Friday 12th December 2025

Margate

Try a Train: Travel Training Trip to Margate

In collaboration with Diversity House, a Sittingbourne-based charity delivering a full programme of adult learning opportunities and community events, we run a “Try a Train” experience twice a year for their ESOL service users. After exploring a range of local destinations, we chose Margate for this trip – and it proved to be an excellent choice, with only 2 of the 14 participants having visited before.

We met at Diversity House at 9am on Friday morning before walking together to Sittingbourne Station. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, enjoying winter sunshine and, thankfully, no rain.

At the station, Project Officer Vicky talked through key information about using trains safely, understanding station facilities, and knowing where to find help if a journey is disrupted. With a few late joiners just making the train in time, we set off as a buzzing group full of excitement. The journey itself provided plenty of opportunities to practise conversational English, with participants enjoying the changing scenery – from the horses at Teynham to glimpses of the beach and colourful huts at Seasalter.

We also played a game using the Southeastern Train Map, helping everyone become familiar with local stations and the on-board announcement system.

Arriving in Margate at around 10.30am, we immediately noticed the change in microclimate: the seaside breeze was a little colder than Sittingbourne, prompting us all to wrap up warmly. A short five-minute walk from the station brought us to Margate Beach, where we were treated to beautiful winter sunshine. With the tide out, we walked on the sand and used it like a giant chalkboard, writing beach-related vocabulary together.

The three children who joined us especially loved taking off their shoes and feeling the sand between their toes – their delight was infectious.

After time on the beach, we explored Margate’s Old Town and stopped for refreshments at a café called The Greedy Cow. Here, ESOL learners practised their English in a relaxed setting, sharing conversation and building confidence.

With our return train fast approaching, we said goodbye to Linda Brinklow and headed back to the station. On the walk back, participants shared their highlights of the morning. Some were reminded of beaches in Portugal, while others were amazed at how close the beach was to the station.

Many said they would return with their families for a sunny day trip, surprised that Margate is only 40 minutes from Sittingbourne. Others expressed interest in coming back to visit the Turner Contemporary gallery.

Overall, it was a morning filled with confidence-building travel experiences, discovery of a vibrant seaside town rich in art and culture, winter sunshine, and – for some – the joy of sand between their toes.