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Thursday 11am - 4pm Friday 11am - 4pm Saturday 11am - 4pm Sunday 11am - 4pm

Shell Grotto

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Shell Grotto

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4.6 million shells. 2000 sqft of mosaic.
1 underground mystery. 🐚✨

Margate’s Grade I listed subterranean wonder.
(446)

15/10/2026

Boo! 👻 In honour of the Grotto’s resident ghost and the oyster shells on our walls, this October Half Term, design your own phantom friend and turn a humble oyster into a ghostly Halloween decoration. Will your creation be nice, nasty, nerdy or just plain shellfish? 🐚✨🎃

📆 Thursday 29th + Friday 30th October
🕑 Drop in, 10am - 12pm

🕷 Included free with entry! No boo-king required.

For visitor and access information, see shellgrotto.co.uk/visit

13/09/2026

This model shell house is one of the many beautiful shell objects on show in our museum and is adored by our little visitors, who imagine it being inhabited by even littler, shell Borrowers. 🏠🐚✨ It's thought to represent a real shell house that once existed in Margate, now sadly long gone and replaced by the charms of Poundstretcher...

12/09/2026

A very special evening with a brilliant, inquisitive bunch of people. ✨

Last night, our wonderful conservator Rob took them behind the scenes and explained the delicate processes involved in restoring the Grotto's Grade-I listed walls. They even had a (very messy) go at making some shell mosaic themselves - but don't worry, no one was let loose on the Grotto itself! 🐚🫣

There's a lot of responsibility and pressure looking after such a special site, and Rob might just have the most important job of all. We are, and will always be, so incredibly grateful for him, his knowledge and his infectious charm. Thank you, Rob. 💗

Missed it? You can keep track of all upcoming events at shellgrotto.co.uk/events or by subscribing to our newsletter. 💌

06/09/2026

That's all folks! 🌞 Today we finished our Summer season, with more than 18,000 of you visiting the Grotto over the past 6 weeks, from all four corners of the globe! 🌎🥳

As we enter the Autumn months, everyday opening may have ended but we're still open every Wed - Sun, 10am - 5pm. Enjoy a quieter side of Margate and experience the hush of 4.6 million shells... 🤫🐚✨

For visitor and access information, see shellgrotto.co.uk/visit.

04/09/2026

NEXT WEEK! Join us for our first ever restoration workshop! 🐚✨

Led by our award-winning conservator Rob, peek behind the curtain and discover the never-before-seen processes involved in restoring the Shell Grotto’s Grade-I listed walls.

With live demonstrations, a behind-the-scenes tour of our conservation in action and the chance to make your very own slate-backed shell mosaic, using the same methods and materials as the master! With all proceeds going right back into sponsoring more restoration, so you can be a part of the Grotto's legacy forevermore. 👷🛠🤎

📅 Friday 11th September
🎟 Book now: www.tickettailor.com/events/shellgrottoltd/2118778

28/08/2026

We're all set for a bumper Bank Holiday weekend. 🌞 We'll be here, every day, 10am - 5pm, come rain or shine! Descend among the 4.6 million shells of the Grotto and discover one of the most intriguing sites in Britain. 🐚✨

For visitor and access information, see shellgrotto.co.uk/visit.

25/08/2026

NEXT MONTH! Join us for our first ever restoration workshop! 🐚✨

Led by our award-winning conservator Rob, peek behind the curtain and discover the never-before-seen processes involved in restoring the Shell Grotto’s Grade-I listed walls.

With live demonstrations, a behind-the-scenes tour of our conservation in action and the chance to make your very own slate-backed shell mosaic, using the same methods and materials as the master! With all proceeds going right back into sponsoring more restoration, so you can be a part of the Grotto's legacy forevermore. 👷🛠🤎

📅 Friday 11th September
🎟 Book now: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/shellgrottoltd/2118778

19/08/2026

Among the more peculiar shells in our shop are these extraordinary things. Unbelievably, the little shells and stones you see have not been glued onto the larger shells underneath by people. These are Carrier shells - sea snails that collects rocks, coral, smaller shells and other debris they find on the seabed, 🪸🪨🐚 and then cement them to their own shell using a special protein and calcium carbonate mix, creating their own decorative embellishments for their houses! 🐚✨ Isn't nature incredible?!

15/08/2026

Award-winning printmaker Dawn Cole - who many of you will know from the brilliant creative workshops she runs with us - has a solo show just around the corner at Joseph Wales Studio.

The exhibition brings together Dawn's beautiful botanical engravings, dissecting artificial flowers and their meanings.

So if you're heading our way make a tiny detour to Dane Hill and stop by on your way - and be sure to say hello to Dawn from us!

Open 11-5, until 24 August.

11/08/2026

We've had hundreds of excited kids through the doors already this Summer, and they're often just as dazzled by the gift shop as the Grotto. And who can blame them?! It's a vibrant, shiny treasure trove of toys, puzzles, stationery, jewellery, books and cuddly things. 🧸🎁🎀 Oh, and shells, of course. The perfect accompaniment to an underground adventure! 🔍✨

Currently open every day, same as the Grotto, 10am - 5pm. 🐚

For visitor and access information, see shellgrotto.co.uk/visit.

Address

Grotto Hill
Margate
CT92BU

Opening Hours

Thursday	11am - 4pm
Friday	11am - 4pm
Saturday	11am - 4pm
Sunday	11am - 4pm

Website

http://www.shellgrotto.co.uk/

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