a seaport, market-town, and watering-place of England, in the Isle of Thanet, county of Kent, is situated along the shore and on the slope of two hills, 3 miles W.N.W. of the N. Foreland, 15 miles N.E. by E. of Canterbury, and 72 E. by S. of London. The name of the town is believed to be derived from Meregate, a gate or opening to the sea; on account of the hollow between the two hills on which the town is built. Margate was till recently only a small village, and the older parts of the town which lie along the shore are irregularly and meanly built; but the upper part, which is more modern, contains several fine streets and squares, is well built and paved. It is principally noted as a fashionable watering-place, and is still very much frequented in the summer season, although the construction of railways to the seaports on the S. coast has somewhat diminished the number of its visitors. The parish church of St John is an ancient edifice, in the Gothic style; a modern church in the old English style, with a lofty tower, was built in 1825. There are also places of worship for Methodists, Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, the Countess of Huntingdon's Connection, Society of Friends, and Roman Catholics. The assembly rooms of Margate are reckoned among the handsomest and largest buildings of the kind in England, and are adorned with a colonnade of Doric pillars. The town has also a fine theatre, as well as baths, libraries, and other establishments for the convenience of visitors. The town-hall is of recent construction, and is supported on iron pillars, and fronted with a handsome portico. The harbour of Margate is dry at low water; and in order to obviate this defect, a stone pier, 900 feet in length, with a lighthouse at the end, was constructed at a cost of L100,000. But this proving insufficient, a wooden jetty was also built, 1100 feet long, at which steamers can touch in all states of the tide, except when the weather is very stormy. The pier, the marine terrace, and the esplanade, form the most fashionable and most frequented promenades of Margate. The walks in the vicinity are numerous, and the scenery is very beautiful. Fishing is still carried on to a considerable extent here; and there is some trade with the Netherlands; but the prosperity of the town depends chiefly on the summer visitors. Margate communicates with London by a branch of the South-Eastern Railway, and steamers also ply by sea, performing the journey in six or seven hours. The market-days are Wednesday and Saturday. Pop. (1851) 9107.