Clifton Gardens

“A measured colour palette lends this seaside maisonette a serene atmosphere”

This three-bedroom home is located in the ever-popular Cliftonville in Margate, Kent. The maisonette has been sensitively renovated while retaining its original Victorian features, including cast-iron fireplaces and sash windows that allow gentle light to filter through. A considered palette of soothing Farrow & Ball paints complements the apartment’s airy proportions. Margate’s golden sand beach, the green expanse of Dane Park, and the town’s exciting restaurant scene are all a short walk away.

The Tour

The house sits on a quiet residential street, its 19th-century proportions subtly updated with white-painted brick and a light-blue front door.

Entry is via a welcoming hallway on the raised ground floor, with a bright living room positioned to one side. A large West facing bay window floods the room with afternoon light, amplifying the sense of volume. Elegant cornicing is overhead, while engineered oak flooring runs underfoot throughout.

An opening leads to the kitchen, fitted with custom-made shelving and dark-painted cabinetry with concrete worktops. A hardwood kitchen island provides additional preparation space, and a Rangemaster cooker sits against clean white splashback tiles.

The bathroom completes this floor, accessed down a short set of steps which neatly house a separate laundry space with washer/dryer. A clawfoot bathtub has an overhead shower and polished brass fixtures, while cream-and-brown chequerboard tiles run underfoot. A sash window with etched-glass panels draws in soft natural light.

A staircase with a sisal stair runner rises to the upper floor where three bedrooms are arranged. Two spacious double rooms have cast-iron fireplaces, while the third bedroom currently serves as a dressing room. Each has a sash window, inviting far-reaching rooftop views.

The Area

The seaside town of Margate is renowned for its creative community, exemplified by Turner Contemporary, designed by architect David Chipperfield. The gallery is a brilliant arts space with far-reaching sea views, named after landscape painter J. M. W. Turner, who attended school in Margate and described its skies and sunsets as "the loveliest in Europe". Further bolstering Margate’s thriving artistic scene are Carl Freedman Gallery and The Tracey Emin Foundation/TKE Studios.

Margate seafront is a short walk from the house, as are Hawley Square and Dane Park. The Kent Coast Path, which connects Margate and Ramsgate, provides a wonderful way to spend a bright afternoon. Margate Old Town is home to an excellent collection of restaurants, including Angela’s, Sargasso, and the family-run Bottega Caruso, known for its homemade Italian cuisine. Other culinary highlights include the speciality coffee at Fort’s, International Food Centre, Oast Bakery and the monthly farmers’ market. Scott’s Furniture Market is just across the road, an emporium for antiques.

The town has excellent connections to London. Margate station has regular services to London St Pancras in under 90 minutes and to London Victoria in around 95 minutes. Trains run to Canterbury every 30 minutes. Connections to Europe are excellent, with the Eurotunnel linking Folkestone to Calais.

Tenure: Leasehold | Lease Length: Approx. 99 years remaining | Service Charge: £250/annum | Ground Rent: £100/annum | Council Tax Band: B