Sadly now closed or oved away from the town. This used to be the most contemporary florist in the…read morearea, and provided fantastic arrangements for good prices without being poncy.

The Orange Tree stocks a massive range of cookware, the shop is rammed with such a variety of stuff…read moreits ideal both if you need a present for someone who enjoys cooking, or you're just looking for something for your own kitchen. The staff are also very helpful and will help you find what you're looking for.

looks like a very small shop from the front but goes back quite far. They stock a wide range of…read morecookware, some of the range is modern stuff. its quite expensive but the staff are very helpful and friendly

I can't believe it's taken me this long to finally make it to Margate! Only 1 1/2 hours by train…read morefrom St Pancras, there really is no excuse. As for most of the other reviewers the recently opened (well 2011) Turner Contemporary gallery was the main incentive. It's amazing what difference a bit of culture can make to a hitherto neglected and underrated seaside town. Just as the Jerwood did for Hastings, Turner Contemporary is a true highlight on a visit to Margate. The curators know what they are doing too and put on a family friendly show of "Animals & Us" this Summer that perfectly combines natural history with contemporary art. It's the perfect place to hide from the elements and unlike Dreamland, entry is free. The cafe is lovely, too. Probably not worth the trip in its own right but combined with a walk along the beach (seeing Antony Gormley's sculpture emerge from the sea during low tide is an absolute highlight - you also get a perfect view from the gallery), fish and chips in the harbour, a walk around the old town and a compulsory visit to Dreamland a visit to Turner Contemporary rounds up a perfect day out.

The Turner Contemporary was the main aim of our trip to this part of Kent. Originally we wanted to…read moresee the Tracey Emin exhibition here, but realising this had finished we decided to come anyway and see what the gallery had to offer! Opened in April 2011, as part of a project to regenerate the somewhat flagging town of Margate, it certainly has become a monolith on the harbour! Although many have criticised it's bleak appearance, I quite like its industrial, steel facade. It certainly stands out in an area which is fairly bleak in itself. The gallery is named after the noted landscape painter J.M.W.Turner who spent much time in this area in his youth. As well as showcasing various artists exhibitions, the space is also used for teaching, workshops, talks and performances which can only be beneficial for the people of Margate. The actually exhibition areas themselves are fairly small - I would have expected to be able to see far more here, although in some ways I like that fact that I'm not overwhelmed by the quantity of the work here as can be the case in some of the larger galleries. On this occasion there were exhibitions by Carl Andre, Rosa Barba and Turner himself. There was also an interactive piece of art by Brazilian artist Maria Nepomuceno which was great fun to wonder into and touch and play with the different textures. The gallery is free to enter although they do ask for a donation. Staff are friendly and helpful and there is a nice cafe in the foyer. The Turner Contemporary is a great addition to the area, although I would probably only return if there was an exhibition that I particularly wanted to visit.

Debenhams in Canterbury is a bit of a hotch-potch as it has to adapt to the old buildings that it…read moreoccupies. Hence you need to make sure you are in the right store for your needs. The main store has a good sized clothes and shoes section for women upstairs, with several franchises. Handbags and accessories are downstairs with menswear. The children's department, is in a separate building, behind the main store. This is where you can buy school uniform and trendier casual wear by Red Herring and John Rocha. The bathroom and soft furnishings department is across the road.

Debenhams in Canterbury is a bit of a labyrinth. the different departments are not only on…read moredifferent floors but spread over different locations in the high street. The quality of products in this store is mostly very good and if you can find the crypt restaurant (it's downstairs from mensware) I can highly recommend the breakfasts.

At the Canterbury store, I was not offered a receipt with a purchase and had to call the assistant…read moreback to be provided with one, which I almost didn't do. When leaving the store and attendant chased me across the carpark accusing me of not paying. I assume it was an accident and not a deliberate attempt to catch customers out but extremely frustrating.

A large branch of Marks and Spencer, stocking clothing, homeware, gifts and groceries. This can be…read morequite an awkward store to navigate due to it's size. There is a direct entrance to the multi-story car park from the first floor which is quite handy. There is also a little coffee shop on the second floor which sells really nice hot chocolate/coffees and some snacks/cakes.

I had flowers for my aunties funeral from here, great service and so helpful especially as I didnt…read moreknow what I wanted, the arrangement I had was so nice that the family were asking me where I had them from, brilliant work. Came highly recommended by a florist in Swansea, have to remember to thank them.

This B&Q is a traders' store, but it's friendly enough for your everyday DIYer to head in and pick…read moreup some bits to do up the bathroom. The layout of the store is a little confusing, as per expectations in most B&Qs, but it's possible to find your way around. What I have discovered, though, is that they are often, infuriatingly, out of the one item I need. If I need a toilet-flush handle, they'll have toilet seats, toilet-roll holders, toilet brushes, but not the one thing I need. That could just be my luck, though - and the staff there have always been very friendly, with the management (and this is something extremely rare in my experience) being sensible with their returns policy. Recommended for any serious DIYer.

I recently went to B&Q in Whitstable. Didn't need much but the Staff were very helpful in…read moreparticular Alan. He kindly lifted a heavy bag of grit into my trolley for me. The till Staff were helpful and polite. Well Done. Ps They were all cheerful which is a bonus in a store.

Fenwicks is probably the biggest department store in Canterbury high street. Offering a huge range…read moreof womens wear, mens wear, childrens clothes, perfume and accessories, you're bound to find something to suit your tastes. It has around 2-3 floors and is never so busy you feel cramped. It always smells of perfume when you go in and you'll certainly feel a little spring in your step if you go away having bought something in the shop, after all it has good quality brands. You can buy designer cosmetics and skincare in addition to lots of designer clothes with makes such as Tommy Hilfiger, Morgan etc. Prices are quite high so it's best to come here when you've just been paid! Lots of choice and nice luxurious brands though so it's worth a look.

This store is really huge, fragrance/make-up/homes/womenswear but the menswear department is…read morereally poor, into the good brand there are no small size. It's also really busy, all the time, plus the jumble of goodies and cheap stuff is not really good-looking.