What's the best time to visit Margate for a group celebration?

May–September for beach and outdoor dining; year-round for art and creative scene. We recommend booking 3-6 months in advance for peak periods like summer weekends and bank holidays. Midweek and off-season stays often offer better availability and more competitive rates for group accommodation in Margate.

How do I get to Margate from London with a large group?

1 hour 20 minutes from London St Pancras on the high-speed Javelin service — surprisingly quick. For large groups of 10+, we recommend hiring a minibus or arranging a shared coach transfer for convenience and cost savings. Most of our Margate properties include free on-site parking for guests arriving by car.

What's the nightlife and evening entertainment like in Margate?

The Old Town cocktail bars, Margate Sands clubs, creative pop-up venues. Many of our group houses in Margate also feature their own entertainment facilities including hot tubs, games rooms, and cinema rooms — perfect for evenings spent at the property.

What group activities and experiences are available in Margate?

Turner Contemporary gallery, Dreamland amusement park, Old Town vintage shopping, beach clubs, Broadstairs. We can also arrange add-on experiences delivered directly to your property including cocktail masterclasses, private chef dinners, mobile spa treatments, and life drawing sessions. Contact our team for a tailored activity package for your Margate group trip.

How much does group accommodation in Margate cost per person?

Group accommodation in Margate typically costs £65-£90 per night — excellent value for a genuinely unique UK destination. When split between your group, this often works out at just £15-£40 per person per night — significantly cheaper than hotel rooms while offering far more space, privacy, and premium amenities like hot tubs and games rooms.

How do I book a group property in Margate?

Browse our Margate properties on this page, select a house that suits your group size and requirements, and submit an enquiry with your preferred dates. Our UK-based team responds within 24 hours with availability, pricing, and a personalised quote. You'll book directly with the property owner — no middleman fees or hidden commissions.

Is Margate good for a group celebration?

Margate is an excellent choice for groups who want a creative, memorable group celebration that stands apart from the usual UK hen circuit. The combination of Turner Contemporary gallery visit, Dreamland funfair, Old Town vintage shopping, harbour-side bars, excellent independent restaurants, and beautiful sandy beaches creates a uniquely varied and genuinely cool hen weekend. Our Margate group houses in the Old Town or on the seafront provide the perfect base.

Is Margate easily accessible from London?

Margate is one of the most accessible UK seaside destinations from London. The Southeastern Javelin high-speed service from St Pancras International takes just 1 hour 20 minutes (some services less). Regular slower services from Victoria and Charing Cross take approximately 2 hours. By car, the M2 then A299 takes approximately 1.5 hours from central London. This accessibility makes Margate ideal for one-night or two-night group escapes.

What group accommodation is available in Margate?

Our Margate group accommodation includes Victorian seafront townhouses sleeping 8-16 overlooking Main Sands or the harbour, Georgian properties in the Old Town for 8-12 guests, and larger villas in the Cliftonville area (Margate's most elegant residential suburb) sleeping up to 20 guests. Cliftonville particularly offers excellent properties at very competitive prices compared to other UK seaside towns.

What are the best things to do in Margate for a group?

Group highlights in Margate include: Turner Contemporary gallery (free), Dreamland heritage funfair, Old Town vintage and antique shopping, harbour fish and chips, Botany Bay beach walk, Broadstairs Dickensian Old Town, Whitstable oysters (20 minutes west), Canterbury Cathedral day trip (25 minutes), boat trips from the harbour, and the Harbour Arm outdoor bars and street food in summer.

Large Houses in Margate

Looking for the perfect hen party houses in Margate? Group Escape Houses offers stunning large group accommodation perfect for celebrations. Our large holiday houses feature amazing amenities including hot tubs, swimming pools, and games rooms to make your weekend unforgettable.

Whether you're planning a hen weekend, special celebration, or weekend break, Margate combines the perfect location with our luxury houses. Explore our experiences to add cocktail classes, spa treatments, and more.

Browse by Property Type

Large Group Accommodation Large Holiday Houses Houses with Hot Tubs Houses with Games Rooms Hen Party Houses

Why Margate?

Margate has reinvented itself as one of England's most exciting creative destinations — a quirky mix of traditional seaside charm, world-class contemporary art (Turner Contemporary), vintage shops, street art, and a thriving independent food and nightlife scene. Perfect for groups who want something genuinely different.

Margate stands out as one of the UK's premier destinations for hen party celebrations. Our carefully selected luxury properties provide the perfect base, featuring private hot tubs, games rooms, and spacious living areas designed for group entertainment.

Beyond the accommodation, Margate offers an incredible range of activities to enhance your weekend break. From world-class dining and vibrant nightlife to unique experiences like cocktail masterclasses, spa treatments, and private chef dinners, there's something to suit every group's taste and budget.

Getting There

High-speed Javelin service from London St Pancras (1 hour 20 minutes)

M2 then A299 (approx 1.5 hours from London)

National Express coaches from London Victoria

London Gatwick 1.5 hours; London Heathrow 1.5 hours

Quick Facts

From London

1 hour 20 minutes from London St Pancras on the high-speed Javelin service — surprisingly quick

Best Time to Visit

May–September for beach and outdoor dining; year-round for art and creative scene

Nightlife

The Old Town cocktail bars, Margate Sands clubs, creative pop-up venues

Dining

Harbour Arm restaurants with sea views, Old Town independent eateries, Angela's seafood restaurant

Beach Access

Beautiful sandy Main Sands beach right in the town centre; Botany Bay and Joss Bay minutes away

Accommodation

Victorian seafront townhouses, Georgian properties in the Old Town, creative loft spaces

Price Range

£65-£90 per night — excellent value for a genuinely unique UK destination

Activities

Turner Contemporary gallery, Dreamland amusement park, Old Town vintage shopping, beach clubs, Broadstairs

Ready to book?

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Large Group Accommodation in Margate

Margate is one of England's most exciting creative destinations — a traditional seaside town that has reinvented itself as a hub of contemporary art, independent dining, vintage culture, and coastal cool that attracts a creative, culturally curious crowd from London and beyond. Large group accommodation in Margate offers Victorian seafront townhouses overlooking sandy beaches, access to the world-class Turner Contemporary gallery, Dreamland's retro amusements, and a growing restaurant scene that punches far above the town's modest size.

Why Margate is Different from Other UK Coastal Destinations

Margate's reinvention over the past decade has been remarkable — from a faded seaside resort to one of Britain's most talked-about creative destinations, driven by affordable property prices that attracted artists, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs priced out of London. The result is a town with the bones of a traditional English seaside resort (pier, arcades, fish and chips) combined with the sensibility of Shoreditch: independent art galleries, excellent natural wine bars, vintage clothes shops, and restaurants with genuine culinary ambition.

For groups seeking a UK break that offers genuine surprise and discovery rather than a standard city-break formula, Margate delivers. The Old Town — a warren of Georgian and Victorian streets immediately behind the harbour — contains the highest density of interesting independent businesses of any UK seaside town, making it wonderful for group exploration.

Local Attractions

Turner Contemporary — opened in 2011 on the site of the boarding house where J.M.W. Turner lodged during his many visits to Margate — is one of the finest regional art galleries in England. Its programme of contemporary and modern art exhibitions draws audiences from across the country and provides an anchor for Margate's creative identity. Entry is free. Dreamland — a beautifully restored 1920s amusement park operating as a heritage funfair and events venue — is one of England's most charming group activities, combining vintage rides with bars, events, and live music.

The Old Town contains dozens of vintage and antique shops, independent galleries, and cafés concentrated in streets like King Street and Market Street. Botany Bay — 3 miles north — is one of Kent's finest beaches, with dramatic white chalk stacks rising from clear water. Broadstairs (2 miles south) was Dickens's favourite seaside town and retains an extraordinary Victorian character with a beautiful sandy bay.

Ideal Occasions

Margate is perfect for creative groups, group getaways who want something different and culturally interesting, art-loving groups, birthday weekends for people who prefer galleries to clubs, and London groups seeking a quirky, accessible seaside escape. The high-speed Javelin service from St Pancras makes Margate one of the most accessible and underrated London day-trip and weekend destinations.

Cross-Links

Margate connects naturally with Canterbury (20 minutes south-west) and the wider Kent coast — Ramsgate, Broadstairs, and Deal are all outstanding group day trips. London is just 1 hour 20 minutes on the high-speed train.