Great Britain is fraught with many historical mysteries, and one of them is the Shell Grotto, which is located in the city of Margate in Kent. This underground corridor, more than twenty meters long, decorated with many shells, was discovered in 1835, and its origin has remained a mystery.

Plan of the Shell Grotto with mosaic diagrams

Almost all surface areas of the walls and ceiling of the Grotto are covered with mosaics, created entirely from shells of local origin. The total area of ​​the mosaic is 190 square meters; 4.6 million shells were used to create it. The shell grotto consists of an underground passage approximately 2.4 m high and 21 m long, ending in a rectangular room (altar chamber) approximately 5 by 6 m. A massive rotunda pillar is located approximately in the middle of the tunnel. Near the grotto there is a museum, a souvenir shop and a cafe.

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The purpose of the structure is unknown, and various theories of its construction vary within 3,000 years. Some assumptions connect the Grotto with the Templars, others with the ancient Phoenicians. The latter statement has recently found more and more adherents in pseudo-scientific circles, since some patterns laid out with shells evoke associations with Phoenician symbols. These speculations are fueled by the fact that the name of the Tenet peninsula, where Margaret is located, is currently believed to come from the name of the Phoenician goddess Tanit. Although many people believe that some parts of the panel are a crocodile, an owl or a turtle, the abstract nature of these images makes these suggestions highly subjective.

Due to the fact that scientific attempts to date the Grotto using radiocarbon dating have not been successful, the age of the structure is currently uncertain. Among other factors, analysis is hampered by the soot that has covered the shells over time, as Victorian lamps were used to illuminate the site in the 1800s. Lamp lighting has caused the once colorful surfaces to blacken, which, moreover, are under constant exposure to water and moisture.

In addition, it was discovered that the grotto was rebuilt several times in the 19th century: a new arch was added, the so-called “altar,” and some panels and niches were removed and then restored. The original floor was also completely removed. During World War II, the eastern wall of the so-called "altar" chamber was destroyed by a bomb.

Every year, the mystery of the shell grotto increasingly warms the interest of tourists from all over the world who want to admire the creation of the hands of unknown masters. And there is something to see: thousands of multi-colored shells of sea inhabitants are skillfully laid out in the form of intricate patterns that leave no one indifferent, giving rise to an endless stream of associations and versions of origin in the head of every viewer.

Entrance to the attraction in 1867

Gift shop and cafe near the Shell Grotto

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_Grotto

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True, at first I experienced a real shock, because before that I had never been abroad in my life and, even more so, had never lived in a family of foreigners. Therefore, my experience was similar to the way of learning to swim, where a child is thrown into the water in the hope that he will swim up. And she swam out and didn’t drown! But it couldn’t be any other way: willy-nilly, you are drawn into communication with a hospitable English family, get to know their tastes and daily routine, meet their friends and relatives, literally becoming a member of their family for a while.

This is an extremely useful experience in terms of immersion in the English language, and I confidently recommend it to people who want to achieve tangible progress in English: many years of cramming the language from textbooks cannot be compared with studying in a native language environment, where you have to (yes, , there is no escape from this) express your thoughts in English. Towards the end of my language training in England, which lasted 6 weeks, I began to have dreams in English, I chatted freely with teachers and other foreign students from our schools, which were present there in great diversity: in our lessons there were funny Japanese, talkative Spaniards, relaxed French and many other nationalities, which at the same time helped to learn their traditions and way of life in their homeland (and also improved my knowledge of geography, which, frankly speaking, has never been my strong point). With some foreign friends whom I made while studying at a language school, I subsequently corresponded for several years by mail (unfortunately, there was no Internet in those ancient times).

Therefore, if you are still wondering whether you need to go to study English in England or whether it is worth sending your child here - don’t hesitate - it’s definitely worth it! And we can help you choose the language courses that are right for you based on age, budget and specifics, help you obtain visas and settle all other organizational issues.

Just write to us at and we will dispel all your doubts.

Location of the city of Margate

Pictured: Margate city center, UK

However, I have deviated a little from the topic: so, Margate is a charming town with a population of only 40 thousand people, on the east coast of England, in the county Kent– this is approximately 2 hours by train from London station Victoria. And if London usually amazes tourists with its multinational diversity, then Margate in this regard is an extremely homogeneous city, where 97% of the population belongs to the white ethnic group.

The appearance and attractions of the city of Margate

In the photo: people dancing in the central square of Margate

Since my last visit, the town has improved significantly; a lot of new modern buildings have appeared here - in particular, a gallery of modern art opened in 2011 Turner Contemporary. The city center is decorated with an ancient clock tower Jubilee Clock Tower, built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It is noticeable that the city is kept clean and tidy, paying great attention to its appearance and the organization of leisure time for tourists. It's a nice place to spend a weekend or a short vacation.

Pictured: street cafe in the center of Margate, UK

Things to do in Margate: beaches and activities

In the photo: the beaches of Margate, UK

Beaches in Margate sandy, which will undoubtedly delight families with children: there are simply plenty of opportunities to entertain children here. An amusement park in Margate recently reopened after a major refurbishment. Dreamland is the oldest park of its kind in England: its first attractions were launched in 1880! Here is one of the oldest roller coasters in England - an attraction Scenic Railway rollercoaster, which first ran in 1920, and many other restored vintage rides that are worth at least a look at, even if riding isn't in your plans.

On my first visit, I and my fellow students spent a lot of coins in the slot machines of this park - I was especially attracted to the machines with a moving threshold: you had to manage to throw a two-penny coin into them so that it would move those lying in front and eventually push out the coins hanging over edge. A small life hack: the coins will fall down if you lightly push the machine (but have time to escape before the security comes running at the sound of the siren). With special talents, these machines could make a lot of money. Another “beast” that devoured all the remaining pocket money was the well-known machine with an iron “claw”, which is designed to pull out soft toys, but tries not to do this. However, there were craftsmen in our school who managed to get toys in batches and even make a business out of it, selling them to their less fortunate friends.

Dreamland survived several fires in the first decade of the 21st century, fell into disrepair and was subsequently closed, but thanks to the efforts of a persistent public it was eventually restored and improved. Opening of the updated park, called " Re-imagined Dreamland", took place just the other day, in June 2015.

Pictured: beach attractions for children in Margate

On the beaches of Margate you can also find a lot of entertainment for kids: here you can find traditional English bouncy castles (bouncing castels), slides, swings, carousels, trains, cars - in general, everything that your child’s soul desires, very humane price.

The water in the sea, as is English custom, is quite cool to the touch, but there are brave souls who swim even in such invigorating water.

Where to eat in Margate

Pictured: a fish dish at the Bay Restaurant at the Sands Hotel in Margate

You can have a delicious meal of European cuisine in the restaurant Bay at the hotel Sands, inside the hall or on the spacious terrace overlooking the sea. Be sure to order local there fish(catch of the day) - incredibly cooked, tender fish at a price well below London. Just keep in mind that their kitchen closes at 2:30 pm and reopens at 7 pm.

Photo: View of Margate Beach from the Bay Restaurant terrace

Summary: Is it worth going to Margate?

Overall, Margate is a great option for a family weekend at sea. It is beautiful, cozy, inexpensive, and you will always find something to do with your children, if you have them. You can continue your exploration of the east coast of England in the picturesque town of Broadstairs, located literally 3 kilometers from Margate, which you will also certainly like.

Somewhat non-standard. I was able not only to visit there while passing through, but also to look a little at the life of the British and be surprised at the difference in mentalities. In the summer, my husband and I found ourselves visiting his parents in a small town called Margate, located in Kent. This town stands on the banks of the English Channel and is surrounded by luxurious roses and other incredibly beautiful flowers. And the sea seems especially turquoise blue surrounded by white limestone cliffs.

The streets of the town are incredibly clean, and at almost every step there are notices that dogs need to be picked up after. Which is what all residents of Margate do without exception. All dog owners carry special cleaning bags.

I didn't get bored in Margate. Having gone out into town for breakfast, my husband and I were attacked by sea gulls, who in the blink of an eye destroyed our fish and chips, causing a real fight. And on leaving the cafe, we were doused with water from the window of a neighboring house. Compassionate townspeople suggested that we call the police. The sergeant who appeared a quarter of an hour later listened to us carefully, learned that we were not going to sue, and promised to take action against the hooligans. We just didn’t understand - to people or to birds.

After breakfast we headed to the sea, hoping to be in peace and quiet. But it turned out that in the morning hours on the embankment there was nowhere for an apple to fall! People were sunbathing while lying on the asphalt and many of them were eager to communicate with us. Having escaped from the sociable townspeople, we unexpectedly came to an impregnable ancient castle, rising on the top of a cliff, as befits a real impregnable citadel. Later we were surprised to learn that this castle was simply an imitation of an ancient one and that it housed an expensive hotel.

In the evening, people come out to the coast to look for crabs and other edible creatures under the stones on the shore. But there are so few crabs, and so many people wanting to eat them, that we found nothing except two completely tasteless-looking green shrimp.

My husband's parents struck me with some oddities, obviously characteristic of all Englishmen. The father-in-law brought only one small cod from sea fishing, explaining that he threw the rest, “unsuitable” fish, back into the sea. Apart from cod, all fish are unsuitable for residents of Foggy Albion. My husband's mother, having bought a new sideboard, chose to saw off its legs only because the rather tall vase with dried flowers could not fit on the sideboard!

We visited several neighboring towns. In Broadstairs we visited the Charles Dickens Museum, at the same time we went to a festival dedicated to the writer and saw enough of the residents of the town dressed up in 19th-century costumes. At the beach kiosks we were offered seafood delicacies, including sea snails, which are a typical food here. They seemed like rubber to me and I didn’t like them at all.

Ramsgate- a small port city, on the pier of which we saw countless snow-white yachts. There is an atmosphere of luxury and eternal celebration in the air here. In addition, judging by the memorial plaque, the great Van Gogh lived in one of the houses on the embankment.

In the next town on our route, Folkestone, we discovered a very unusual museum - a real Russian submarine. True, we were not able to get there - the museum was closed.

Returning home, we noticed a sign inviting those who wished to enjoy fresh strawberries from the garden and take fresh berries with them for a very reasonable fee. The baskets were given free of charge and no one counted how many strawberries you ate while in the garden beds. As a result, I probably ate strawberries for the rest of my life! And she brought with her a rather large basket.

I was very surprised that my fathers-in-law and their neighbors, living about three kilometers from strawberry paradise, did not have the slightest idea about it! The next day, in gratitude for the “discovery,” the neighbors presented me with another large basket of strawberries.

On the way back to London I had another adventure. I went to the toilet on an intercity bus and couldn’t find the flush anywhere. There was no pen or chain around, just a big red button with erased letters. I pressed the button. The light in the toilet went out and the bus stopped. Having got out of the toilet, I found the passengers and the driver having fun from the heart. It turned out that the button I pressed is an analogue of our “stop tap”!

City:
Location:	Close to the city center, Westbrook area
School name:	Rutland School of English
Student age:
Operating dates:
Accommodation:	Host family
Possibility of living in a residence:	Yes (Guest House is a family mini-hotel with several rooms of 2* class), if necessary, it is possible to book a hotel of a higher level
Adult training opportunity:	Yes
Accommodations:	As a rule, double rooms. A family can have 1-2 or more students, depending on the size of the house and the capabilities of the owners. Families are usually within walking distance of the school
Nutrition:	Breakfast, dinner and box lunch
Center equipment:	The city school is small in size, has no sports equipment or its own territory (there is a small garden), the city infrastructure is used for the entertainment program (swimming pool, disco, cinema, bowling, etc.), where students are given paid tickets
Student level:	A1-C2 (Elementary to Advanced)
Number of people in the group:	10-15 people
Distinctive features of the center:	One of the oldest schools in Kent. Language courses for foreigners have been running here continuously since 1959.

Margate

Margate is a famous resort on the south coast of Great Britain, a medieval town (founded in 1264) in Kent, near Canterbury and just an hour and a half drive from central London. Among other things, it has an excellent sandy beach.

The school offers accommodation with a host family.
Family accommodation is usually in double rooms. One family can have 1-2 students or more, depending on the size of the house, the number of free rooms and the capabilities of the owners.
Families are located mostly within a 5-20 minute walk from the school (distance not guaranteed). If necessary, students purchase a bus pass. The cost of a travel ticket is about 12 pounds per week.

School building

Rutland School of English is a small city school. There is practically no sports equipment or private territory (there is a small garden); the city infrastructure is used for the entertainment program (swimming pool, disco, cinema, bowling, etc.), where students are given paid tickets.

The school provides an extensive entertainment program for students, which, along with sporting events, discos and films, also includes one full-day excursion per week (at least one trip to London is required), two half-days, daily afternoon activities, as well as one free day (usually Sunday) to book an additional full-day excursion directly on site. This can be either a repeat trip to London or to any other city at the request of the group.

A wide variety of full-day and half-day excursions allow students to visit many attractions. Excursions, combined with the active program offered by the school, will become a memorable event for students and will allow them to spend their time interestingly and usefully.

Street panorama. Cecil Square

Street panorama

Local entertainment center

Embankment

Embankment

Location on the map

Rutland School of English,
78 Canterbury Road, Westbrook, Margate, Kent
CT9 5DF
United Kingdom

Approximate stay program for 4 weeks

It is possible to order additional excursions not included in the program

Price group studying in the UK for 2019

		Payment before 01.12.2019 Discount 25,000 rub. from the full cost of 2 week programs		Payment before 01/01/2020 Discount 20,000 rub. from the full cost of 2 week programs		Payment before 02/01/2020 Discount 15,000 rub. from the full cost of 2 week programs		Payment before 03/01/2020 Discount 10,000 rub. from the full cost of 2 week programs		Payment before 04/01/2020 Discount 5,000 rub. from the full cost of 2 week programs		Payment before 05/01/2020 Full price, no discounts. It's better to pay in the fall!
		Family	Residence	Family	Residence	Family	Residence	Family	Residence	Family	Residence	Family	Residence
1 week	Non-cash f.l.	76 191	87 091	81 641	92 541	87 091	97 991	92 541	103 441	97 991	108 891	103 441	114 341
	Non-cash legal entity	74 094	84 694	79 394	89 994	84 694	95 294	89 994	100 594	95 294	105 894	100 594	111 194
	Cash (additional discount!)	69 900	79 900	74 900	84 900	79 900	89 900	84 900	94 900	89 900	99 900	94 900	104 900
2 weeks	Non-cash f.l.	130 691	179 741	136 141	185 191	141 591	190 641	147 041	196 091	152 491	201 541	157 941	206 991
	Non-cash legal entity	127 094	174 794	132 394	180 094	137 694	185 394	142 994	190 694	148 294	195 994	153 594	201 294
	Cash (additional discount!)	119 900	164 900	124 900	169 900	129 900	174 900	134 900	179 900	139 900	184 900	144 900	189 900

If the ruble falls relative to other currencies, prices may be changed at any time. After the conclusion of the contract and full payment, they do not change under any circumstances.

Additional charges:

• Air ticket (purchased separately)
• Non-departure insurance (mandatory – 5500 RUR)
• Visa – 13,000 rubles. when filing in Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk, 19,000 rubles. – when submitting in Rostov-on-Don

Group 5+1, 10+2, 15+3, 20+4, 25+5, 30+6 – managers free of charge

To any city on the program in the UK you can add accommodation in London or Edinburgh in a 3* hotel with breakfast:

3 days/2 nights in London or Edinburgh – 19,900 rubles.
Included: meet-and-greet, accommodation, meals

The number of nights may be increased. Estimated cost: 120 USD/night.

Excursion services can be added upon request.

Any other additions to the program are possible at your request.
Their cost will be calculated individually according to your request.