Sandgate Beach

Sandgate Beach sits on the Kent coast in the village of Sandgate, tucked between Folkestone and Hythe along the curve of the English Channel. A long, narrow stretch of shingle backed by a low sea wall and the village's main coast road, it offers a calmer alternative to Folkestone's busier seafront, with views east towards the cliffs of the North Downs and south across the Channel towards France on clear days.

The beach is popular with walkers, dog owners and sea anglers, and forms part of the wider promenade that links Folkestone Harbour with Hythe via the seafront path. At low tide, patches of sand are exposed, while the deeper shelving water makes the shore a favoured spot for paddleboarders and kayakers in calmer weather. Sandgate village itself, just behind the beach, has a clutch of independent cafes, antique shops, pubs and restaurants along the High Street, with the ruins of Sandgate Castle, built by Henry VIII as part of his chain of coastal forts, standing close to the western end of the beach.

Regular Stagecoach buses along the A259 connect Sandgate with Folkestone Central and Hythe, making this a straightforward stop on a Kent coastal day out.