Discovering Folkestone, England: 3 Things I Loved 💙

I wanna say, ‘Happy Monday’, but let’s ease in gently shall we?  So,  last weekend I didn’t finish my book like I (didn’t) plan to. But I did manage to sort the pics out from my day trip to Folkestone.

There’s quite a lot, so it’s best I break this up into a little series.

Before I start though, have you heard of Folkestone? I vaguely remember it coming up on my radar here and there, no doubt because of the town’s connection to the war.

Folkestone is on the South Coast of England in Kent. And, not that you asked, but (apparently), you can see France from across the channel on a clear day!

One thing I will say is: it’s a pity about the unpredictable weather, because the UK really does have some pretty amazing beaches. Once upon a time, Folkestone was a top UK beach destination. 


Anyway, it was my first visit…so here are a few things I loved:

Old Market High Street

I’m a sucker for cobblestones and narrow lanes. Throw in a bit of colour and I’m all over that! There’s 200+ independent shops here, including galleries, coffee shops, and record stores, all sporting bright and sunny facades that would make any misery guts smile. Sadly, many British High Streets have died a slow and drawn-out death, so all you hear now is a monotonous: ‘remove item from the bagging area.’ So Old High Street was a welcome change. I even popped into the Great British Shop, which gave me that nostalgic local shop feeling.  And even managed a good old natter with the shopkeeper too.

The Harbour 😍

Before reaching the harbour, I could hear the gulls, smell the sea  in the air and must have experienced all four seasons by the time I made it there. Still, the anticipation was high! When I arrived, I was certainly left in awe by the old boats,  houses, the cliffs, and the sea. I honestly don’t know what I was expecting,  but it wasn’t this. The harbour was definitely giving ‘Oh, I do love to be beside the seaside’ vibes. I read somewhere that Folkestone is trying to shed its shipping port reputation. I can’t confirm whether that’s the case. After all, this was my first time. But I’ll say this:  if ‘shedding an old shipping port reputation’ means introducing a variety of indie businesses—eateries, coffee spots, pop-up vintage stalls, handmade gifts, jewellery, arts, crafts, and other creative bits—then it’s an absolutely!

Lighthouse Champagne Bar

Next, I stopped at the Lighthouse Champagne Bar for a little while. And before you ask, yes, that’s a real working lighthouse. Perched on the pier, it overlooks the promenade and harbour from up high. Downstairs there’s a  quintessentially English bar, where I tried English Sparkling wine for the first time. Not gonna lie, it was a protest order. You see, my friends from Italy, Portugal, and South Africa, always boast about their wines, so I opted for a glass of English Rosé. It tasted exactly as I imagined—dry, yet still sweet. The verdict? It made an entry on the post. 🙃

I’ll be back again soon to tell you more about all the lovely things I saw in Folkestone. But in the meantime, have you been awed or fallen in love with a  anything in your hometown recently? I tell you one thing: it’s far cheaper and less hassle.