{"id":34592,"date":"2026-05-12T12:04:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/34592\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T12:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T12:04:11","slug":"the-uks-best-seaside-towns-2026-why-folkestone-is-one-of-time-outs-top-coastal-destinations-to-visit-in-britain-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/34592\/","title":{"rendered":"The UK\u2019s Best Seaside Towns 2026: Why Folkestone Is One of Time Out\u2019s Top Coastal Destinations to Visit in Britain This Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beach weather is slowly but surely arriving to the UK. Soon, we hope be\u00a0spending\u00a0our\u00a0weekends basking in glorious sunshine and filling our lungs with fresh sea air. As we await warmer days, the team at Time Out has put together a ranking of the British seaside towns we\u2019re most looking forward to visiting this summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the top three were the buzzy Welsh village of Saundersfoot<\/a>, the fun sister towns of Hastings and St Leonards<\/a> and the old school resort of Southsea<\/a>. And in fourth place was \u2018creative hotspot\u2019 Folkestone. Here are all the reasons it made the cut.\u00a0<\/p>\n

First of all, no trip to Folkestone is complete\u00a0with an amble around it\u2019s Creative Quarter. Considered the town\u2019s \u2018cultural heart\u2019 it\u2019s a cobbled district bursting with colourful indie shops like Objectable<\/a> and Bounce Vintage<\/a>, quirky art galleries like 10 Years Time<\/a> and The Stables Studios,<\/a> and trendy eateries like\u00a0Pomus<\/a>,\u00a0El Cortador<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Folklore<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Speaking of eating, there\u2019s a plethora of places worth stopping by elsewhere in the town. Little Rock<\/a>\u00a0serves fresh seafood from a freshened-up shipping container on the beach, Rocksalt<\/a>\u00a0offers elevated\u00a0fish dishes on a posh terrace over the water and Brewing Brothers<\/a> is a beachside craft beer brewhouse with a lineup of delicious pizzas to choose from.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If\u00a0those\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0enough options for you, have a browse around Harbour Arm, a ferry terminal turned cultural attraction with more than 70 indie food, drink and retail vendors. It\u2019s got gorgeous views across the English Channel and regular live music performances to accompany your dinner. Underneath, you\u2019ll spot Anthony Gormley\u2019s cast iron figure from his\u00a0Another Time\u00a0series, looking out to sea.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Folkestone,
\nPhotograph: Lorraine Mitchell \/ Shutterstock.com <\/p>\n

Besides hunting down good food, pay a visit to The Leas, Folkestone\u2019s unique clifftop promenade overlooking the sea. It was designed in the 1800s by\u00a0Decimus Burton (who also worked on buildings at London Zoo and Kew Gardens) and features a grand Victorian bandstand and pristin gardens.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the summer, make the most of the town\u2019s glorious Sunny Sands. There, look out for\u00a0Tracey Emin\u2019s bronze simulacra of baby clothes hidden beneath benches, draped over railings and strewn on the kerb. And, of course, it\u2019s not a trip to the British seaside without fish and chips on the beach, so pick up a box them from award-winning chippy Sandy\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We also\u00a0love the\u00a0town for all of its cultural goings-on, from free Shakespeare performances at Folkestone Amphitheatre to plenty of thought-provoking talks at the Folkestone Book Festival. And don\u2019t miss the newly-opened Seascrub Sauna\u00a0Folkestone<\/a>, Britain’s largest beach spa. It\u2019s home to two wood-fired saunas, a hot tub with a jacuzzi, two cold plunge pools, traditional bucket showers, a wellness cafe and an event space for yoga and moon ceremonies. An ideal way to round off your trip.\u00a0<\/p>\n

ICYMI:\u00a0Three of the best new restaurants in the world are here in the UK<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Plus: This \u2018authentic\u2019 farm in Devon has been named one of the best new hotels in the world<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stay in the loop:\u00a0sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter<\/a>\u00a0for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.<\/p>\n