I MIGHT be biased when I say my seaside town is the best in the UK – but this year is set to be an exciting one for it.
From restored funiculars to new beach saunas, there are lots of new openings to be excited about.
Named one of the UK’s best places to live in 2024, and the top place to visit in the UK last year by Time Out, Folkestone has been on the up in recent years.
Folkestone West train station is also one of the fastest growing in the South East, welcoming more than 970,000 passengers from 2024/2025 – compared to 678,000 the previous year.
And one of the biggest transformations to the town will be the creation of the Bouverie Square park, set to become the town’s ‘green heart’.
Converting the current bus station, the new landscaping and seating are part of the mega £20million renovation of Folkestone.
Fountains, bike stands and a small playground are also part of the plans.
Councillor Clive Goddard (Con) said: “To me, this is the up-and-coming part of Folkestone.
“Yards to the left, you’ve got Guildhall Street, with all the fine development happening down there. This seems to give the businesses a new lease of life.”
Folkestone’s Lower Leas Coastal Park is also getting a huge renovation after 25 years.
One of the largest free playparks in the region, the £750,000 project will see a huge new wooden climbing structure.
More seating, bike and buggy parking and landscaping are part of the plans, while the original pirate ship and sand diggers will remain.
It hopes to be complete in time for the summer holidays this year.
Cllr Connor McConville, Cabinet Member for Assets and Local Government Reorganisation, said: “We wanted something that would make people sit back and go ‘wow’ – this incredibly impressive design with fun equipment certainly does that.”
And opening next month is the Sea Scrub sauna – the largest beach sauna in the country.
Opening from March 14, guests will be able to book sauna sessions in the seaside pods.
It joins their current beach saunas in Margate, Faversham and Whitstable.
Guests can book an hour session for £20 at either the Scandinavian Sauna or Shepherds Hut Sauna.
And finally, after years of delays, the Leas Lift funicular is set to reopen.
Forced to close back in 2017, the restoration of the lift will connect the clifftop to the beach.
A new upgraded cafe is also part of the plans with a waiting room and outdoor terrace.
Estimated to cost up to £6million, the 138-year-old lift is one of only three water-balanced funiculars remaining in the UK.
So if you are planning a trip to a seaside town this summer? Folkestone is looking better than ever.
Trains from London take 52 minutes from St Pancras train station to Folkestone.
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