Van life guide: England
Van Life in Margate: Best Spots, Meetups & Where to Park
Find other van lifers, plan walks and brews, or meet someone special in Margate. Margate is a revived Kent seaside town of art, sandy beaches and a distinctive old town.
The van life scene in Margate
The Turner Contemporary gallery faces the sea beside a sweeping bay, with the Old Town’s lanes behind. The Viking Coastal Trail and the white-cliffed bays of Thanet run along the coast.
If you are based in Margate, it is simple to make friends when you plan a walk with fellow van lifers. Margate is part of our wider Kent guide.
Meeting people in Margate
Pick a coffee somewhere public and busy, tell a friend where you are going, and keep your exact pitch to yourself until you trust someone. With VanDates you choose what you are open to, whether that is friendship, convoys or romance, and you only ever show an approximate area.
Margate at a glance
- Where: Kent, England
- Best time to go: May to September
- Local flavour: fresh seafood, fish and chips and local sparkling wine
- Approximate location only: never your exact pitch
Best spots in Margate
Favourite stops in Margate include Turner Contemporary, Margate Main Sands, the Old Town, the Shell Grotto, Dreamland and Walpole Bay Tidal Pool.
Meetup ideas: a morning at Turner Contemporary, a swim at Walpole Bay, a visit to the Shell Grotto, a stroll round the Old Town.
Parking up and staying legal in Margate
Margate’s seafront car parks are busy in summer and have height barriers. Use a campsite nearby and check overnight rules.
In England, wild camping is generally not allowed without the landowner’s permission, and overnight stays on roadsides, in car parks and at beauty spots are often restricted by signs, byelaws or council orders. Dartmoor has its own arrangements, so check the national park’s current guidance. Use campsites, Certificated Locations, farm stopovers or pubs that welcome vans, and follow the Countryside Code.
Read the Countryside Code. Please take your litter home, be considerate to residents, and see our Community Guidelines and Safety Tips.
Ready to meet van lifers in Margate?
Join The Crew. Discover who is parked or travelling near you, join upcoming community meetups, or find someone special who truly gets life on the road. Membership is £1.99 a week and you can cancel any time.