Folkestone Beaches

Folkestone's beaches stretch along the East Kent coastline beneath the chalk cliffs of the North Downs, offering a varied seafront that has been transformed by the town's ongoing harbour and seafront regeneration. Sunny Sands, the most popular spot, is a sheltered crescent of golden sand just east of the old harbour, while Mermaid Beach and the long shingle stretches towards Sandgate provide quieter alternatives with sweeping views across the English Channel.

The reopened Folkestone Harbour Arm, built on the former cross-Channel ferry pier, links the beaches to a lively promenade of food stalls, bars and public art. From Sunny Sands visitors can spot Antony Gormley's cast-iron figure standing on the rocks, part of the town's celebrated Creative Folkestone Triennial trail.

The beaches are backed by the Lower Leas Coastal Park, a Green Flag award winning landscape with woodland walks, an amphitheatre and one of the largest free adventure playgrounds in the south east. On clear days the French coast is visible across the Strait of Dover, and the South West Coast Path connections make this an ideal base for walking, swimming and watching shipping move through one of the world's busiest sea lanes.