Family Friendly Kent: We visited the Shell Grotto in Margate

Margate has been described as one of the most vibrant and exciting seaside resorts in the country.

It has seen a huge revival in recent years with the arrival of the Tate Contemporary art gallery, along with trendy bars, cafes and restaurants, vintage shops and a thriving LGBTQ+ community.

But what does Margate have to offer for families with young children? We set off on a sunny Sunday to find out.

However, rather than head to the dizzying heights of the rides at Dreamland or the flashing lights of the arcades, we decided to go somewhere a bit different.

Tucked away on a back street is a truly hidden gem. So hidden, in fact, it is underground.

The Shell Grotto is one of Kent’s unsolved mysteries.

Its discovery by chance in 1835 came as a complete surprise to the people of Margate and a debate has raged ever since about its origins. Some say it was a place of worship or a setting for secret meetings, while others think it may have just been an extravagant folly.

We parked nearby and climbed the hill to the grotto entrance, where we met with a tall lady made of shells. After Millie stopped for a cuddle we headed inside.

Before descending the steps, you can stop to find out more about the grotto in a display above ground - but my two were eager to make their way down, so we didn’t linger long.

The grotto is a small series of winding underground tunnels, with every inch of the walls covered in 4.6 million shells.

The atmosphere captured Millie’s imagination and she was excitedly making her way through the tunnels.

You are given a guide to the shell pictures and what the patterns are thought to represent. The kids enjoyed coming up with some of their own ideas (some of which are not printable!) and we spent a while exploring.

The tunnels lead to a small room also covered in shells where there is thought to be an alter.

Here is also a blank wall that was damaged during the war. It is in the middle of a makeover, with an artist set to recreate the pattern of the shells in a mural.

We paused to take some photos and then headed back through the tunnels to the exit, spotting more patterns along the way.

The attraction doesn’t take long to visit and it did only cost £10 for a family ticket. The website advises half an hour for a visit and I think we spent around that underground.

After ascending the steps, we couldn’t resist stopping to look in the shop which is a treasure trove of things from the sea.

After our visit we headed for the seafront. This was only a short walk but it was not the most pleasant or child-friendly. The sights included dumped rubbish, dog mess and an abandoned pram.

We emerged at the seafront by the old lido, now covered in graffiti and littered with smashed glass. We swiftly hurried past the empty buildings and made our way to the more welcoming end of town where the Turner Contemporary and popular Harbour Arm are located.

The kids enjoyed the huge inflatable slide and the rides dotted along the sand. We paid £2.50 each for them to have five turns on the slide and £4 for a session on the trampoline. Even out of season, Margate was packed with visitors but we didn’t have to queue for anything.

By this time, the kids were hungry so we stopped at Sands Cafe, opposite Marine Gardens, to grab lunch for them. We sat on the benches by the kiosk overlooking the beach. It was a great sunny spot to watch the world go by. Two portions of sausage and chips and drinks cost £16.50.

We then spent some time on the beach. It wasn’t quite warm enough for sunbathing or swimming but the kids had a great time just playing in the sand and Millie rolled up her leggings to go for a paddle.

No trip to the seaside is complete without an ice-cream so there was one more stop to make before we headed home.

All in all I think we had a great day. The Shell Grotto is a hidden gem that's well worth uncovering - but did the kids agree? Find out below.

Food and drink: Loads to choose from if you take a wander to the seafront or old town, from traditional fish and chips to trendy cafes *****

Toilets: There is a toilet for visitors to use at the grotto

Parking: There is no on-street parking directly outside the grotto but most of the roads nearby do not have any parking restrictions so you can park easily. We parked at the bottom of Grotto Hill on Dane Road and had no trouble finding a space. The nearest pay and display car park is at Trinity Square, CT9 1QY.

Cost: A family ticket for two adults and two children is £10. An adult ticket is £4.50 and a child’s ticket is £2. Under fours go free.

Kids’ verdict: Millie said: “Margate was great, I really loved our day out. I liked the grotto because we were guessing what was on the walls and in the pictures.” Max was less impressed with the grotto and described it as “just a bunch of shells” but he did like Margate overall. His favourite but was being buried in the sand *****

Location: The Shell Grotto is in Grotto Hill, CT9 2BU.

Information: The grotto is open every Wednesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays
10am to 5pm.