I stayed at the UK hotel with one of the ‘loveliest’ views in Europe

Kent or Cannes? (Picture: Toby Mitchell)

Metro Checks In to No.42 by GuestHouse, a Margate hotel with views worth leaving London for. 

When the weather heats up, hordes of Londoners cram into train carriages and travel to the nearest stretch of sand to make the most of the sun.

I’ve lived in London since 2018, but until recently, I’d never made the 90-minute trip to Margate, which is odd, because I love the beach.

Honestly, I’m never happier than when I’m walking along the shoreline, waves lapping at my bare feet. Even just seeing the sea brings me immense joy, so being able to look at it from my window any time I like is a dream come true.

Nowhere can you do that better than No.42 by GuestHouse, a boutique hotel perched on the beachfront, with uninterrupted views from, well, everywhere: the restaurant, terrace, rooftop bar, and a lot of the bedrooms.

Sea views from every window (Picture: Toby Mitchell)

This is the third hotel from the GuestHouse Group, created by brothers James, Tom and Tristan Guest.

The hotel opened its doors in July 2023, breathing new life into a Victorian building that was previously home to the Sands Hotel, and it’s regularly named one of the best in Margate. 

Here’s what makes it so special.

What’s the vibe? 

No. 42 is giving coastal chic in all the right ways.

The hotel is an oasis of calm, with interiors of earthy tones, natural fabrics and warm lighting mixed with clever nods to the seaside town it calls home.

There are light fixtures that look like giant shells, bubble mirrors and striking hand-painted murals of seaweed above the beds by local artist,Laura Ann Coates. And let’s not forget about the miniature version of Dreamland’s iconic Ferris wheel on the wall in the lobby. (It spins!)

The bedrooms are full of earthy and neutral tones Picture: Toby Mitchell)

There’s kooky art all around, and the staff couldn’t be more helpful.

From the moment I stepped inside, I felt right at home. The hotel feels like a safe space where you could easily spend hours just sitting and soaking up the view.

What are the rooms like?

The hotel has 18 bedrooms of varying sizes and three suites on the top floors.

There are five bedrooms to choose from, ranging from standard to large with a balcony and sea view. That’s where I stayed, and it felt like walking right into my own little Margate apartment.

A corridor with a gallery of weird and wonderful prints leads you into the main living space. The bathroom is to your right (complete with rolltop tub), with a second living area at the end, separated by a wall of glass, which makes it feel like there’s more than one room. 

The room is bathed in natural light from the glass balcony doors and you can see the sea as you approach. 

Some rooms have balconies (Picture: TobyMitchell)

As well as a comfy double bed and 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, there is a Smeg kettle, a coffee machine with compostable pods, recycled slippers, a dressing gown, air conditioning, a smart TV, a Crosby turntable and a selection of records to play, a radio and a selection of books about beaches around the room. Aaaand, draw breath.

Be sure to go out on the balcony with a cup of tea and take it all in. The painter JMW Turner famously hailed Margate as having ‘the loveliest skies in Europe’, and while I would argue that Holkham beach has the most incredible views of vast open sky, this certainly didn’t hurt to look at.

The only real issue is that the balcony wall was quite high, and as a 5’4 woman, I couldn’t see over it to look at the beach when I sat at the table. 

You’ll also want to keep an eye on the seagulls while you’re out there. You’re in their territory and more likely than not to be dive-bombed.

Food and drink?

No.42 is home to the Pearly Cow, a ground floor restaurant fronted by a wall of windows looking out over the sea, as well as a terrace where you can dine al fresco.

It’s very coastal chic (Picture: Toby Mitchell)

Unsurprisingly, for a beachfront hotel, the menu is seafood heavy, with dishes like cod, crab, and lobster tacos (£4-£6), oysters (£27 for half dozen), and surf and turf (to share £95). There are vegetarian options too as well as meatier mains such as burgers, lamb and steak.

I have to confess, I’m not a big fan of seafood so I opted for the sirloin steak (£32), which might be a bit of a safe choice, but it’s something I rarely ever order at restaurants, so it still felt like a treat.

Served with bone marrow, a herb crumb and peppercorn sauce, the meat was juicy and tender, just as you’d expect, and it paired perfectly with fries and charcoal-roasted broccoli and parmesan. 

The meal was finished off with vanilla and mascarpone Crème brûlée served with sugary homemade shortbread biscuits and a glass of Saint-Roch Les Vignes Rosé.

The biscuits were so good I considered asking if I could have a bag of them to take home. 

The menu is delicious but unsurprisingly, seafood-heavy (Picture: Pearly Cow Margate)

If you’re not eating and just want a drink, there are several options to choose from. You can sit in the lounge bar in the lobby, the oyster bar in the restaurant, on the terrace or head to the rooftop bar for a cocktail.

This is a popular spot, where the best seats get snapped up quickly, and surprisingly, it’s not open that late. We wanted to go for a drink after our meal, but were disappointed to hear it would be closed before we had finished eating. 

We did manage to get in during our stay, though, and it’s definitely a different vibe from the terrace downstairs.

Draped over a couch, spritz in hand, it’s easy to pretend you’re somewhere far away, instead of in Kent. 

Alright, what about the facilities?

In addition to the restaurant and bars, the hotel has a spa where you can melt your worries away with salt-water baths, facials and massages.

It’s a small but quaint space on the lower levels, filled with terracotta pots, copper bath tubs, and stone tiles.

But by far my favourite thing about the hotel was the communal pantry.

Located on the second floor, guests can visit whenever a sweet treat craving hits. The pantry is stocked with slices of Victoria Sponge and Carrot cake, as well as pick ‘n’ mix and cans of drink. You can help yourself to whatever you want, whenever you want. It’s such a fun touch.

How much does it cost?

As mentioned, prices vary depending on the type of room you book. The price also changes according to the day of the week and time of the year, but here’s a rough idea of where they start from:

Guest Rooms £130 Large Guest Rooms £162 Guest Room with Balcony and Sea View £195 Large Guest Rooms with seaview £215 Large Guest Rooms with seaview and balcony £245 Look Out Suites £275

All prices are for room only.

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