FOLKESTONE & FAMILY FUN

Folkestone has been a holiday venue ever since the Victorian era. But what does it offer for today’s families? Well, sea, sand and hopefully sun of course – and a wealth of other activities for kids of all ages and mums and dads too!

Highlights: Sunny Sands, Mermaids’ Beach, The Warren, Leas Cliff Coastal Park, F51 Skate Park, Folkestone Triennial/Art Trail

Read on to find out more!

A beach with a large stone in front of the sea with a harbour arm in the background
Sunny Sands in Folkestone

OH, WE DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE!

Sunny Sands is the closest sandy beach to London, hosts a sandcastle competition every year and is within an easy walk to everything non-beachwise you could need.

Mermaids’ Beach is almost picture-perfect, pristine, pebbly and great for swimming. You can also get stuck into surfing, paddle-boarding and paragliding, or just enjoy the view from the Mermaid Café before you stroll up into the town centre.

For those feeling a bit more gung-ho or after a bit of fossil hunting, check out The Warren – a secret wilderness with forested walks and amazing views along with fossils up to 112 million years old. The Warren is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and home to rare orchids and other plants and wildlife. Get your hiking gear on – it’s a steep climb but oh so worth it, and there is a café and toilets on the top of the cliff.

THE FUN ZONE

Tucked in beneath the Leas at Folkestone, between the town and the sparkling English Channel, is the Leas Coastal Park – a fantastic blend of fun, formal gardens and flora and fauna.

Fun with a capital F, the Fun Zone is South East’s largest free play area with a sunken pirate ship, zip lines and over 12m of tube slides, designed specifically for inclusive play, with low level play panels and easy wheelchair accessibility.

Add in climbing walls, a toddler construction area, sand diggers, and a harbour with rocking boats, plenty of seating for the grown-ups, and the Mermaid Café for those essential teas, coffees and snacks…

The nearby 350 seat amphitheatre hosts free events every summer, ranging from music and magic to comedy and drama, storytelling, participative art and much more. It’s also the starting point for guided walks around the park, and where you can access the Zig Zag Path.

Find out more about the Lower Leas Coastal Park here.

Wooden playground equipment consisting of multiple levels with red net mesh connecting various towers
The playground at the Lower Leas Coastal Park
A skater does a trick in a concrete bowl with a white wall with a shark mural behind
Skateboarding at F51. Photo from F51.

F51 – WHERE SKATEBOARDING MEETS THE FUTURE!

F51 has to be seen to be believed – this indoor venue is home to the world’s first suspended concrete bowls and has three stacked floors dedicated to all types of skateboarding and BMXing. With 350 sqm of climbing surface and 240 sqm of bouldering space as well, you’ve got all the ingredients for a superb day out!

Sessions are available for beginners and the more experienced alike, and gear available to hire. To find out more or to make a booking, visit www.F51.com.

GENTLER PURSUITS OR RAINY DAYS

If all that activity sounds a bit exhausting, there’s a wealth of art and history to explore in Folkestone.

Quarterhouse is a superb performing arts venue, with an ongoing programme of theatre, dance, music, film, comedy and family shows plus live screenings from the National Theatre and Royal Opera House. A full programme is available at www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/folkestone-quarterhouse/.

Folkestone Artworks, the UK’s largest urban contemporary art exhibition, is free and accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can discover 46 artists’ work in scenic and surprising locations including works from Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley and Yoko Ono. Pick up a map/guide from The Clearing on the first floor of the Quarterhouse.

A modern grey building with large glass windows
The Quarterhouse arts venue. Photo by Matt Rowe
A crowd of people sit on many tables all watching a screen outside
The Harbour Screen at Folkestone Harbour. Photo from Folkestone Harbour.

Meanwhile, Folkestone Museum in the Town Hall in Guildhall Street has a vast range of collections including maritime, fashion and historical artefacts as well as interactive attractions.

Or if you really just want a nice sit down, check out the Silver Screen Cinema on the junction of Guildhall Street, Sandgate Road, and Rendezvous Street. For what’s on information, prices and booking, visit www.folkestonecinema.com.

If film is your thing you might also like the programme of free screenings of movies and sporting events down at the Harbour Screen at Folkestone Harbour. Check for details of upcoming events at www.folkestoneharbourarm.co.uk/events

WHERE TO EAT

With everything from top-end restaurants, family friendly pubs and a range of cafes it’s true to say you’ll easily find somewhere that everyone in the family will love!

Some of our favourites for families include the Steep Street Coffee House, The Full English, Bella Vita for pizza and pasta, the Ship Inn down on The Stade, and Sandy’s Fish & Chips.

A photograph of two burgers on a plate in a kitchen environment.
There are tons of food options in Folkestone

WHERE TO STAY

With choices ranging from old style luxury, boutique hotels, b&bs and self catering there is a vast selection of accommodation. Check out more on Places to Stay.

GETTING HERE AND OTHER PRACTICALITIES

By car, we’re less than two hours from central London via the M25 and M20, or the M2 and then follow the excellent signs. By train, Southeastern’s high speed rail service will get you hear from London in less than an hour. National coach operators serve the area, with bus services around the area from Folkestone central bus station.

Parking: folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/parking/car-parks-in-district
Toilets: folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/parks-beaches-open-spaces/publictoilet-facilities