Margate Caves

{{Short description|Tourist attraction in Kent, England}}

File:Site of Margate Caves - geograph.org.uk - 4234465.jpg

The Margate Caves are a tourist attraction in Margate. The caves were originally dug as a chalk mine in the area between Margate and Cliftonville.{{cite book |last1=Bull |first1=Andy |title=Secret Margate |date=15 May 2019 |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=978-1445692050}} The caves were opened as Victorian seaside attraction in 1863 under the fictional name The Vortigern Caves. There walls were decorated with gaudy murals (or soldiers and pirates).{{cite journal |last1=Brittain-Catlin |first1=Timothy |title=On Margate Sands / I can connect / Nothing with nothing |journal=AA Files |date=2011 |issue=63 |pages=100–103 |jstor=41337482 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41337482 |issn=0261-6823}} The cave's popularity continued into the 20th century but were closed in 2004.

After a local campaign starting in 2011 the caves were once again opened to visitors in 2019, with a newly built centre with a cafe, shop and exhibition space.{{cite web |title=The Margate Caves |url=https://www.margatecaves.co.uk/ |website=The Margate Caves |access-date=4 March 2024 |language=en}}