Margate is easily reached on a day out from London. Margate is on the north Kent coast, East of London. Margate seaside, all year, has a sandy beach, a landmark lighthouse, a clock tower, and a shell statue.
- Shell statue, Margate. Photo from Sharot family. Copyright.
Beautiful Bikes
On the Spring bank holiday Monday, of May 26th 2025, Margate offered an additional attraction, Margate Meltdown attracted motorbikes from London. The event is free. And fun.
Margate Meltdown 2025 motorbikes. Photo from Sharot family. Copyright.
This annual event has taken place every year since the 1960s. (During Covid the event was officially cancelled. But some bikers unofficially left London and made their way to Margate. Probably wearing masks, and keeping at a distance from other bikers, to avoid the risk of getting arrested.)
Events - band and rides
A great place for blokes who like bikes. The person in my family who would have enjoyed it most was not there. My husband had other commitments. Just looking at pictures of this year's and previous years' Margate Meltdown brings back memories for me.
Biking Memories
My husband is a keen biker since he was a teenager. He reads Motorbike News. I used to get sent to buy it in London when he was away.
He is an intrepid rider. He has ridden a motorbike back from holiday London to Switzerland (where he was working) in snowy weather.
He used to ride from Singapore to Malaysia in a convoy with a group of friends. Local Malays, pedestrians, and those with smaller, cheaper scooters, would admire his big bike when he parked. A great conversation opener with friendly strangers.
In Malaysia he also took courses in bike riding, coping with corners, balance, speed, slowing, and safety, from Olympic competers and winners. Afterwards, I would listen, wide eyed and open mouthed, in silent, unexpressed horror, when he told me how you tipped over on the bike. When not to put your foot down on the ground because you would fall off, and damage the bike ... !
We would divert to bike supply shops to buy replacement gloves, and whole leather suits with protection for knees and elbows. After his had horrific holes!
Magical Margate
This year, 2025, my family, the other ones, who are not bikers, drove from London and went to enjoy the Margate sandy seaside. They were pleasantly surprised to find themselves amid happy crowds dancing in the open air on the seafront to the sounds of a jolly band. Seasonal attractions included funair type rides for the family.
Our four-year-old loved dancing on the seafront, walking across the sand, trying the rides. I keep replaying the videos, picking out the landmarks in the background of videos and photos, comparing them with captioned photos on Wikipedia and Wiki Commons and Wiki Voyage.
Margate Sands
If you are interested in Margate, the seaside is quieter the rest of the year. You can trot across the sand. Be prepared to get sand in your shoes!
Bike Museums
If you are interested in bikes, there are several museums which we have visited in the UK and the USA. Many car and motor museums also have small sections on bikes.
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