Hythe is a Cinque Port town with a shingle beach and the Royal Military Canal, where the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway begins and Port Lympne Safari Park is a short drive west.
Image: Explore KentHythe Beach is a long sloping shingle shore with wide, uninterrupted sea views, a short walk from the winding streets and independent shops of the old town. Combine a seaside stroll with a ride along the Royal Military Canal or a walk from nearby Brockhill Country Park. It suits couples and families for a relaxed few hours.
Image: St Leonard's Church, HytheSt Leonard's has overlooked Hythe for nearly a thousand years and is known as the church with the bones, thanks to the ossuary in its crypt. Around a thousand skulls line the shelves alongside a huge stack of bones, the largest and best-preserved collection of its kind in Britain. It suits curious teens and history lovers and needs about an hour.
Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0A canal dug between 1804 and 1809 to defend the coast against Napoleon, now a 28-mile waymarked path from Hythe to Cliff End in East Sussex. The restored stretch between Seabrook and West Hythe Dam is flat and easy, ideal for buggies, bikes and wheelchairs.
Photo: pam fray, CC BY-SA 2.0Brockhill Country Park near Hythe mixes a lake, woodland and meadows with a play area, picnic spots and the Brockhill Café. Follow the waymarked paths, try geocaching or feed the ducks, and look out for wildlife through the seasons. It suits young families and makes a relaxed two to three hour outing.
Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0Paraker Wood is a steep-sided ancient woodland pocket park in the Seabrook Valley between Hythe and Cheriton. Follow the public and permissive footpaths, enjoy spring wildflowers and listen for nightingales on summer evenings. It suits a short, quiet walk of around an hour.
Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0Peene Quarry is a former chalk quarry in the Kent Downs above Folkestone, now chalk grassland with wide views over the coast towards Dungeness. Walkers come for the North Downs Way, summer orchids and butterflies including the scarce Adonis blue. It suits more adventurous walkers and takes an hour or two.
Image: Port Lympne Safari ParkPort Lympne is a 600-acre reserve near Hythe run by The Aspinall Foundation, where you can follow the walking routes or board a safari vehicle to see animals on its Kentish savannah. The Dinosaur Forest is included in your ticket, and there are several cafes plus a hotel for overnight stays. Plan for a full day.
Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0Kingsnorth Gardens is a formal town park close to Folkestone town centre, laid out in 1928 in a blend of Oriental, Italian and English styles. Wander past ornamental ponds, statues and seasonal bedding, then sit beneath the great weeping ash at its centre. It suits a quiet stroll or a picnic stop and needs about an hour.
Photo: Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0Lower Leas Coastal Park is an award-winning linear park between Folkestone and Sandgate, created on land formed by a huge landslip in 1784. Children love the south east's largest free adventure playground, while the amphitheatre hosts free summer events and the formal gardens and wilder undercliff suit a gentle walk. Plan two to three hours.
Image: Kent Downs National LandscapeFolkestone Downs is 72 hectares of steep chalk hills above Folkestone, including Castle Hill, Sugarloaf Hill, Round Hill and Cheriton Hill. Climb for huge views over the town and Channel, trace the earthworks of a Norman motte-and-bailey fort and look for butterflies and orchids. It suits walkers with good footwear and a couple of hours.
Photo: Stephen McKay, CC BY-SA 2.0Radnor Park is a Victorian town park opposite Folkestone Central station, given to the town by the Earl of Radnor in 1886. The upper park has open lawns and two modern play areas, while the lower park is quieter with ponds and space for wildlife. It suits families with young children and dog walkers for an hour or two.
Image: Leas Cliff HallLeas Cliff Hall is a live entertainment and events venue on Folkestone's Leas, open since 1927, with clifftop views over the English Channel. Its Grand Hall hosts tribute acts, comedy, concerts and an annual family pantomime, and the venue also runs weddings, parties and The Leas Shelter coffee shop. Come for an evening show or the Christmas panto.
Image: Kent Battle of Britain MuseumThe Kent Battle of Britain Museum on the former RAF Hawkinge airfield holds what it calls the world's largest Battle of Britain collection, with artefacts from over 700 crashed aircraft. Explore hangars, the armoury and original airfield buildings, then the aircraft displayed in the grounds. It suits families with older children and aviation fans, and deserves two to three hours.
Image: Folkestone MuseumFolkestone Museum, in the town's neo-classical Town Hall at the bottom of Sandgate Road, traces Folkestone from the dinosaurs to the Second World War. Displays cover its days as a coastal community and fashionable seaside resort, with interactive areas for children. It is free and works well as a one or two hour visit in the town centre.
Image: Creative FolkestoneQuarterhouse is a performing arts venue at the cultural heart of Folkestone, run by Creative Folkestone. Its programme mixes theatre, music, film and comedy with classes and workshops, and The Clearing café bar on the first floor is a striking spot for a drink before a show. It suits an evening out or a creative daytime session.
Photo: Oast House Archive, CC BY-SA 2.0Sunny Sands is a sandy beach in Folkestone, and the sand here is good enough to host the town's annual sandcastle competition. Bring a bucket and spade, look out for the Folkestone Mermaid statue on the shore and pick up ice cream or fish and chips nearby. It suits families with young children and is perfect for a relaxed afternoon.
Image: Folkestone Harbour ArmFolkestone's restored Harbour Arm is a promenade out to sea lined with independent food stalls, bars and small shops, including a champagne bar in the lighthouse. It hosts live music, film screenings and markets through the year, including a festive market before Christmas. It is free to stroll and a good base for exploring the harbour and beaches.
Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0Creteway Down is open chalk downland above Folkestone with sweeping views across the town and the Channel. Walk the North Downs Way along the crest, look for orchids on the protected grassland and find the Coccoliths sculpture on the Chalk and Channel Way. It suits walkers and cyclists with an hour or two to spare.
Image: Explore KentA spooky self-led trail around Brockhill Country Park near Hythe, where children hunt for mystery boxes among Halloween decorations and unlock them to see whether they have won a treat or just a twig. The route follows the park's surfaced blue path and takes about 45 minutes.
Image: Explore KentA longer Halloween session at Brockhill with the park rangers. Children carve a wooden pumpkin to keep, walk the Twig or Treat trail hunting for mystery boxes, then cook a sweet treat over the campfire in the Forest School with a hot chocolate.
Image: Port Lympne Safari ParkHalf-term activities at Port Lympne Reserve, with a new self-guided clue trail through Dinosaur Forest, safari commentary that turns to animal folklore and spooky tales, and reworked daily animal talks. The reserve's hundreds of acres should be in full autumn colour.
Image: Burlington Hotel | BW Premier CollectionAn early evening Halloween disco for adults at the Burlington Hotel in Folkestone on 31 October 2026. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes and the event suits groups of friends or couples looking for a seasonal night out. Times and ticket prices are listed on the event page.
Image: Leas Cliff HallA live tribute show celebrating the music of The Beatles takes place at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone on Saturday 17 October 2026, starting at 7.30pm. Booking is required. It suits fans of The Beatles and anyone who enjoys live music.
Image: Leas Cliff HallKevin Bloody Wilson performs a live stand-up comedy show at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone on Sunday 18 October 2026, starting at 7.30pm. Booking is required and the show is suited to adults aged 16 and over. Listed on the venue's upcoming shows page.
Image: Leas Cliff HallPsychologist Emma Kenny hosts a live talk show exploring murderous minds at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone on Thursday 22 October 2026, starting at 7.30pm. It is booked in advance and suits adults aged 16 and over who are interested in criminal psychology. Ticket prices are not listed here, so check the official upcoming shows page for details.
Image: Leas Cliff HallTHE bEAT perform a live music show on their Dance Crazed Too UK Tour at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone on Friday 23 October 2026, with doors opening at 7pm. Booking is required. The show suits a general audience of families, couples and friends who enjoy live pop and dance music.
Image: Leas Cliff HallFrancis Rossi, the Status Quo guitarist and singer, performs live at Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone on Saturday 24 October 2026, with doors opening at 6.30pm. Booking is required, and the show suits fans of rock and classic pop. Ticket prices and age guidance are not listed, so check the venue's upcoming shows page before attending.
Image: St Leonard's Church, HytheSt Leonard's has overlooked Hythe for nearly a thousand years and is known as the church with the bones, thanks to the ossuary in its crypt. Around a thousand skulls line the shelves alongside a huge stack of bones, the largest and best-preserved collection of its kind in Britain. It suits curious teens and history lovers and needs about an hour.
Image: Leas Cliff HallLeas Cliff Hall is a live entertainment and events venue on Folkestone's Leas, open since 1927, with clifftop views over the English Channel. Its Grand Hall hosts tribute acts, comedy, concerts and an annual family pantomime, and the venue also runs weddings, parties and The Leas Shelter coffee shop. Come for an evening show or the Christmas panto.
Image: Kent Battle of Britain MuseumThe Kent Battle of Britain Museum on the former RAF Hawkinge airfield holds what it calls the world's largest Battle of Britain collection, with artefacts from over 700 crashed aircraft. Explore hangars, the armoury and original airfield buildings, then the aircraft displayed in the grounds. It suits families with older children and aviation fans, and deserves two to three hours.
Image: Folkestone MuseumFolkestone Museum, in the town's neo-classical Town Hall at the bottom of Sandgate Road, traces Folkestone from the dinosaurs to the Second World War. Displays cover its days as a coastal community and fashionable seaside resort, with interactive areas for children. It is free and works well as a one or two hour visit in the town centre.
Image: Creative FolkestoneQuarterhouse is a performing arts venue at the cultural heart of Folkestone, run by Creative Folkestone. Its programme mixes theatre, music, film and comedy with classes and workshops, and The Clearing café bar on the first floor is a striking spot for a drink before a show. It suits an evening out or a creative daytime session.
Image: Battle of Britain MemorialThe national memorial to the aircrew of the Battle of Britain stands on the White Cliffs at Capel-le-Ferne with wide views over the Channel. Alongside the memorial itself are the Christopher Foxley-Norris Wall, the Blade of Honour and replica Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft. Inside The Wing, the Scramble Experience tells the story of the summer of 1940.
Image: Explore KentHythe Beach is a long sloping shingle shore with wide, uninterrupted sea views, a short walk from the winding streets and independent shops of the old town. Combine a seaside stroll with a ride along the Royal Military Canal or a walk from nearby Brockhill Country Park. It suits couples and families for a relaxed few hours.
Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0A canal dug between 1804 and 1809 to defend the coast against Napoleon, now a 28-mile waymarked path from Hythe to Cliff End in East Sussex. The restored stretch between Seabrook and West Hythe Dam is flat and easy, ideal for buggies, bikes and wheelchairs.
Photo: pam fray, CC BY-SA 2.0Brockhill Country Park near Hythe mixes a lake, woodland and meadows with a play area, picnic spots and the Brockhill Café. Follow the waymarked paths, try geocaching or feed the ducks, and look out for wildlife through the seasons. It suits young families and makes a relaxed two to three hour outing.
Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0Paraker Wood is a steep-sided ancient woodland pocket park in the Seabrook Valley between Hythe and Cheriton. Follow the public and permissive footpaths, enjoy spring wildflowers and listen for nightingales on summer evenings. It suits a short, quiet walk of around an hour.
Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0Peene Quarry is a former chalk quarry in the Kent Downs above Folkestone, now chalk grassland with wide views over the coast towards Dungeness. Walkers come for the North Downs Way, summer orchids and butterflies including the scarce Adonis blue. It suits more adventurous walkers and takes an hour or two.
Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0Kingsnorth Gardens is a formal town park close to Folkestone town centre, laid out in 1928 in a blend of Oriental, Italian and English styles. Wander past ornamental ponds, statues and seasonal bedding, then sit beneath the great weeping ash at its centre. It suits a quiet stroll or a picnic stop and needs about an hour.
Photo: Poliphilo, CC0St Mary's Bay is a long sandy beach on Romney Marsh, stretching between Dymchurch and Littlestone-on-Sea. Families come for sandcastles and summer swims, with a kiosk for ice creams and cold drinks, while winter brings bracing walks along the front. Allow a relaxed half day in summer.
Image: Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch RailwayThe Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway runs miniature trains along the Kent coast between Hythe and Dungeness, calling at Dymchurch, St Mary's Bay, New Romney and Romney Sands. Ride the full line out to the shingle at Dungeness, or hop off for the beach along the way, with cafés and a buffet at the stations. It is a favourite with young families.
Photo: Leonard Bentley from Iden, East Sussex, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0Greatstone offers two miles of sandy beach on the Romney Marsh coast, ideal for swimming, sandcastles and long walks at low tide. The open shore also draws kitesurfers and land yachters. Families can easily fill half a day, and Dungeness is close by for more exploring.
Image: RSPB DungenessRSPB Dungeness protects a wide stretch of shingle, freshwater pits, wet grassland and wildflower meadows on the Dungeness peninsula. Follow the level Discovery Trail between the hides to watch the birdlife, and pick up sightings at the visitor centre. It suits birdwatchers and anyone curious about this unusual landscape.
Photo: Dr Astrid Stilma, CC BY-SA 4.0Dungeness is one of the largest shingle landscapes in the world, a strange and beautiful place of wooden houses, lighthouses, power stations and gravel pits. The National Nature Reserve is home to around 600 plant species and is a great spot for migrating birds in spring and autumn. Spend a few hours walking the paths, then visit the Old Lighthouse, the RSPB reserve or the miniature railway terminus.
Image: Creative FolkestoneProspect Cottage is the former home of the artist, filmmaker and gardener Derek Jarman, set on the shingle at Dungeness with his famous garden around it. Guided, timed visits let you step inside to see the rooms and artworks where he lived and worked. It suits art and film lovers and needs about an hour, with time to look at the garden afterwards.
Image: The Old Lighthouse DungenessThe Old Lighthouse is a Grade II listed tower on the shingle at Dungeness, opened in 1904 and in service until 1960. Climb the 169 steps for panoramic views over Romney Marsh and the Channel, and see the Great Lens and Sector Light on the way. It suits families and anyone exploring Dungeness, and takes about an hour.
The rest of the 23 places we list within 10 km, closest first.
