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Folkestone Harbor
It’s worth starting your walk around the town at its Harbour Arm (Folkestone Harbour Arm). Built in 1843, it served as a wharf for the ferry service between Folkestone and Boulogne in France. For a long time the port was in decline, but 5 years ago it was reconstructed and the place has become a center of attraction for tourists.
Today, Harbour Arm is dotted with street food trucks serving everything from Argentinian steak sandwiches and pad thai to pizza and gyros.
One of the gems of the harbor is the Marketplace. It’s 35 fishermen’s huts that come together from March to October to become a fairground where you can buy a variety of goods: English wines and artwork, homeware and ceramics. It’s definitely worth a look here if you want to bring something to remember from Folkestone.
Creative Quarter
Next, head out to explore Old High Street, or as it is commonly referred to, the “creative quarter”.
Look out for Rennies Seaside Modern – it sells furniture, vintage seaside posters, ceramics and textiles by 20th century British artists.
Also, check out The Great British Shop for home goods, toys and more. Best of all, it’s all made in the United Kingdom.
Another interesting place is Paradiso. Here they sell vintage items related to the movie and television industry. Paradiso’s poster collection spans from the 1930s to the 1990s. You can also buy books and records with movie soundtracks in this store.
Walking around the creative quarter, you will see artists working in their studios. They don’t mind sharing their experience and regularly hold interesting workshops.
Folkestone and contemporary art
Folkestone’s calling card is its outdoor collection of contemporary art. It is considered to be the largest in the UK. There are over 70 works from 40 artists scattered throughout the town.
In Folkestone’s Harbour Arm, for example, you’ll find a cast-iron human statue by British sculptor Anthony Gormley. And in the former fairgrounds you’ll find a giant ceramic jelly mold by Lubaina Himid, the first black woman ever to win the Turner Prize.
Tracey Emin, a representative of the Young British Artists group, “scattered” baby items around the city – small bronze figures of a teddy bear, shawls and pintucks. She wanted to draw attention to the high number of teenage pregnancies in the south-east of the country.
If you have noticed colorful houses installed in different parts of the city, and even right in the harbor and on the beach, then you know – this is the work of “Holiday House” sculptor Richard Woods. The author wanted people to think about the consequences of owning multiple properties at once. Woods hopes his installation will draw attention to the housing crisis, as some people have more than one home, and some have nowhere to live.
Bill Woodrow’s sculpture “The Escarpment” appeared on the coast in 2017. It represents the figures of an Eskimo and a seal, which are set on a black surface in the shape of a drop. In this way, Woodrow alluded to the rising water levels resulting from the melting of polar ice caps and icebergs. And the human figure and the seal represent an ancient way of life on thin ice.
Folkestone Triennial 2025
Folkestone Triennial 2025 will take place from July 19 to October 19, 2025 and will present new work by leading British and international artists in a variety of public spaces in this seaside town. Previous editions of Folkestone Triennial have focused on the history and geography of Folkestone in its heyday, from early Victorianism to the First and Second World Wars and more recent history. Issue 2025 will be an exploration of a more distant past. Participating artists will reflect on man’s connection to the land and imagine a new future from the deep past.
Among those who will delight audiences with their work are Celine Condorelli – moving between sculpture, architecture and installation, she explores people’s daily lives, themes of caring, mutual aid and supporting each other; along with Daniel Fernandez Pascual and Alon Schwabe, viewers will be able to delve into issues of environmental formation through economics, ecology and the food system; Dineo Seshi Raisibe Bopape, a South African artist known for her immersive installations in clay, earth and wood, enhanced with sounds and moving images, will focus on themes of spirituality, healing and ancestral knowledge. For a full list of exhibitors, visit the event’s official website.
Sunny Sands Walking Tour
For those who want to spend time in nature, Sunny Sands is a great option for a walk. It is a small sandy beach, above which rise grassy hills decorated with wild thyme and flowers. Charles Dickens once came here to write the first chapters of his novel Little Dorrit. You can even find a local mermaid on Sunny Sands beach, the work of English artist Cornelia Parker.
If you continue towards the hills, you will reach Warren and the eastern cliffs, from which overgrown grassy meadows descend to a pebble and sand beach. In the Edwardian era it was very popular with tourists. It even had its own train station and many different cafes. Now it is a wilderness hidden by woodland paths that lead down to the sea, where you can enjoy incredible views of the White Cliffs of Dover.
The Battle of Britain Memorial
Another place to visit (if you have any energy left, of course) is the Battle of Britain Memorial, which is a 10-minute drive from the city center. The Battle of Britain was a World War II air battle that lasted from July 10 to October 30, 1940.
On the territory of the Memorial you can see the work of British sculptor Harry Gray – a statue of a seated man looking at the sea. This pose was chosen for a reason – the author wanted his sculpture to be more contemplative than triumphant, and viewers have the opportunity to interpret it for themselves.
Also check out the main museum hall known as the Wing. There’s an exhibition featuring many artifacts and interactive exhibits about the Battle of Britain.
Where to eat and drink
- Rocksalt – Michelin-starred restaurant with stunning views of Folkestone Harbor. Be sure to try the scallops with sweet corn, black garlic and crispy rice flakes, and the king prawns with peppers and kimchi mayonnaise.
- Chummys – Don’t miss the fresh shrimp and crab sticks at this seafood shop.
- The Pilot Bar – Located in the Harbour Arms, this is the perfect place for a cocktail or coffee.
- Folkstone Wine Company – is a family restaurant where you can enjoy a fine lunch or dinner. Locals suggest trying the pork brisket and cured salmon.
- The British Lion – is the oldest pub in Folkestone. Charles Dickens loved to come here when he stayed in the town. A very good place to end your day in Folkestone.
- Check out the literary coffee shop Steep Street.inspired by Parisian brasseries.
