7 Things To Do In Folkestone Before Catching Le Shuttle or The Ferry

Folkestone: Get ready to fall for the creative coastal town that’s worth making time for.

Folkestone is often thought as the place you pass through en route to Le Shuttle or the ferry, but it’s well worth a stop in its own right. It’s got a bit of everything- coastal walks, a thriving arts scene and layers of local history.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxed Kent day trip or an enjoyable place to break up a longer journey, there’ll be something to do in Folkestone that will have you covered.

Folkestone Harbour Arm & The Old Harbour Station

This is where old and new meet in Folkestone. Originally the railway terminal for ferries to Boulogne and departure point for soldiers bound for the Western Front, the historic harbour arm is now a top notch promenade, full of places to eat, drink and relax.

You can actually walk across the harbour on the old swing bridge and viaduct. Designed to keep the harbour and railway working back in the day, they are now planted with greenery creating a pleasant walkway to the harbour station.

The character of the old station has been preserved beautifully and is home to The Goods Yard, an outdoor street food plaza and market place home to an eclectic mix of vendors and a big screen that shows sporting events and a range of cinema across the year.

If you are passing through Folkestone for the ferry or tunnel, this is a great stop. There’s parking, something for everyone and great food with no booking or waiting required.

The Folkestone Artworks

Folkestone is home to the UK’s largest urban contemporary art trail. It’s free, accessible 24/7 and includes works from Tracey Emin and Antony Gormley. Some works are easier to spot than others. You can’t miss the pink house in the harbour that floats on the tide, for example, but you’ll have to look a bit harder for (and at) some other works.

Some of the installations are fun, some best described as interesting. A fun way to see a bit of Folkestone. Find a selection of art trail walks from Creative Folkestone here.

Sunny Sands Beach

First of all, a moment for the name. It sounds exactly as beach name should, sunshine-y and cheerful. Anyone who remembers kids T.V show, Grandpa in my Pocket will smile at the name- Sunny Sands was the fictional seaside town where the show was set. Anyway…

One of Folkestone’s only sandy beaches, the real life Sunny Sands is a lovely family friendly beach just a short stroll from the Harbour Arm and the town centre.

You’ll find the Folkestone Mermaid here, part of the Folkestone artworks, perched on a rock and looking out to sea. There’s also some cheerful, mermaid themed unofficial artworks on the arches that run along the back of the bay.

Sandy beach, safe waters and mermaids. The perfect Folkestone spot for a dose of Vitamin Sea.

The Creative Quarter

The Creative Quarter is a village within the town of Folkestone, a mixed use area of living space, shops, galleries and places to eat & drink.

There’s a huge selection of shops to browse, selling everything from vintage clothes to original artworks with plenty of bistro’s and bakeries dotted in-between.

The streets are historic, the buildings are colourful and the atmosphere is buzzing. This is the colourful and creative heart of Folkestone.

Visit Lower Leas Coastal Park and Walk the Zig-Zag Path

Another place in Folkestone where old meets new and it works beautifully. The historic Lower Leas Coastal park is a green space and recreational area tucked into the rocky space that separates the town from the English Channel.

The park is neatly divided into sections that include an adventure play area, restored Victorian gardens and a Wild Zone with planting designed to create a habitat for migrating birds and insects.

One of the most unique and interesting features of the park is the Zig-Zag Path, a cliff side wander that takes you from Folkestone sea front down to the sea through a series of tunnels and grottoes. Built as part of a scheme to tackle unemployment post WW1, this quirky bit of local history now a listed structure. Full guide to the Zig Zag Path coming soon.

Pay Your Respects at The Battle of Britain Memorial

The cliff top memorial to ‘The Few’ – the pilots and groundcrew who won Battle of Britain in 1940- is well worth a visit.

There’s a lot to discover at the memorial site, including the striking stone sculpture of a lone airman looking out to sea, a memorial wall and replica aircraft.

Look out for Bob the dog. Many squadrons adopted four-legged mascots and Bob represents all the ‘Good Boys’ that saw airmen off and welcomed them home. It’s a touching aspect of this impressive memorial. Bring your own four legged friend to meet Bob, dogs are welcome in the memorial grounds, on-lead.

The first floor Cockpit Cafe has fantastic views across the memorial to the sea. It’s known as the cafe with, ‘ the best view in Kent’ and is a great alternative to motorway services or pricy coffee bars at the transport terminals.

Grounds of the memorial and Cockpit Cafe free to visit, admission charges apply to access the visitor centre.

Find a full guide to visiting the Battle of Britain Memorial in Kent here.

A Coastal Walk at Samphire Hoe

This man-made nature reserve tucked under the famous White Cliffs is perfect for a walk that feels country-coastal, but is actually less than half an hours drive from the centre of Folkestone. Samphire Hoe is also accessed through a tunnel carved through the cliffs, making it feel like a proper little adventure.

Although this one is a little bit out of Folkestone, I’ve included it. It’s a great pre- Eurotunnel stop for a leg stretch and was actually created with the spoil created when the Channel Tunnel was dug out. So before go through the tunnel, you can walk on what came out of it.

Find a full guide to visiting Samphire Hoe here.

Where to Stay in Folkestone

Holiday Inn Express Folkestone – Channel Tunnel By IHG

A basic but comfortable and budget friendly hotel, conveniently located for Le Shuttle/ Eurotunnel. Bonus points rooms with great showers and a buffet breakfast that offers a grab-and-go option for early starts.

This is my go-to Folkestone hotel when I need a room for the night ahead of an early crossing over to France.

View and book Holiday Inn Express Folkestone-Channel Tunnel here.

Helen x