Last Updated on January 8, 2024 by Natalia
Although the beaches in Folkestone may not be considered the best beaches in Kent, they’re still great spots to visit. There are only three beaches in the town itself, each with something slightly different to offer. Sunny Sands is the only sandy beach in Folkestone, making it the best of the town’s beaches for swimming and sunbathing. Folkestone Beach and The Warren are both pebble beaches, but are still lovely to visit for a pleasant walk along the Kent coastline. You can easily spend a day just enjoying the beaches, but be sure to make time to enjoy the other great things to do in Folkestone. Find out all you need to know with this quick guide to the best beaches in Folkestone, Kent!
Planning a trip to Folkestone from London? Check out our guide on how to get from London to Folkestone!
Beaches in Folkestone
Sunny Sands
As the town’s only sandy beach, Sunny Sands is by far the busiest of the beaches in Folkestone. On sunny days the beach is an extremely popular spot, with locals and visitors enjoying a day out by the sea.
Sunny Sands is a relatively small beach, so it can get crowded very quickly on nice days. During high tide a lot of the beach is underwater which can make it seem even busier – so it’s best to visit during low tide if possible!
Being Folkestone’s only sandy beach, this is the best spot for you if you want to go sunbathing or swimming. There is also a promenade along the beachfront which is a nice spot for a walk, as well as some tunnels to explore beneath the walkway. The tunnel archways are a great spot if you’re looking for some shade on a hot day.
At low tide there are some rock pools to explore nearby, where you may be able to spot some crabs if you’re lucky. Alternatively you can walk along the rocks towards the Warren.
Sunny Sands beach is within walking distance of some of the town’s most popular spots including the Creative Quarter and the Folkestone Harbour Arm.
The best place to park to get to the Sunny Sands beach is here.
The Warren
The Warren is home to the quietest beaches in Folkestone, within walking distance of the popular Sunny Sands beach. There are a collection of pebble beaches in the East Cliff and Warren Country Park, which are ideal to visit if you’re looking for a peaceful walk by the sea.
If you’re looking to go swimming or sunbathing, the Warren beach in Folkestone probably isn’t the right spot for you. Instead, it’s a nice spot to walk and enjoy the scenery, and if you’re lucky you might get to see a seal as they’re sometimes seen in the area.
It’s possible to walk along this stretch of coast to Dover, which takes around 2 hours, but the walk should only be done in low tide as you may get stuck during high tide.
Folkestone Beach
Folkestone beach is the largest of the town’s beaches, and stretches along the Kent coastline to the small town of Hythe. It’s another stoney beach, so it’s not commonly used for sunbathing or swimming, but it’s still a lovely spot for a walk along the coast.
As you walk along the beach you can see a number of the Creative Folkestone Artworks, including Casa Anacaona by Sol Calero, Out Of Tune by A K Dolven, and Jelly Mould Pavilion by Lubaina Himid. If you start or end your walk at the Harbour Arm then you can also see more of these art installations, such as Holiday Home by Richard Woods and Another Time by Antony Gormley.
The beach is also home to the colourful Folkestone beach huts, which are a lovely sight to see. A number of new beach huts were installed in 2021 for the triennial art festival, and the bright colours bring some extra light to the area.
Walking along the beach also leads you below the Leas Promenade, and adjacent to the Lower Leas Coastal Park. Children won’t want to miss the park’s adventure playground, whilst grown-ups can enjoy other areas of the park with its flowers and gardens.
If you want to get a view of Folkestone beach from above then you can head up to the Leas Promenade, which overlooks the English Channel. On a clear day you can even see over to France!
Alternatively you can continue walking along the beach and onto Sandgate beach and then Hythe beach. These beaches all connect with Folkestone beach, and are essentially just names for different parts of the same beach. It’s a fair distance to walk, so it’s only worth doing if you have quite a bit of time and it’s a nice day.
If you like beaches then check out our post to some of the best beaches we’ve ever seen on Koh Phi Phi in Thailand!
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