Fort Promenade, Margate, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Fort Promenade is a cliff-top walk above Margate Harbour in Margate, Kent, with wide views over the sea. It grew into a Victorian promenade and is tied to the story of Margate as a lively, slightly scandalous seaside resort.

The story behind it

The promenade takes its name from the fort that once stood on the cliffs overlooking Margate Harbour. In the Victorian period the spot was turned into a place for a stroll, where visitors could take the sea breeze and enjoy the view.

The height also gave a clear outlook over the shore below, and that is where the gossip comes in. Margate built a reputation in the nineteenth century for bold behaviour among its bathers. Mixed bathing, then thought of as improper, still caused a stir, and the press of the day grumbled about indecency on the beaches every season. Some male bathers apparently saw no need for a costume at all. Whether many promenaders really used the cliff to peer down at the sands is a matter of local tale rather than record, but it is easy to see why the story stuck.

What to look for

• Look out over the sea from the cliff edge and notice how much of the shore and water you can take in from this height.
• Look down towards Margate Harbour and picture the working waterfront that sat below the Victorian strollers.
• Look at the cliff-top setting itself, and think about why a fort was placed here and why the same spot later suited a promenade.
• Look down at the sands and bathing area below, and imagine the crowds of Victorian bathers whose habits made Margate famous.

Tips for your visit

• It is an open outdoor walkway, so you can stop for a few minutes or linger for a while, depending on the weather and the light.
• Choose a clear day or a late afternoon for the best sea views and a pleasant breeze.
• Combine it with the harbour and the Old Town below, which are close by and easy to explore on foot.
• Wear sturdy shoes and bring a windproof layer, as cliff tops can be breezy even in summer.

See it on a quest

You can reach Fort Promenade on foot as one stop on Historic Margate - Beach Boys and Bathing Belles: a Seaside Trail through Victorian Margate. The quest follows the Victorian seaside theme, so the promenade is seen as part of a longer route through the area rather than on its own. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.