Dreamland Margate: The Hidden Story Behind UK’s Oldest Fairground (2025 Guide)

The oldest operating amusement park in the UK, Dreamland Margate fairground traces its roots back to 1880.  Simple amusement rides marked its beginnings until 1920, when it became “Dreamland” with the launch of its signature Scenic Railway wooden rollercoaster.  The ride proved wildly popular, carrying half a million thrill-seekers in just its first year.

This historic attraction’s story features incredible peaks and valleys.  The park hosted legendary acts like The Rolling Stones and The Who during the 1960s.  The excitement didn’t last forever though – tough times led to its closure in 2005.  A passionate community rallied together and secured £18 million in funding to breathe new life into Dreamland Margate in 2015.  The park now blends vintage and modern rides in a setting that captures the spirit of the 1950s and 1960s.  Their efforts paid off as more than 700,000 people visited the funfair in 2019.

Dreamland’s exceptional story showcases innovation, survival and rebirth.  This Grade II* listed attraction started from modest beginnings and evolved into a beloved institution.  Its experience spans nearly 150 years and reflects Britain’s changing relationship with entertainment and leisure.

The Origins of Dreamland Margate

The story of Margate’s fairground starts with a simple salt marsh.  This humble piece of waterlogged land would later become one of Britain’s most loved attractions.  Nobody could have guessed its amazing future back then.

From Salt Marsh to Seaside Attraction

Before 1809, Dreamland Margate was just a salt marsh called “the Mere” – a waterlogged patch that high tide would regularly flood.  This natural barrier kept Margate’s town center separate from its growing eastern districts.  The land’s first big change came with a new causeway and seawall that made it ready for building.

The area’s transport links started in 1846 when the South Eastern Railway built a terminus on what would later be the Arlington site.  The London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) built another terminus in 1864 where the Dreamland Cinema now stands.  The LCDR terminus was ready by 1866 but never saw a single passenger, leaving an empty railway building ready for something new.

That same year, two London restaurateurs, Spiers and Pond, turned this empty railway station into a restaurant and dance hall called “The Hall by the Sea”.  The business struggled to bring in enough customers.  They sold it to Margate’s Reeve family in 1870 for £3,750.  The deal included both the hall and the low-lying land behind it.  This seemingly ordinary purchase would later become Margate’s legendary amusement park.

The Hall by the Sea and George Sanger’s Vision

The site’s big break came in 1870 when circus entrepreneur “Lord” George Sanger teamed up with Margate’s Mayor, Thomas Dalby Reeve, to run the Hall by the Sea.  Sanger took full control after Reeve died in 1875.  He owned both the hall and its surrounding land and had big plans that would shape the future Margate theme park.

Sanger turned the old marshland behind the hall into something spectacular.  He built elaborate pleasure gardens with a fake ruined abbey, a lake, statues and Victorian amusements.  He also created a menagerie full of lions, tigers, leopards, bears and wolves.  The animals weren’t just for show – he used them as a breeding and training center for his traveling circus.

Sanger loved his animals.  He worked as the head lion trainer and sometimes shared his cottage with up to 20 lion cubs that needed bottle feeding.  The animal cages and Gothic walls he built still stand today along Dreamland’s western and southern edges.  These structures now have Grade II listed status.

The site got its first mechanical rides in 1880 with Frederick Savage’s new “Sea-On-Land” carousel.  This groundbreaking ride made boats pitch and roll like they were at sea – an early version of today’s simulator rides.  More attractions followed, including a large skating rink in 1893.

Sanger worked hard to make the venue more prestigious.  He marketed the “Hall-by-the-Sea, Italian and Zoological Gardens” in 1874 to draw more visitors.  The venue became the “Royal Grand Hall-by-the-Sea” by 1899 and offered lots of entertainment options.  The entertainment world recognized Sanger’s importance by making him the first president of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain from 1890 to 1909.

Arthur Reeve and his wife Harriett (Sanger’s daughter) took over after Sanger left.  They focused on dance programs and grand balls to attract upscale customers.  Business dropped during World War I as their style of entertainment lost popularity.  They sold the property in November 1919 for £40,000 to John Henry Iles – the man who would turn the site into the Dreamland Margate rides attraction that still engages visitors today.

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The Birth of a Fairground Icon

British entertainment would never be the same after a visionary purchase in the winter of 1919.  Entrepreneur John Henry Iles bought Margate’s Hall By The Sea for £40,000 just after Christmas, barely a year after the Great War ended.  This modest transaction became the foundation of an iconic Margate fairground.

The Scenic Railway and the 1920s Transformation

Iles’s vision stretched way beyond maintaining a dance hall and pleasure gardens.  He dreamed of creating Britain’s first American-style amusement park and spared no expense.  The purchase price was substantial, yet Iles poured £500,000 (equivalent to approximately £15 million today) into developing his grand vision.  His steadfast dedication to seaside entertainment’s future showed through this massive financial investment.

A magnificent wooden roller coaster—the Scenic Railway—stood at the heart of Iles’s plan.  The project kicked off in 1919 when Iles secured European usage rights from American inventor LaMarcus Adna Thompson, who patented the scenic railway design in 1884.  Local carpenters built the structure according to specifications, though Iles owned the rights.

July 3, 1920, marked the Scenic Railway’s grand opening and it quickly became the new Margate theme park’s crown jewel.  Visitors flocked to see Europe’s largest roller coaster, which lived up to its billing.  The impressive timber structure measured 180m by 30m with a track stretching three-quarters of a mile.

This Margate amusement park attraction stood out because of its unique operation.  Unlike modern coasters, a brakeman sat at the second carriage’s front and manually controlled the speed.  Each ride became unique based on passenger numbers, weather conditions and the brakeman’s personal style.

The public couldn’t get enough—nearly one million people rode it during the first full season in 1921.  Margate’s skyline changed forever with this wooden structure.  Riders’ screams echoed all the way to the High Street during peak season.

Iles didn’t stop there.  He built a ballroom in 1920 where the skating rink once stood.  A variety cinema followed in 1923, starting a 15-year period of continuous expansion with new rides and facilities.

Why the Name ‘Dreamland’ Was Chosen

The name “Dreamland” came from careful planning and international inspiration.  Iles’s 1906 visit to Coney Island in New York left an indelible mark.  American amusement parks, especially Coney Island’s Dreamland (1904-1911), represented the peak of state-of-the-art entertainment.

Iles wanted to bring American amusement parks’ glamor and excitement to British shores through the Dreamland name.  Post-war Britain needed fantasy and escape, and this name promised exactly that.  A Dreamland executive later said, “Dreamland was built all those years ago on memories of Coney Island”.

The complete transformation turned “The Hall By The Sea” into “Dreamland,” reshaping British seaside attractions forever.  This American-inspired vision altered Margate’s entertainment, employment, architecture and culture for most of the next century.

Dreamland’s name signaled a radical shift in British leisure culture.  Victorian pleasure gardens gave way to mechanical thrills, speed and spectacle.  Iles delivered on his promise: a dreamlike escape where ordinary people experienced extraordinary adventures.

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Golden Years: Expansion and Popularity

Dreamland’s growth from its original development turned the Margate fairground into a cherished British institution.  Each era from the 1930s to 1960s added unique expansions that cemented its place in entertainment history.

New Rides and Cinema in the 1930s

John Henry Iles built on his success with the Scenic Railway and kept expanding Dreamland.  He invested over £500,000 in the site between 1920 and 1935 to enhance its attractions.  This major investment ended up creating the iconic Dreamland Cinema complex in 1934.

The grand Dreamland Super Cinema opened its doors on March 22, 1935.  The premiere featured Greta Garbo in “The Painted Veil” and Laurel & Hardy in “Them Thar Hills”.  Architects Julian Leathart and W.F. Granger designed this masterpiece with an eye-catching 80-foot fin tower.  The tower stood out in Margate’s skyline and served as a stunning advertisement for the park next door.

The cinema was special with seating for 2,050 patrons.  It became one of England’s first examples of German-influenced cinema design that later shaped the famous Odeon chain.  Guests enjoyed real luxury inside – a 500-seat restaurant, lounges, bars, air conditioning and a magnificent Compton-Noterman 4Manual/19Rank theater organ with its lit-up console.

Post-war Boom and Butlins Investment

World War II put a pause on Dreamland’s entertainment activities, like many British venues.  The government took over most of the Margate theme park during the war.  The park managed to reopen in June 1946 under Eric Iles’s leadership.

A big change came the next year when holiday camp pioneer Butlins invested heavily.  This money helped refresh the Margate amusement park after the war years and supported its growth.  The Iles family kept control through three generations—John Henry, Eric and John—until they sold it in 1968.

The post-war years saw Dreamland grow even more. The 1950s brought new rides and facilities, including extra indoor pools and amusement areas.  The original plants from the 1870s pleasure gardens stayed until the 1970s.  They were removed to make space for more Dreamland Margate rides.

The 1960s Music Scene and Cultural Relevance

The 1960s stand out as Dreamland’s most culturally vital era.  Many call this time the Margate funfair’s golden age.  It matched perfectly with Britain’s growing youth culture, strong economy and London day-trippers bringing city fashion to the coast.

The park became one of Britain’s top music spots outside London.  The ballroom moved from hosting resident bands to featuring one-night shows by the biggest stars.  Big names played here – The Rolling Stones performed on August 15, 1963, supporting the Barron Knights.  Other stars included The Who, The Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, Lulu, Desmond Dekker, Tom Jones and Gerry and the Pacemakers.

This music scene drew different youth groups, especially Mods and Rockers who sometimes fought on Margate’s streets.  These clashes got so famous that Margate’s magistrate George Simpson made news in 1964 by calling the fighting youth “sawdust Caesars” during sentencing.

More groups joined the scene as time went on – hippies, skinheads and London’s post-Windrush black teenagers.  Each brought their own style that local market traders quickly copied.  The Margate theme park became the heart of fashion, music and youth culture in this changing decade.

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The Bembom Brothers Era

The Bembom Brothers bought the Margate fairground in 1981 and this purchase started a bold new chapter for the seaside attraction.  Their acquisition didn’t just mean new owners – it meant a complete reimagining of the park for modern times.

Rebranding to White Knuckle Theme Park

The Bembom Brothers quickly put their stamp on the park.  They gave it a new name: “Bembom Brothers White Knuckle Theme Park”.  This name showed their plans for a more thrilling, adrenaline-focused experience.  The park kept this name until 1990, when it went back to “Dreamland” – a name that struck a chord with visitors across generations.

These weren’t newcomers to the amusement business.  The Bembom family ran several successful theme parks across continental Europe.  Their experience helped them change the aging Margate theme park into something new and exciting.

The Bemboms created a different atmosphere from the past.  They shut down all the park’s bars to create what they saw as a more family-friendly space.  This choice moved away from the drinking culture that had become part of the park’s identity.  They added new attractions for children, like the popular Ladybird Coaster.

High-tech Rides and Admission Changes

State-of-the-art “high-tech” rides became the park’s new centerpiece under Bembom ownership.  The star attraction was the “Looping Star” roller coaster, built by German engineer Anton Schwarzkopf.  This thrilling ride featured a complete vertical loop – something Margate had never seen before.

People still remember other exciting rides from this time. “The Enterprise” got their hearts racing and the log flume gave them a good splash.  These new additions helped the aging park appeal to thrill-seekers who wanted more excitement than traditional seaside rides.

The changes worked amazingly well.  By the late 1980s, Dreamland Margate’s rides helped raise the park to become one of the top ten most visited tourist attractions in the United Kingdom.  This was quite an achievement for a regional park competing with much bigger destinations.

The business model changed too.  The Bemboms stopped evening operations and brought in an admission charge system.  Instead of paying per ride, visitors now paid one fee for unlimited rides.  This gave better value to people who wanted to try everything, but it meant local kids who might have come for just one or two rides couldn’t afford to visit anymore.

These new admission rules turned a quick visit into a full day out.  Many visitors in the 1980s loved this approach.  One person wrote that the experience was “exhausting and exhilarating” and thought the British theme park held its own against Disney, with “British charm, soaked in temperamental British sunshine and with good old British grit and grime thrown in”.

The Bembom Brothers’ time at Dreamland bridges the gap between its golden age and later challenges.  They showed how the park tried to stay current while keeping its character as a beloved British institution.

Decline and Closure of the Park

The years after the Bembom Brothers owned Dreamland saw the park sink into money troubles.  Their original efforts to modernize worked well at first, but several issues created a perfect storm that ended up forcing the park to close.

The Rise of Cheap Holidays Abroad Changed Everything

British seaside towns like Margate faced a serious threat in the 1960s.  Package holidays to sunny destinations became affordable for everyone.  Dreamland’s financial backbone – the residential holiday trade – crumbled through the 1970s.  British families chose guaranteed sunshine abroad instead of taking chances with Britain’s weather.

This big change affected how people visited the Margate theme park.  Weekday crowds dropped as holiday visitors disappeared, though weekend day-trippers still came in good numbers.  Someone watching this trend noted, “The British public simply aren’t willing to spend their holidays in a queue, clutching a 99 under an umbrella any more”.

Tourism in the area had taken a huge hit by 2000. Low-cost foreign holidays became the norm.  This new holiday trend hit Dreamland’s business model hard and cut its customer base.

Other UK Theme Parks Added to the Pressure

New competition arrived at the worst possible time.  Bigger theme parks opened closer to London with huge parking lots that Dreamland couldn’t compete with.

Thorpe Park opened its gates in 1979, and Chessington World of Adventures followed in 1987.  These parks had clear advantages over the Margate amusement park.  They sat closer to London’s millions of people, offered plenty of parking and had space for bigger, more exciting rides.

Dreamland struggled with access problems.  London visitors faced a two-hour train ride and the park never had its own parking lot.  These issues got worse as more people bought cars and expected easy access to attractions.

The Final Chapter and Fire Attacks

The park limped through the early 2000s until its owner announced plans to close and redevelop in 2003.  Though meant to shut in November 2003, it kept running with limited rides through 2004 and 2005 before closing its gates for good.

Visitor numbers kept dropping and a devastating fire caused £5 million in damage.  After closing, workers removed all but one of Dreamland Margate’s rides – the Scenic Railway.  This ride stayed put because it earned Grade II-listed status in 2002, making it illegal to take it down.

Bad news wasn’t over for the empty funfair.  Arsonists struck the Scenic Railway on April 7, 2008.  They destroyed about 25% of it, including the boarding station, storage sheds and trains.  People could see smoke from 20 miles away.  Fire crews fought the flames while locals watched their historic landmark burn.

Local leaders stood firm.  Thanet council’s Sandy Ezekiel said: “This is not the end of the road for Dreamland.  And neither have we seen the last of the Scenic Railway”.  In spite of that, another suspected arson hit on May 28, 2014.  Luckily, it only damaged an empty building near the Scenic Railway.

These attacks inspired public support and strengthened those fighting to save this piece of British entertainment history.  This set up an amazing campaign to rescue Dreamland.

The Fight to Save Dreamland

The community sprang into action in 2003 after plans emerged to permanently redevelop the Margate fairground.  A fierce preservation battle lasted more than a decade after news broke that retail developments would replace Dreamland.

The Save Dreamland Campaign

Local residents and amusement park enthusiasts united to form the Save Dreamland Campaign in 2003.  This grassroots movement aimed to protect the Margate theme park from vanishing.  The campaign grew faster and showed how deeply people cared about this historic attraction.

Campaigners worked hard to highlight Dreamland’s cultural value through the years.  Their persistent advocacy paid off as Thanet District Council responded positively to the public support.  The campaign became a vital force that convinced authorities to save rather than demolish the Margate amusement park.

Heritage Listing of the Scenic Railway

The campaign scored a big win in April 2002.  The Scenic Railway received Grade II listed status, which protected the historic ride from demolition despite closure plans.

An arson attack in 2008 destroyed about 25% of the structure.  Officials realized they needed to protect this rare survivor better.  English Heritage stepped in and upgraded the Scenic Railway to Grade II* listed status.  This higher protection recognized it as one of just two surviving scenic railways in the UK, with Dreamland’s being the oldest.

English Heritage expert Emily Gee described the timber structure as “remarkable.” She explained its age, rarity, and design “fully warranted” the increased protection.  This new status helped secure the Margate funfair’s future.

Formation of the Dreamland Trust

The six-year community campaign led to the creation of the Dreamland Trust in 2009.  This volunteer group became central to preserving the site’s heritage.  They developed the creative idea to reopen Dreamland as “the world’s first amusement park of historic rides”.

Nick Laister led the Trust as chairman and co-founder from 2007 to 2016.  The Trust collaborated with the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Their joint efforts secured £18 million to restore Dreamland and its architectural treasures.

The Trust’s work led Thanet District Council to make a bold move.  They compulsorily purchased the site in September 2013.  This action protected the land from retail or housing development and preserved it for future generations to enjoy Dreamland Margate rides.  Restoration work began after years of determined campaigning, marking the start of Dreamland’s amazing comeback.

The Rebirth: Reimagined Dreamland (2015–2025)

Dreamland Margate, Britain’s oldest amusement park, opened its doors again on June 19, 2015.  Excited visitors watched the £18 million restoration project come to life.  This marked a new chapter after years of campaigning and careful planning.

Restoration of Vintage Rides

The park’s rebirth featured 17 beautifully restored and updated rides.  A roller disco, pleasure gardens, restaurants and arcades brought back the magic of British seaside entertainment.  The team creatively repurposed more than 200 old rides and amusements into the new attraction’s fabric.

The Grade II*-listed Scenic Railway, the park’s crown jewel, needed more time for reconstruction during the opening.  This wooden rollercoaster finally thrilled its first riders on October 17, 2015.  The complex task of rebuilding historic trains caused the delay.

New Attractions and Design Vision

HemingwayDesign and Wayne Hemingway took charge of reimagining the Margate theme park in 2012.  Their design celebrated British seaside culture with modern flair, creating a unique visual identity.

The team worked with a smaller budget than major theme parks.  They turned to thrift and upcycling as their guiding principles.  Vintage rides came from all over the UK, including a 1940s Caterpillar ride and several attractions from Pleasureland Southport.

The park celebrated its tenth reopening anniversary in 2025 with new attractions.  A classic log flume, last seen at Dreamland in 2016, made its return.  The park offered all-day wristbands at £24.99 for adults and £12.99 for children.

Financial Struggles and Administration

The initial excitement couldn’t prevent financial troubles.  Sands Heritage needed administrators in May 2016 when visitor numbers reached only half the predicted levels.

Creditors gave Sands Heritage five years to repay nearly £3 million in debts in January 2016.  The park removed its unpopular entrance fee and switched to “pay as you play” to boost attendance.

Arrowgrass stepped in with a £25 million investment in 2017, enabling a complete redevelopment.  New rides appeared while vintage ones got careful restoration.  These changes worked wonders – Dreamland welcomed over 500,000 visitors in 2017 alone.

Dreamland Today: What Visitors Can Expect

The historic Margate fairground welcomes visitors with a perfect blend of nostalgic charm and modern entertainment.  Dreamland’s 2025 season promises memorable experiences that appeal to everyone.

Dreamland Margate Rides and Attractions

The Margate theme park boasts an exciting lineup of rides that might change as the season progresses.  Plans for the iconic Scenic Railway’s operation will be confirmed later in the 2025 season.  Height restrictions apply to all attractions, and ride availability might be affected by wet or windy weather.

The Margate amusement park now features a new Free Roam VR experience that costs £15 per person for 30-minute sessions.  Visitors can check out the retro arcade and Pinball Parlor in the Roller Room.  The park’s vibrant design has made Dreamland one of the UK’s most Instagram-worthy spots.

Live Music, Roller Disco and Events

The Scenic Stage comes alive in 2025 with the Margate Summer Series.  Popular artists like HAIM, The Libertines, Tom Jones, Madness and McFly will perform.  Rewind 2025 takes over the fairground on June 14th from 17:00 to 22:30.

The Roller Disco remains a crowd favorite where guests can “throw some shapes to excellent tunes”.  Skating sessions cost £7 with skate hire or £6 for those who bring their own.  The entertainment continues indoors during autumn and winter with ticketed live music and events.

Ticketing, Wristbands and Pricing

Dreamland’s 2025 ticket options include:

• Mega Ride Wristbands: £24.99 per person for unlimited all-day ride access
• Tiny Tots Wristbands: £12.99 for children between 0.8m and 1.2m tall, covering eight specific rides
• Tokens: One token (£3) per ride with a Mega Saver Deal of 20 tokens for £40
• Season Tickets: £99.99 for unlimited mega wristbands or £54.99 for tiny tots, plus 10% off food, drinks, roller disco and games

Dreamland stands out among UK theme parks by maintaining its free entry policy, letting visitors pay as they go for rides.

The Legacy of Dreamland Margate

Dreamland Margate represents more than just the UK’s oldest amusement park.  This historic fairground started as a humble salt marsh and grew into a Grade II* listed attraction that captures nearly 150 years of British leisure history.  The park has adapted to entertainment trends through the decades but kept its unique seaside charm intact.

This remarkable place has worn many faces – Victorian pleasure gardens, a 1920s American-style amusement park, a 1960s music venue and a 1980s high-tech theme park.  Each new version showed what people loved at the time and added something special to Dreamland’s rich heritage.  In spite of that, these changes never took away the magic that made countless visitors fall in love with this Margate treasure.

Money problems, terrible fires, and tough competition from new attractions almost ended this beloved landmark.  Without doubt, this place would have vanished beneath retail developments if passionate locals hadn’t stepped in.  The Save Dreamland Campaign stands as one of Britain’s most inspiring heritage preservation stories.  It shows how dedicated people can protect cultural treasures for their children and grandchildren.

The park came back to life in 2015 after an £18 million restoration project that boosted Margate’s tourism.  A further £25 million investment helped Dreamland become a bustling attraction once again.  Recent visitor numbers hit 700,000 – this is a big deal as it means that people still deeply care about this historic fairground.

Dreamland means much more than just fun and games.  The park works as a living museum of British leisure history, where carefully restored vintage rides connect visitors to past generations.  Modern additions like VR experiences and big music events keep things fresh for today’s guests.  This careful mix of old and new ideas remains crucial to Dreamland’s success.

Dreamland has bounced back from money troubles, changing holiday trends, fires and near-death experiences.  The fairground still stands proud on Margate’s coastline as proof of victory over tough times and cultural staying power.  Future generations will keep finding the unique magic of Britain’s oldest amusement park in the decades ahead.

FAQs

Q1. What is the history behind Dreamland Margate?
Dreamland Margate, the UK’s oldest amusement park, dates back to 1880.  It began as a simple amusement site, officially becoming “Dreamland” in 1920 when its iconic Scenic Railway wooden rollercoaster opened.  The park has since undergone multiple transformations, including periods of decline and revival, reflecting changing entertainment trends over nearly 150 years.

Q2. What are some of the main attractions at Dreamland Margate today?
Today, Dreamland offers a mix of vintage and modern rides, a Roller Disco and a Free Roam VR experience.  The park also features live music events, including the Margate Summer Series with renowned artists.  The iconic Scenic Railway, when operational, remains a centerpiece attraction.  Additionally, there’s a retro arcade and Pinball Parlor for visitors to enjoy.

Q3. How much does it cost to visit Dreamland Margate?
Dreamland offers various ticket options. In 2025, Mega Ride Wristbands cost £24.99 for unlimited access to all rides all day.  Tiny Tots Wristbands for smaller children are £12.99.  Individual ride tokens cost £3 each, with a Mega Saver Deal of 20 tokens for £40.  Season tickets are also available.  Notably, Dreamland maintains a free entry policy, allowing visitors to pay as they go for rides.

Q4. Has Dreamland Margate ever faced closure?
Yes, Dreamland has faced several challenges throughout its history.  It closed to the public in 2005 due to financial difficulties and declining visitor numbers.  The park also suffered from arson attacks in 2008 and 2014.  However, a passionate community campaign fought to save the park, leading to its restoration and reopening in 2015 after an £18 million investment.

Q5. What makes Dreamland Margate unique among UK theme parks?
Dreamland stands out for its rich history and blend of nostalgia with modern entertainment.  It’s recognized as a living museum of British leisure history, featuring carefully restored vintage rides alongside contemporary attractions.  Unlike many UK theme parks, Dreamland offers free entry with a pay-as-you-go system for rides.  Its seaside location and cultural significance, including its role in Margate’s music scene in the 1960s, add to its unique character.