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Beach weather is slowly but surely arriving to the UK. Soon, we hope be spending our weekends basking in glorious sunshine and filling our lungs with fresh sea air. As we await warmer days, the team at Time Out has put together a ranking of the British seaside towns we’re most looking forward to visiting this summer.
In the top three were the buzzy Welsh village of Saundersfoot, the fun sister towns of Hastings and St Leonards and the old school resort of Southsea. And in fourth place was ‘creative hotspot’ Folkestone. Here are all the reasons it made the cut.
First of all, no trip to Folkestone is complete with an amble around it’s Creative Quarter. Considered the town’s ‘cultural heart’ it’s a cobbled district bursting with colourful indie shops like Objectable and Bounce Vintage, quirky art galleries like 10 Years Time and The Stables Studios, and trendy eateries like Pomus, El Cortador and Folklore.
Speaking of eating, there’s a plethora of places worth stopping by elsewhere in the town. Little Rock serves fresh seafood from a freshened-up shipping container on the beach, Rocksalt offers elevated fish dishes on a posh terrace over the water and Brewing Brothers is a beachside craft beer brewhouse with a lineup of delicious pizzas to choose from.
If those aren’t enough options for you, have a browse around Harbour Arm, a ferry terminal turned cultural attraction with more than 70 indie food, drink and retail vendors. It’s got gorgeous views across the English Channel and regular live music performances to accompany your dinner. Underneath, you’ll spot Anthony Gormley’s cast iron figure from his Another Time series, looking out to sea.
Besides hunting down good food, pay a visit to The Leas, Folkestone’s unique clifftop promenade overlooking the sea. It was designed in the 1800s by Decimus Burton (who also worked on buildings at London Zoo and Kew Gardens) and features a grand Victorian bandstand and pristin gardens.
In the summer, make the most of the town’s glorious Sunny Sands. There, look out for Tracey Emin’s bronze simulacra of baby clothes hidden beneath benches, draped over railings and strewn on the kerb. And, of course, it’s not a trip to the British seaside without fish and chips on the beach, so pick up a box them from award-winning chippy Sandy’s.
We also love the town for all of its cultural goings-on, from free Shakespeare performances at Folkestone Amphitheatre to plenty of thought-provoking talks at the Folkestone Book Festival. And don’t miss the newly-opened Seascrub Sauna Folkestone, Britain's largest beach spa. It’s home to two wood-fired saunas, a hot tub with a jacuzzi, two cold plunge pools, traditional bucket showers, a wellness cafe and an event space for yoga and moon ceremonies. An ideal way to round off your trip.
🌅 See Time Out’s full list of the UK’s greatest seaside towns.
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