vibrant

The quirky coastal destination has been named one of the best to visit in 2026 by Time Out, thanks to its vibrant shopfronts and historic harbour

Thanks to the arrival of the long-awaited King Charles III Coastal Path, the UK’s coastline can now be walked in its entirety, and many are setting their sights on its stunning seaside towns to experience it all this summer.

According to Time Out, this is one of the must-visit destinations in 2026, and with an abundance of attractions set against a stunning seaside setting, it’s not difficult to understand why.

Outshining the likes of its well-known neighbours such as Margate, Whitstable and Brighton, Folkestone has carved out a reputation as a rewarding coastal escape for a picture-perfect break. Situated on the southern fringe of the North Downs, tucked into a valley between two cliffs, lies the historic town, overflowing with offbeat character.

With greater incentive than ever to forgo the flights and discover the UK coastline, Folkstone makes an excellent starting point, coming in at number four on the list of seaside destinations.

Creative Quarter

At the centre of this town lies a thriving cultural hub, overseen by the arts charity Creative Folkestone. Its mission has led to the restoration of more than 90 buildings, now home to a wealth of independent studios, cafes and businesses all rooted in creativity, which permeates the entire town.

Awash with colour, it’s this quarter, comprising winding and meandering streets, that makes Folkestone stand out as a destination. The rainbow-hued painted shopfronts and flourishing independent businesses are what distinguish it and make it immediately identifiable from a single photograph.

On visiting for the first time, one guest wrote on TripAdvisor: “Today was my first visit to Folkestone, and we wanted to visit the Creative Quarter. Was not disappointed.

“Fabulous sunny day, helps, of course. Cobble streets and set on a hill. So might not be great for some. Wonderful galleries and fabulous eateries. Quirky shops and friendly people. I will visit again.”

Visitors could easily find themselves whiling away hours browsing in and out of shops, picking up unique souvenirs, books, homeware and artwork.

Harbour

Steeped in history and buzzing with events throughout the week, the Harbour Arm is a true centrepiece of Folkestone. Once serving as the railway terminal for the Folkestone-Boulogne Ferry and a departure point for troops heading to the Western Front, it has since been transformed into a stunning setting for drinks, food and live entertainment with family and friends.

The picturesque promenade, stretching out towards the sea, is home to more than 70 independent food, drink and retail vendors, meaning visitors are genuinely spoilt for choice. If there’s one thing that rings true about Folkestone, it’s the town’s wholehearted dedication to championing local businesses throughout every corner of its tourist offering.

One impressed visitor shared: “Folkestone Harbour Arm has been transformed into a remarkable destination – a vibrant blend of artistic flair, seaside heritage, and excellent food.

“We thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful walk to the lighthouse, passing a compact market area and plenty of great food stalls. The fresh sea air and creative atmosphere made it a joy.”

Beach

Folkestone boasts several sandy bays and pebble beaches, but one in particular has earned a reputation as a firm favourite with visitors, and tends to get packed out during the warmer summer months.

Nestled by the harbour is Sunny Sands, the go-to beach for many, thanks to its soft sands perfect for sandcastle building and sunbathing, plus its convenient location near the heart of the town.

According to visitors, while it suits everyone, it’s ” especially great for children”, owing to its well-maintained facilities and opportunities for water sports. What’s more, this is among the nearest beaches to London, less than an hour’s journey from the capital, making it a popular choice for Londoners craving a breath of seaside air.

Adding to its appeal is the parking available directly beside the beach at the Harbour Arm Car Park, though expect it to fill up rapidly during peak tourist season.

One visitor summed it up simply, saying: “Beautiful beach, lovely day out. fabulous views and scenery. Great for all ages. Lots to see and do. Very clean beach, worth a visit.”

Talk to the passionate team behind KidSTREAM, a new children’s museum in Ventura County, and they’ll tell you about the many lofty goals they have for the 21,000-square-foot space which opened to the public Thursday.

They’ll describe how the museum is the first of its kind in Ventura County and how they hope to make it accessible to as many local children as possible through outreach, discounts and free programming.

They’ll explain how the immersive exhibits highlight the county’s unique industry and geography, including an agriculture area where young visitors can pick pretend fruits and sell them at a farmers market and an ocean exhibit where miniature replicas of the Channel Islands emerge from the bouncy blue “Pacific Ocean.”

A drone view of the museum’s Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands-themed play area.

Avery Hanchar, right, and her brothers Oliver and Carter, test their climbing and balancing skills.

They’ll share that the STREAM in KidSTREAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Math, and talk about the activity carts and art projects that will enhance and support learning for young visitors.

But they are also well aware that for some families, the still-evolving space will serve a less highfalutin, if just as important, goal.

“Parents are looking for a good nap on the way home,” said KidSTREAM founder Kristie Akl. “And we can give them that too.”

Akl, along with KidSTREAM board chairman Bryan Yee and guest experience director Dani Hildreth, were giddy with excitement as they took me on a tour of the museum in the days before it opened.

This moment had been a long time coming, they said.

A high-energy former high school biology teacher with a make-it-happen spirit, Akl first began dreaming about a children’s museum in Ventura County in 2013 after taking her three daughters to KidSpace, a children’s museum in Pasadena founded by members of the Caltech community in 1979.

Akl loved Kidspace, but it was a full hour from the family’s house in Camarillo and she longed for something similar closer to home. For two years, she tried convincing others to create a children’s museum in Ventura County. When that failed, she formed a fledgling board in 2015 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2017.

A young guest chases a cloth blown out of the tubes at the museum’s Amazing Airways exhibit.

“I was always optimistic,” she said. “You have to be to do something like this.”

The original plan was to open the museum in 2020, but fundraising efforts were hampered by the 2017 Thomas fire, which destroyed hundreds of homes in the area. A few years later came COVID shutdowns. The delays were discouraging, but Akl and a growing community of motivated believers used the time to build out their proof of concept by bringing science projects to local schools, neighborhoods and community events, creating online workshops and giving farm workers free science kits to help their kids get exploring.

“It was a herculean task and a huge community effort,” Akl said. “Everyone leaned in.”

Today she estimates that the KidSTREAM Children’s Museum touched the lives of 70,000 children in the Ventura area before ever opening its doors.

Luke Delossantos, right, and his son Grayson play pretend.

“They prototyped a lot of ideas,” said Yee, a father of three who took over from Akl as chairman of the board of KidSTREAM in 2022. “That showed us what works and what doesn’t work and what we should do next.”

In 2022, the city of Camarillo donated the building that housed the former public library to the museum and in 2024, the team raised enough money to bring children’s museum specialist Hildreth on board. Construction began in 2025.

In addition to the agriculture and Pacific Ocean areas outside, visitors will find a camping exhibit with an obstacle course, gratitude tree and a series of different shaped tents where kids can play. There’s also a sand pit where children can dig up replicas of pygmy mammoth bones. (The pygmy mammoth is a dwarf species of mammoth that was native to the Channel Islands.) A nature area includes a sensory path designed with the unique needs of neurologically divergent children in mind.

“There are 200,000 kids in Ventura County from a huge range of backgrounds including a lot of farm worker families,” Hildreth said. “The space is designed for all of them, newborn to 10 years old.”

In addition to the outdoor play areas, visitors will find an indoor “makerspace” with a white Lego wall where children can create vertical designs, four tables for art projects and a super-sized Lite-Brite.

Visitors walk through a greenhouse at the museum’s agriculture area.

“When you are 3 feet tall, it’s your whole field of vision,” Hildreth said.

Admission to KidSTREAM is $16 for adults and children over the age of 1, $13 for seniors and military, and $3 for families with EBT, SNAP or WIC cards. Membership options are also available.

Yee said market research suggests the new museum will reach as many as 150,000 people, and there is still room for expansion.

“We’re 21,000 square feet now with room for growth,” he said. “We’re not stopping, but we’re so excited to open our doors.”