FOLKESTONE has been named the top destination to visit by Time Out this year - and as a local, I can see why. The Kent town featured on their 15 best places to visit in the UK in 2025 list. Citing it as a "once under-the-radar" seaside town, it since undergone a huge revamp in recent years.
Time Out said: "In recent years the Kentish town has cemented its rep as a top-tier seaside spot, delightful for its colourful, cobbled Old High Street of indie shops, its ever-growing culinary scene, its balmy, sweeping beach and surrounding areas of natural beauty." I understand it's recent comparison to Brighton too - they are both less than an hour from London (Folkestone is just 54 minutes to St Pancras) and both have an amazing art scene. Folkestone does beat Brighton in one way, however - the average house price in Folkestone is £311,673 according to Rightmove, while Brighton's is £484,154.
Read more on seaside towns And there are some exciting new changes coming to the seaside town, which as someone who lives there, am excited about. There is the long awaited Leas Lift, one of the UK's last funicular railways, which is undergoing a huge renovation. Having closed back in 2017, it hopes to reopen this year and connect tourists from the clifftop to Folkestone Beach.
The Lower Leas Coastal park - one of the largest free adventure parks in the UK - is also laying the groundwork for a huge renovation. Most read in Beach holidays And returning this year is the Folkestone Triennial for t.