Emma Corrin reveals their low-key life of boutique coffee shops and beachfront saunas after moving to Margate –  as The Crown star becomes the latest celebrity to fall in love with ‘Shoreditch-On-Sea’

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Okay, so everyone thinks Hollywood stars only want fancy restaurants and exclusive parties, right? Well, they clearly don’t know Emma Corrin! Honestly, she’s just…different. I’ve seen pictures, and she genuinely loves the simple things – fish and chips, old-fashioned carnival rides, even rummaging through car boot sales! It’s amazing, and honestly, it makes me love her even more. Everyone else might turn their nose up at that stuff, but not Emma. She gets it!

A popular British celebrity is the newest addition to a trend of famous people publicly expressing their fondness for the Kent coast, especially Margate, and its growing number of restaurants and unique coffee shops.

Corrin, age 30, who gained recognition for playing Princess Diana in the Netflix series The Crown, moved to the seaside town of Margate from London in 2023 and has quickly become part of the local community.

Listeners of the Table Manners podcast raved about the town and shared their beloved local spots.

Let me tell you about this incredible little coffee shop I discovered called Curve Coffee. It’s tucked away just above the high street, in a sweet little square right on the edge of town. Seriously, you have to try their Kimchi toastie – it’s hands down the best I’ve ever had, and I’m a bit of a toastie connoisseur!

Margate has become a popular spot for artists and creative types, so much so that people jokingly call it ‘Shoreditch-On-Sea‘ – a reference to the trendy, artistic neighborhood in east London.

Corrin prefers to stay local and enjoy the restaurants and bars near her home, rather than going out in London.

They admitted they don’t often eat at restaurants in London. They explained that it’s much easier to do so in Margate, where everything is nearby.

My go-to place is High Dive. They began as a small spot on the harbor, serving tacos, enchiladas, and similar Mexican food – it’s really delicious. And they make incredibly spicy margaritas!

The British actor, who is in a long-term relationship with Academy Award winner Rami Malek, has also been enjoying local activities in town, including a visit to a seaside sauna.

There’s a unique sauna in Margate called the Sea Scrub Sauna. It features barrels filled with cold water and is located right on the beach, as one person explained.

We have two saunas: a traditional wood-fired one and an electric sauna. The electric sauna is special because it’s made entirely of glass, offering incredible views – it feels like you’re sitting right by the sea. It’s a truly fantastic experience.

I saw some incredible kite surfers the other day. It was really windy, and they were performing amazing flips and tricks over the tidal pool. They were clearly very skilled, and it was really impressive to watch.

Corrin isn’t the only celebrity captivated by Margate; pop icon Madonna recently described the town as her ‘idea of heaven’.

She shared a dreamy feeling about the town in an Instagram post, writing, ‘It feels like stepping into a dream every time I visit.’

Madonna, who has sold more albums than any other female artist, recently shared her fondness for Margate, describing the town as brimming with creativity and a lively, energetic atmosphere.

And to top it all off, I have a special little Italian place I absolutely adore – but I’m keeping the name a secret! It’s so cozy and authentic, but tiny – only one table, so it’s my little slice of heaven I don’t want to share with everyone.

Cantina Caruso is a small, family-owned deli known for its delicious tiramisu – a dessert that Madonna reportedly loves.

This tiny restaurant, with room for just one table, has received high praise from Masterchef’s Grace Dent, who called its Italian food ‘possibly the best in modern Britain’.

The pop superstar, 67, shared photos on Instagram of her time in Margate, calling it a welcome change to focus on positivity. She explained she wanted to share something that celebrated ‘human connection’ and the power of art to unite people, rather than focusing on negativity and violence.

The singer clearly credited her close friend, Tracey Emin, with revitalizing the town that had previously fallen on hard times.

Tracey Emin, now a Dame, is one of Margate’s best-known residents and has often spoken highly of her hometown.

This week, Madonna praised artist Emin in a post to her 20 million followers, calling her ‘a pearl’ and comparing her to ‘a beautiful necklace in the English seaside town of Margate’.

She continued, explaining that she’d known Tracey for 25 years and had always admired her deeply personal and thought-provoking art. However, she felt what Tracey had built within this seaside community was truly special.

Madonna is showcasing her friend’s program that provides a haven for artists from all over the world. The program offers creators, who might not otherwise have opportunities, a place to live and work on their art for several months, helping them grow and participate in the thriving art scene in Margate.

She explained that this has brought a surge of creativity to the town, attracting writers, performers, photographers, and painters.

This town started as a small fishing village, but it became popular during the Victorian era. Wealthy people began visiting by paddle-steamer to get away from the smoky city, and this led to the construction of many of its beautiful hotels and homes.

Margate pioneered classic seaside experiences, starting donkey rides in 1790 and introducing deckchairs to the beach in 1898 – a first for British resorts.

The resort thrived for many years, attracting large numbers of tourists every year, until affordable package holidays became popular.

As more and more people in Britain discovered the ease of flying to sunny, foreign destinations, towns like Margate – once popular seaside resorts – started to struggle and decline.

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2026-02-18 16:19