Walpole Bay Beach: Visiting Guide & Local Tips 2026
Walpole Bay is close to Margate (as you walk towards Cliftonville) and is an ideal location for exploring rock pools when the tide is out. The bay has a sandy beach and concrete promenade and it’s about 0.75 mile long. At high tide, only a small strip of beach is accessible, but the area above the cliffs has other activities like mini golf, tennis, an indoor bowling alley and cafes nearby. And of course the seaside town of Margate is just a short walk away.
The Walpole Bay beach is perfect for summer days by the sea and. Over the years, I’ve visited the Walpole Bay Beach many times, but last time I went was early November and it’s was still a magical experience.
To get to the beach, you’ll need to walk down the steps from the Queens Promenade on the top cliff. There are couple of these along the top – one is opposite the bandstand. You can also access the beach from the Margate Lido and also through the Hodge’s Gap or Newgate Gap, which are wheelchair friendly.
The Walpole Bay Tidal Pool
The iconic Walpole Bay Tidal Pool located along the promenade dates back to 1937 and covers over 4 acres (450 ft long and 550 ft wide at its broadest point) , providing a safe saltwater swimming area regardless of the tide. Recent plans are underway to restore and improve the tidal pool as part of a £22 million investment in Margate. This will also include the Grade II listed 1930s Cliff Lift repairs, steps refurbishment and pedestrian-friendly zones at Hodges Gap.
With depths reaching 6 ft, it is considered the largest seawater pool in the UK and was granted Grade II listed status for its historical significance.
I found that it’s best to check the tide times before visiting Walpole Bay as when the tide is in the water comes quite close to the rocks and there is not a lot of beach left. It’s not a problem if you want to just swim, but if you are coming with a children and they want to make sand castles or you want to set out your family on the sandy beach, you might not have as much space as you think.
PLACES TO VISIT NEARBY
Best time to visit Walpole Bay Beach
If you want to swim in the sea or the warm tidal pool, then of course summer is the best time to visit. British summer takes a while to get going, so July or August are the best months, when the sea is pretty much guaranteed to be nice and warm and the sun will be shinning.
But I love visiting Kent seaside towns and beaches off season, too. There is something magical about the cold and quiet times when you just walk on the beach and enjoy looking at the sea, rather than to swim.
Summer holidays is when the beach is also the busiest and sometimes you might even have problems to park your car and find a suitable spot by the sea.
MORE PLACES TO VISIT NEARBY
Walpole Bay Beach Practical Information
- Disabled access to the beach
- Dogs must be kept on leads between 10am and 6pm from May 1st to September 30th
- Safety tips: check weather/tides, supervise family, avoid inflatables
- In an emergency, call 999 for the Coastguard
- There are no public restrooms
- There are no lifeguards on duty at the beach and tidal pool
- Parking – the nearest large car park is at the old Lido (5 Ethelbert Terrace, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 1RX) or on top of the Queen Promenade or street parking nearby.
Toilets: There are no toilets at Walpole Bay, so the closest public toilets are up on the clifftop at the Cliftonville Lido or a short walk down the promenade towards the Turner Contemporary.
COASTAL WALKS
- Discovering Dover Western Heights >>
- The history of South Foreland Lighthouse & Visiting Guide >>
- Walk from St. Margaret’s to Dover (easy walk with beautiful views) >>
Walpole Bay Beach Facilities
There are no facilities or shops by the beach, but you can find the Walpole Bay Hotel (closed normally in winter season from November to end of February), mini golf course, tennis courts, cafes, and an indoor bowling alley on the top of the Queen’s Promenade and along the Eastern Esplanade (parallel street more inland).
If you carry on walking towards the Margate, you’ll first come to the Lido (and there are several local cafes and bars on the top of the cliffs) or carry on for few more minutes (staying on the lower promenade by the sea) and you will end up at the Turner Art Gallery, that has lovely cafe, which serves light lunches, homemade cakes, sourdough toasties and my favourite Redemption Roasters Coffee.
Location: Fifth Avenue Cliftonville Margate CT9 2JN
This blog post was originally published on 18 January 2024 and last updated on 6 June 2026
