A DAY TRIP TO FOLKESTONE

We asked interior designer and Folkestone local Sophie Rowell to give us some insider tips on the best things to do in the coastal town she calls home.

HOW TO GET THERE

You can take a high speed train from London St Pancras all the way to Folkestone Central or Folkestone West in under an hour. Both stations are just a short walk from the harbour – city to beach in an hour isn’t bad going!

WHAT TO DO

SHOPPING

The Potting Shed “selling Tamagroute from Morrocco, Vintage Kantha Quilts from India, Aesop Skincare and beautiful Antiques. Then inside is a SpeakEasy (open Thurs-Sat nights), where you go through a secret entrance for the best cocktails”.

Sophie’s other must visit shopping spots are Bounce Vintage and Courting Lily for vintage clothes, Kitty McCall for homewares and Rennies seaside art gallery.

FOOD & DRINK

“The best food you’ll EVER HAVE from chef, Dave Hart. Even Grace Dent agrees….” is a pretty tempting tagline from Sophie when placing The Folkestone Wine Company at the top of her food and drink hitlist.
Other places to try are Steep Street for a coffee on the hop or Harbour Coffee Co for coffee and pastries by the sea;
plenty of lunch and dinner spots to try like The Bouverie Tap and Lucky Chip;
artisan beers to go (or drink in!) at The Beer Shop;
and a brand new coffee shop and yoga studio, YOKE, for a little something extra.

A short journey from London, a great selection of quirky and independent shops and art galleries to browse, plenty of fantastic food and drink spots and all within a stones throw from the beach. Sounds like the perfect weekend day trip to me!