim across the Channel.

Driving down to the beach car park is not for the fainthearted; a steep, narrow road with some blind corners leads down to the pay-and-display car park. There is a pub at the foot of the hill, perfect for a lunch or light refreshments. The beach is only reached by car, and there is parking on the sea front. Along the promenade is a house once owned by Noel Coward, which he sold to James Bond creator Ian Fleming in 1951.

Dogs are not allowed on the beach from May to the end of September, and at other times of year, they need to be kept on leads, as sheep graze in the area.

Attractions not far from the beach include The Pines Gardens, a 6-acre site with ponds, a cascade, and an organic kitchen garden, and St Margaret's Museum, which has displays on local history and wildlife.

St Margaret`s Bay is on the South Foreland Heritage Coast, and adjacent to the Kent Coastline Walk.

Shingle

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 89%
Max temperature 17°C
feels like 18°C
Wind 27mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 44%
Min temperature 11°C
feels like 12°C
Wind 19mph

The tide at St Margaret`s Bay is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 2:19 PM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 9:27 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near St Margaret`s Bay

Things to do and see in the area

South Foreland Lighthouse (1 miles)
White Cliffs of Dover (2.4 miles)
Fan Bay Deep Shelter (2.6 miles)
Dover Castle (3.2 miles)
The Freed Man (3.4 miles)
Walmer Castle and Gardens (3.5 miles)
Horizon Private Hire (3.5 miles)
The Lanes Micropub (3.7 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: St Margaret's at Cliffe

Location type: Rural

OS Grid: TR369445

Coordinates: 51°9'3"N 1°23'10"E

Mapcode: GBR X2P.P8R

What 3 Words: treble.often.peroxide

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: Dover

Parish: St. Margaret's at Cliffe

Nearest postcode: CT15 6DX

(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 St Margaret`s 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 12:17:06 +0100