10 Things to do in Folkestone, Kent
A KENT SEASIDE DAY TRIP
Folkestone is a coastal town in the County of Kent, in the South East of England.
Known as the most “underestimated seaside town” in Kent, here you can immerse yourself with the perfect blend of creative culture, local talent and beachy vibes.
When the sun’s shining, the palm trees are blowing and you have an ice cream in hand, you honestly do get the “Is this really England?” feeling.
. . .
Lonely Planet recently called out Folkestone for having “contemporary artistic appeal”. With multi-coloured beach huts, independent galleries and a picturesque sandy bay, Folkestone really is the perfect day out here in Kent.
So here is our list of where to eat, shop, and explore in the vibrant town of Folkestone.
Read our article “A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE SEASIDE TOWN OF WHITSTABLE, KENT” for another seaside town to visit in Kent.
Go on a treasure hunt for artwork
What makes Folkestone stand out to us over other coastal towns in Kent is the artwork. The town has the largest urban outdoor collection of contemporary art in the whole of the UK - need I say more? This artistic explosion in the town is clearly seen wherever you go. From the end of the Harbour arm all along the promenade lining the beach.
The changing exhibition by the Creative Folkestone Artworks is currently made up of 74 artworks by 46 artists. Accessible all year round, the artworks are widely dispersed throughout the town, harbour and clifftops and it’s fun to go on a hunt to find as many as you can throughout the day or by following one of the suggested walking routes. Check out this map for a list of all of the pieces and where they are.
Our favourite artwork is the “Holiday Home” installation by Richard Woods. These cartoon-like houses, floating in the sea, or perched in the corner of a car park are hard not to take a photo of.
To top off the ever-growing art scene, the town has its very own Banksy. Make sure you spot the artwork in the heart of the Creative Quarter along the Old High Street.
2. Explore the Creative Quarter
In the 2000s Folkestone centre began to rebrand itself as a cultural hotspot which can clearly be seen in the Creative Quarter.
The Creative Quarter sits in the heart of Folkestone, between the harbour and the town centre. Dotted with brightly painted houses, this quaint, yet creative hub is a must-visit while in Folkestone.
The Creative Quarter boasts some of Folkestone's most historic streets. The Old High Street is a cobbled lane that winds its way to the town centre. Lined with vibrant independent boutiques, artists’ studios and quirky cafes - it’s the perfect area to explore. While only being a few minutes walk from the beach and harbour.
Many of the cafes and studios double up as performance spaces that host live music events and workshops. The area is also home to the Quarterhouse performing arts venue. Here they hold regular performances of music, comedy, film and theatre.
So between the Creative Quarter and the Quarterhouse, you always feel like there’s something to join or take part in!
Head to Instagram to watch our reel of our Folkestone day out!
3. Walk the England Coastal Path
Well… part of it at least!
The England Coastal path is yet to be finished but when complete the long-distance trail will be 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometres) in length. The trail follows the coastline around the whole of England and Folkestone’s coast is part of it!
We love our coastline here in Kent and the Folkestone coastline certainly plays a big part. Kent's Heritage Coast won the highly anticipated Lonely Planet “Best in Travel 2022” award for the 4th best region to visit in the World!
From Folkestone, you can walk to the coastal town of Dover. This picturesque walk which follows the famous chalk cliffs takes around 4 hours and is 9.2 miles (14.8 kilometres) long. Starting from the harbour, you walk through Warren Country Park. This park is one of the most important sites for British wildlife, geology and history. Along the way, you’ll see spectacular views from Abbot’s Cliff, Samphire Hoe Country Park and Shakespeare’s Cliff. And to end you’ll come across Drop Redoubt, known as “Dover’s upside-down castle”!
4. Eat Locally Caught Fish (& Chips!)
A seaside day out isn’t complete without tucking into paper-wrapped fish and chips on the beach! The smell of the sea and of course the vinegar sums up a beach day out for us! Our two favourite places are Sandy’s Fish & Chips and Chummy’s. Both within just a short walk to Sunny Sands beach and also the harbour.
Sandy’s serves vegan and gluten-free options and the fish is caught locally in Folkestone (something that’s hard to come by!)
Chummy’s is a family-run business selling fresh shellfish. Once voted “Best Seafood Stall in England” by the English Heritage, they offer a wide range of fresh shellfish including, lobster, scallops, crabs, whelks and more.
5. Walk the Leas Promenade
The Leas is a mile-long clifftop promenade that overlooks the English Chanel. The long lawn is embellished with seasonal flowers and scented gardens and runs alongside grand hotels and restaurants.
The Leas was designed in the mid-1800s by Decimus Burton. This British architect was best known for his work at London Zoo and the impressive Kew Gardens. Standing proud in the middle is a victorian structure, named the Folkestone Bandstand, built-in 1895. Here they hold music concerts through the summer season.
Get a drink at the Leas Cliff Hall Cafe Bar and sit outside overlooking the sea. From here you have a beautiful view of the beach and what I say resembles a giant whale’s tail!
To access the beach there are multiple stairways along the promenade. Our favourite way is by following the famous zig-zag path which is incorporated into caves and tunnels and brings you out to the Lower Leas Coastal Park.
6. Explore the Harbour Arm
With views of the white cliffs and - on a clear day - the French coastline, the Harbour Arm was once the railway terminal and departure point for soldiers. Today it’s a hub for trendy food outlets, artwork and spectacular sea views.
The arm is lined with independent food trucks that span bagels to burritos. If you fancy a drink then chill out at the unique Lighthouse Champagne Bar at the end by the still-functioning lighthouse with 360° views of the English Channel.
While here take a trip down the stairs under the harbour arm’s arches to discover Antony Gormley’s cast-iron figure which stares out to sea
There are picnic benches and deckchairs along the arm so you can relax and take in the sea breeze and the gorgeous sunsets on offer.
The harbour arm also offers many events like live music, film screenings and vintage markets. You can find more information and see upcoming events here.
Just to the side of the railway is the area called Beachside. This area has companies serving refreshments directly onto the pebbled beach from well-furbished shipping containers. With wooden paths, deck chairs and palm trees blowing in the sea breeze you really feel like you’re on holiday somewhere tropical!
Head to the Pilot Beach Bar for a pint in the sun while lounging on a stripy deck chair listening to music.
7. Learn about the history of Folkestone
The Folkestone Museum is located just above the Creative Quarter in the town centre. The museum takes you on a journey through the history of the town, the popular seaside resort and beyond. With various collections showing Victorian fashion, natural artefacts and maritime history, it’s worth a visit on your first trip to Folkestone as a good introduction to the town.
Fancy another seaside day trip in kent? Read our article “10 THINGS TO DO IN HERNE BAY, KENT”.
8. Have fun on the beach
One of the aspects that we love about Folkestone is that there’s a sandy beach and a pebbled beach. A lot of the seaside towns in Kent like Whitstable and Herne Bay have one or the other whereas with Folkestone you can choose.
If we’re going for a dip in the sea we prefer sand on our toes but if we’re having a picnic or eating fish and chips then we prefer the pebbles (no one wants sand in their food!)
Folkestone has a lovely sandy beach perfect for sunbathing called Sunny Sands. Close by are fish and chip shops, pubs, toilets, and cafes so it’s in a handy location. Sunny Sands even has its own annual Sandcastle Competition that’s been running since 2009! This golden stretch of beach completely disappears at high tide so check the tides before visiting.
Admire the bronze mermaid statue created by UK artist Cornelia Parker. The life-size body sits perched perfectly on a rock overlooking the sandy bay.
. . .
Folkestone Beach is a long pebbled beach that lines the town. Walk along the wooden path which zigzags away from the Harbour arm to reach the promenade. Here you’ll find a number of art installations that are part of the Creative Folkestone Artworks.
Admire the multi-coloured beach huts, which line the promenade and keep topped up with ice cream at Mermaids Cafe. This cafe has an enviable location looking right over the beach out to sea.
9. Piece of cake!
While browsing the quirky boutiques and artist studios, the Creative Quarter is the perfect place to stop for a break and a slice of cake!
There are many cafes to choose from. Our favourite place is the Steep Street Coffee House which you can’t miss with its bright orange exterior. Inspired by the famous book cafes in Paris, the cafe is lined with books from top to bottom creating a warm and cosy atmosphere.
Have a slice of one of their freshly made cakes, drink their speciality coffee, find a book to read and relaaax.
. . .
Another place we love to chill is Folklore. Folklore is a cocktail bar and cafe. Offering delicious cakes and locally roasted coffee by day and cocktails and live music by night. Each week they have a varied schedule of events such as live music and comedy nights.
10. Enter the zone
The Folkestone beach runs adjacent to the Lower Leas Coastal Park which is a great spot for families. This park has been awarded a Green Flag, meaning it’s been recognised as one of the best green spaces in the country.
The park which is the largest free adventure play area in the South East is split into three zones. The formal zone, the fun zone and the wild zone.
The formal zone consists of blooming flowers and a labyrinth of gardens. The fun zone, in the centre of the park, is a kid’s play area and includes a pirate ship, zip lines and a climbing wall. Walking through this zone makes you wish you were a kid again! The wild zone is for quiet recreation and provides the perfect haven for certain wildlife ensuring that they can enjoy the park as much as we can.
In the summer months, you can enjoy free events at the 350-seat Amphitheatre which is in a scenic setting looking out to sea.
TRAVEL
Every suggestion in this article is within walking distance, so once you’ve made it to Folkestone you don’t need to worry about transport for the rest of the day. This makes Folkestone a great day out using public transport.
By train
The quickest way to get to Folkestone is by train.
We used our “Two Together” Railcard from the National rail. This railcard costs £30 (£15 each) which is a saving that can be made in just one of two journeys and you can use it as many times as you like throughout the year. It’s definitely worth it if you travel with a companion regularly, so perfect for us!
Our tickets to Folkestone from Lenham were £15 each so £30 in total. With the Railcard, we saved £10.
The quickest way to get to Folkestone from London is from St Pancras International. This train journey is direct and takes 50 minutes -1 hour 10 minutes. Folkestone train station is a 20-minute walk to the Harbour and a 15-minute walk to the Creative Quarter.
This post was in association with National Rail promoting their “Two Together” Railcard. Showcasing a day trip in Kent which is easily accessible by train from multiple locations. National Rail offer multiple Railcards, you can find more information here. Railcards offer value for money if you travel by train, saving you at least 1/3 on most rail fares.
Please leave us a comment below if you have any questions or if you’ve been to Folkestone. Tell us about your experience! We would love to hear from you!
