The Margate Adventure - Day 3

Having enjoyed another stunning breakfast at The Warwick Guest House (read about it here) we left for our final look around Margate.

Just around the corner we came across a classic car show, my Dad once owned a Morris Oxford.

Cars looked so much better back then.

I loved this Zodiac.

This confused us when we first saw it!

Alex Chinneck's £100,000 public art project called "From the knees of my nose to the belly of my toes"

No visit to Margate is complete without a visit to the Shell Grotto.

The story goes that in 1835 Mr James Newlove lowered his young son Joshua into a hole in the ground that had appeared during the digging of a duck pond. Joshua emerged describing tunnels covered with shells. He had discovered the Shell Grotto, its walls decorated with strange symbols mosaiced in millions of shells.

 

Is it an ancient pagan temple? A meeting place for some secret cult? Nobody can explain who built this amazing place, or why, but since its accidental discovery visitors from all over the world have been intrigued by the beautiful mosaic and the unsolved mystery.

Before leaving we wanted to visit the Turner Contemporary 

The Grayson Perry exhibition "Provincial Punk" was really good and entry was free!

My last view of Dreamland from the train. It was sad to be leaving but I knew we would be back again soon, I just have to ride the Scenic Railway once it's finally open! 

On the train back to London we ate some smoked pistachios we'd picked up from a food market. Really nice and available from Margate Smokehouse.

Back in London...

We headed straight to Brick Lane in search of some street food, with so many stalls we were spoilt for choice.

We finally settled for Japanese, a mix of noodles, rice, and chicken topped with gyoza.

Although I'd just eaten I couldn't resist looking at the window here, it smelt so good!

I 've been meaning to try a salt beef bagel from here for so long now...

You only live once! Succulent hot salt beef with mustard and gherkins in a bagel, you just have to try one of these if you're on Brick Lane, so delicious.

We searched high and low for somewhere to sit outside with a cocktail. In the end we admitted defeat and settled for an iced coffee at Costa.

Time to leave London and head home to Norwich.

The train home had refurbished first class carriages with plug sockets, the wifi wasn't working though but still a very comfy ride home.

They were fairly generous with the complimentary snacks too. A great end to an amazing weekend, thanks so much to my lovely wife for this amazing birthday present, loved it! x