Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh

Destination

This region of Kent is situated in an area of contrasting scenery, which embraces Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh. Folkestone is a mix of Edwardian elegance & traditional seaside fun. The Cinque Port town of Hythe is fascinating for its historic frontline defence monuments, its quaint streets & speciality shops. Romney Marsh is a wide expanse of flat marshland, ideal for walking & cycling.

What's on Offer

Beach & Amenities

23 miles of coastline range from sand dunes at Greatstone, Littlestone, St Mary's Bay & Dymchurch, to shingle beaches at Sandgate & Hythe. Folkestone has a sandy beach below the East Cliff & remote sands at the Warren, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Places to Visit

The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Royal Military Canal, Battle of Britain Museum & various smaller museums, Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, RSPB Nature Reserve. Award-winning Coastal Park offers pleasant walks, an Amphitheatre and the large free adventure playground for children. Romney Marsh is famous for its Medieval Churches & a wide range of rural activities. A trip to France via Eurotunnel takes under an hour.

Entertainment

The Leas Cliff Hall offers a wide variety of year-round entertainment. There are many art galleries which have a varied range of exhibitions, concerts and activities. Summer entertainment includes Charivari Day, Hythe Venetian Fete, Dymchurch Day of Syn, Lydd Club Day, New Romney Country Fair & many weekend amphitheatre and bandstand performances.

Shopping

Folkestone is the area’s main shopping centre, recently enhanced by the opening of the Bouverie Place Shopping Centre, Sandgate & Hythe are an antique hunter’s delight, Romney Marsh towns include shops offering local produce & seaside souvenirs.

Eating Out

The area has a vast array of eateries that include English, Italian, Thai, Indian, Nepalese, Chinese and Mexican.

Recreation & Sport

The Sports Centre in Folkestone offers all the usual activities, plus an outdoor dry ski slope and toboggan run, there is a leisure pool at Hythe. Kent's only racecourse is at Westenhanger, 5 miles from Folkestone. Other activities include watersports, go-karting, horse riding and golf. The area abounds in waymarked walks and cycle rides.

Holiday & Activity Centres

There is a range of 3 - 5 Star caravan/camping sites/holiday centres.

Conference & Business Facilities

The Channel Suite conference facilities of the Leas Cliff Hall brings the capacity up to 1,500.

Accommodation

There is a range of nationally graded hotels, guest houses, B&Bs & self-catering units.

Getting There

Road

From the M25 follow M20 Eastbound. From M20 enter Folkestone, Hythe or the Romney Marsh from junctions 10 - 12. Coastal Route via A259. From Canterbury via A260.

Rail

South Eastern Trains from Charing Cross & Waterloo to Folkestone Central, approx 1.5hrs (only 57 minutes on HS1 services from St. Pancras).
From Europe, via the Channel Tunnel by car or on foot via Eurostar to Ashford; connecting links to Folkestone.

Sea

The Port of Dover (only 7 miles from Folkestone) offers ferry crossings to Boulogne, Calais and Dunkerque.

Air

Lydd International Airport operates flights to Le Touquet.