EXPLORE
THE SOCIAL LIFE
SANDGATE
Sandgate spans 2.5 kms of Kent coastline between Folkestone and Hythe. It fringes the English Channel and clusters beneath steep wooded slopes.
Attractively located between Folkestone and Hythe, the charming coastal village of Sandgate is worth much more than a passing visit. A few minutes journey from both towns by car or bus - or an easy seafront walk or cycle ride - you'll find beaches with long views over the Channel, a High Street famous for antiques and collectables, a wonderful selection of inns and restaurants, including traditional fish and chips, as well as small independent shops.
Sandgate has a fascinating history which embraces the times of Henry VIII, smugglers, the threat of Napolionic invasion and vital military roles in two world wars.
HYTHE
Hythe is a town in Kent near to Burmarsh, Folkestone, Monks Horton, Sandgate and Sellindge.
On this website for Hythe, Kent, you can search for great places to stay as well as local dining establishments. This site also has links to attractions, activities, events and many other notable goings on in Hythe.
This Kent site also provides information on how to get to Hythe. If you are thinking about travelling to Hythe, Kent by public transport, the nearest railway station is Eurotunnel. and the nearest airports are Lydd Airport, Headcorn Aerodrome , Kent International Airport (Manston) and London Southend Airport.
Hythe, Kent boasts excellent hotels, quaint B&B's and comfortable guest houses in the town and the nearby vicinity. You can search for accommodation by type, distance from Hythe, Kent and rating, as well as other individual accommodation requirements.
THE WALKS
THE LOWER LEAS COASTAL PARK
is home to the largest free adventure play area in the South East.
It also boasts an amphitheatre which hosts theatre and musical performances during the warmer months, and is right next to the beach.
The park is split into three zones, with the formal zone comprising pine avenues, gardens and flowers blooming all year. The fun zone has several different play areas, while the wild zone is a haven for quiet recreation, where sensitive habitat management allows wildlife to thrive.
THE SOCIAL LIFE
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FOLKESTONE HARBOUR ARM:
THE PLACE TO BE
Folkestone’s newly restored Harbour Arm is open daily; a promenade out at sea with a World-class view.
It is a place for food and drink, as well as one of enjoyment of the town’s heritage and history. Open every day for walking - with a variety of food, music and entertainment on offer at the weekend.
OPENING HRS
Open for promenading 7 days a week, dawn to dusk.
During the summer months, several food and drink outlets are open seven days a week, meaning there's always something enjoy.
THE ARTS
FOLKESTONE CREATIVE QUARTER
is an urban village of designers, filmmakers, musicians, web developers and artists. We have restored 90 buildings and look after around 80 flats, 115 studios and offices and over 50 shops, making it a hive of activity. Enjoy watching artists paint in their galleries and sign up to classes run by skilled makers. Bars transform into micro-performance spaces and cafés are buzzing with people meeting to make exciting plans. Contributing to the reputation, infrastructure and economy of the town, Folkestone Creative Quarter is a playground for creative and digital businesses.
A stone’s throw from the sea and less than an hour from London, Folkestone’s Creative Quarter is home to hundreds of creatives who contribute to and support the creative community, making Folkestone a great place to live, work and visit.
THE ARTS
Artistic enclaves, stunning shores, unique histories and expansive wildlife escapes make Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh in Kent well worth a visit.
In the quaint regenerated streets of Folkestone, you'll discover cutting-edge art in its unique Creative Quarter, which houses over 100 artistic enterprises within its cobbled centre. Explore pastel-painted studio-galleries, and indulge in quirky stores, laid-back bars and chic eateries. The mile-long cliff-top promenade of The Leas is just a short stroll away, offering sea views to France, and a ride to the Lower Leas Coastal Park where you can enjoy a picnic or BBQ on the beach; or head to the Folkestone Harbour Arm for an eclectic mix of food, drink and enterntainment. Be sure to try Rocksalt for super-fresh fish and al-fresco dining with superb harbour views, or Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill for classic French and English cuisine, with a side of Channel views from the Clifton Hotel. Eurotunnel Le Shuttle also brings France closer too, with Folkestone just 35 minutes away from Calais.
The south Kent coast has long protected the realm. Hythe, New Romney, Sandwich, Dover and Hastings united in the 11th-century as the original Cinque Ports. Henry VIII built diminutive Sandgate Castle in 1539. A chain of sturdy Martello Towers, stretching from Folkestone to Sussex, went up during the Napoleonic wars, while the planes, hangars and artefacts of Folkestone's Kent Battle of Britain Museum, and the heroic story re-told at the Battle of Britain Memorial speak eloquently of the aircrews that defended the skies.
History is tangible too in Hythe Kent, from 10th century St Leonard's Church with its skull-packed ossuary, to the family-run stores and antiques shops all over town. While the Hythe Bay Seafood Restaurant can always be relied upon for just-caught fish and spectacular sea views.
The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway offers a scenic, marsh-side, steam-powered puff from Hythe, through New Romney, to Dungeness. The Napoleonic-era Royal Military Canal stretches for 28 miles, with shorter towpath cycle and walking routes fanning out from Hythe. It can also be cruised by electric or hired row-boat too.
Nearby Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve and Howletts Wild Animal Park are alive with lions, tigers, gorillas and meerkats to provide a truly wild day out. You can even bed down (almost) beside the beasts through the array of short breaks opportunities.
With huge skies and clear air, Romney Marsh offers freedom, space and a place to think. Its 100 square miles of unspoilt countryside takes in woodland, wetlands and sand and shingle shores. Pay a visit to the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre for information about the history and wildlife of this unique landscape, as well as tips on other things to see and do. Cinque Port towns New Romney and Lydd supply compelling stories and smugglers' tales, while the huge RSPB nature reserve at Dungeness delivers birdlife at its most magnificent. Tee off on the beautiful Littlestone Golf Club's links courses for sensational views across to the English Channel. Prospect Cottage - the home of outspoken author and film-maker Derek Jarman - provides a unique insight into writing, living and gardening - ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.
Be sure to visit Elham Valley, nestled midway between Canterbury and Folkestone, within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, providing a multitude of woodland walks and country pubs.