Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
With the high speed train connecting London to Folkestone, this seaside town in Kent is becoming a popular spot to visit on a day trip from the capital. Direct trains from St Pancras International take less than an hour to get between the two, which is extremely convenient if you want to get out of London for a day by the beach. If you’re looking for more than just a day by the beach then there’s still plenty of reason to visit – just check out our guide to the best things to do in Folkestone! Other options for getting from London to Folkestone include taking a train from Charing Cross or London Bridge, taking a coach from London Victoria or driving yourself. This guide covers the different options of how to get from London to Folkestone, ticket prices and more!
Wondering which beaches to visit on your trip? Check out our helpful guide to the beaches in Folkestone!
Train from London to Folkestone
From St Pancras International
The quickest way to get from London to Folkestone is the fast train from St Pancras International going to Dover, with direct trains taking around 50 minutes. Trains run to both Folkestone West station and Folkestone Central station, with the latter generally being the better option to get off at as it’s closer to the town centre.
On some journeys you will need to change trains at Ashford International station, with there normally being about a 10-15 minute wait between arriving into the station and the next train departing. If you take a train that requires a change at Ashford then it should still only take around 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach Folkestone.
Prices for an advance train ticket from London St Pancras International to Folkestone start from as little as £15 for a one-way journey, regardless of whether you book a direct train. Advance tickets aren’t always available, so it’s best to book a few weeks before travelling if possible to guarantee the best price.
If you want to take a day trip from London to Folkestone then the direct high speed train from St Pancras International is the best option as it’s the quickest way to get between the two. We recommend booking through the Omio website as soon as possible to get the best price for your trip.
Click here to find prices for your dates and to book your tickets on Omio!
From Charing Cross or London Bridge
There is also a direct train from London Charing Cross to Folkestone, which takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes. Although the train departs from Charing Cross, you can also board at London Bridge as well as London Waterloo East if it’s more convenient. Trains take around 1 hour and 30 minutes from London Bridge to Folkestone Central.
Advance fares for a train from Charing Cross or London Bridge to Folkestone start from £12 one-way. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind the extra journey time then it can be worth picking this option. Assuming you book advance fares, you end up saving just under £6 on a return journey compared to advance fares on the train from St Pancras.
It’s best to book your tickets at least a few days before you travel if you’re hoping to secure an advance fare. Thankfully it’s easy to book quickly through the Omio website, so we suggest heading there now to sort out your tickets.
Click here to check train times and book your tickets on Omio!
Save extra with a Railcard
If you’ve decided to take the train then getting a Railcard is a great way to save even more money on your trip. Railcards can offer up to a third off ticket prices depending on the specific railcard you have.
Most railcards cost £30 for a year, so it’s only worth investing in if you plan to travel by train a few times throughout the year. We have both had railcards throughout our adult lives and it’s helped to save us a lot of money over the course of train trips to visit friends and family around the country.
Coach from London to Folkestone
National Express coaches run from London Victoria to Folkestone every day, with the scheduled journey time taking around 2 hours and 45 minutes. If you get caught in bad traffic there is a chance the journey may take even longer.
Coaches depart from London Victoria Coach Station and arrive into Folkestone Middelburg Square – which is conveniently located in the town centre.
Coach tickets to Folkestone from London can be booked through the Omio website, with prices starting from £9 for a one-way journey. Personally we recommend taking the train but if you’re on a budget and are ok with arriving into Folkestone later in the day then the coach is a good option.
Click here to visit the Omio website to book your tickets!
Driving from London to Folkestone
Although it may not be everyones first thought of how to get from London to Folkestone by car, if you want the chance to explore more of Kent then driving from London to Folkestone is a good option. There are plenty of great places to visit in Kent, including the famous White Cliffs of Dover, the seaside town of Ramsgate, Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle and more.
The drive from Central London to Folkestone can take as little as 1½ hours, but if you get caught in traffic can take up to around 3 hours on a bad day. It’s a fairly easy drive though, and once you’re outside of London the majrity of the route is on the M20.
If you want to drive from London to Folkestone but don’t have your own car then we recommend searching on the Discover Cars website to find a good deal. They compare prices from a number of different operators so that you can pick the best deal to suit you.
Click here to find the best car rental prices for your trip on the Discover Cars website!
If you’re interested in exploring more of England then find out more about our favourite places such as the Lake District and a visit to Manchester!
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