The Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangel Michael - Margate

Walk up the steep drive in Birchington and you'll find yourself facing one of Kent's most unexpected sights - a proper Byzantine church complete with a gleaming copper dome that catches the light something fierce. The Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangel Michael is genuinely striking, all golden crosses and Orthodox iconography in the middle of a seaside town better known for bucket-and-spade tourism.

Inside, the atmosphere shifts entirely. The interior is serene and richly decorated with icons and religious art that tells you this is a working church, not a museum piece. The main draw is simply the architecture itself - the dome, the scale, the way it manages to feel entirely foreign yet somehow right at home on the Kent coast. You won't spend hours here, but twenty minutes to half an hour lets you take it all in properly.

It appeals most to architecture enthusiasts and anyone with a passing interest in Orthodox Christianity - not really a family entertainer unless your kids are genuinely fascinated by religious buildings. The Foxhunter Park is only a few miles away near Birchington, so it fits neatly as a morning diversion during a caravan or chalet holiday in the area.

Access and opening hours aren't always straightforward - this is an active parish church rather than a tourist attraction, so it's worth checking ahead before making a special trip. The location alone makes it worth a look if you're staying locally though. It's the kind of place that stays with you precisely because it shouldn't be there at all.