Folkestone ( ) is a coastal town on the
English Channel
The English Channel, also known as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busi ...
, in
Kent
Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...
, south-east
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
. The town lies on the southern edge of the
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. Much of the North Downs comprises two Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Areas of Outstanding Natural Be ...
at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal resort for most of the 19th and mid-20th centuries.
This location has had a settlement since the
Mesolithic era. A nunnery was founded by
Eanswith, granddaughter of
Ăthelberht of Kent
Ăthelberht (; also Ăthelbert, Aethelberht, Aethelbert or Ethelbert; ; 550 â 24 February 616) was Kings of Kent, King of Kingdom of Kent, Kent from about 589 until his death. The eighth-century monk Bede, in his ''Ecclesiastical Hist ...
in the 7th century, who is still commemorated as part of the town's culture. During the 13th century, it developed into a
seaport
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manc ...
, and the harbour developed during the early 19th century to defend against a French invasion. Folkestone expanded further west after the arrival of the railway in 1843 as an elegant coastal resort, thanks to the investment of the Earl of Radnor under the urban plan of
Decimus Burton
Decimus Burton (30 September 1800 â 14 December 1881) was one of the foremost English architects and landscapers of the 19th century. He was the foremost Victorian architect in the Roman revival, Greek revival, Georgian neoclassical and Reg ...
.
In its Edwardian-era heyday, Folkestone was considered the most fashionable resort of the time, visited by royalty â amongst them Queen Victoria and Edward VII and other members of the English aristocracy. The town's architecture, especially in the West End part, is a testimony of this period, with many impressive buildings, townhouses, villas, private squares, and large hotels built to accommodate the gentry. After two world wars and the boom of the overseas holiday package, the town quickly declined. The harbour's trade diminished following the opening of the nearby
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel (), sometimes referred to by the Portmanteau, portmanteau Chunnel, is a undersea railway tunnel, opened in 1994, that connects Folkestone (Kent, England) with Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais, France) beneath the English Channel at ...
and the ending of ferry services from Folkestone, but it still remains in active use.
Toponymy
Although Kent was the first part of the British mainland to be conquered and settled by the invading Angles, Saxons and Jutes from the middle of the 5th century AD, after the departure of the Romans, the name ''Folcanstan'' did not appear until the late 7th century. There is general agreement that this means ''Folca's stone'', the stone possibly marking the meeting place of the local
hundred
100 or one hundred (Roman numerals, Roman numeral: C) is the natural number following 99 (number), 99 and preceding 101 (number), 101.
In mathematics
100 is the square of 10 (number), 10 (in scientific notation it is written as 102). The standar ...
. It was not until the mid 19th century that the spelling of "Folkestone" was fixed as such, with the
Earl of Radnor
Earl of Radnor, of the County of Radnor, is a title which has been created twice. It was first created in the Peerage of England in 1679 for John Robartes, 2nd Baron Robartes, a notable political figure of the reign of Charles II. The earldo ...
requesting that the town's name be standardised (although this tendency towards standardisation in the 19th century is true of English place names generally). Folkestone is often misspelt with variants including Folkston, Folkstone & Folkeston.
History
The area of Folkestone has been occupied since at least the
Mesolithic
The Mesolithic (Ancient Greek language, Greek: ÎŒÎÏÎżÏ, ''mesos'' 'middle' + λίΞοÏ, ''lithos'' 'stone') or Middle Stone Age is the Old World archaeological period between the Upper Paleolithic and the Neolithic. The term Epipaleolithic i ...
era. In 2010, worked flints were discovered below the remains of the
Folkestone Roman Villa.
The East Cliff area was excavated in 1924 and most recently from 2010 to 2011, producing artefacts from the Mesolithic period through to the
Roman era
In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...
. On the East Cliff, an extensive
Iron Age
The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...
oppidum
An ''oppidum'' (: ''oppida'') is a large fortified Iron Age Europe, Iron Age settlement or town. ''Oppida'' are primarily associated with the Celts, Celtic late La TĂšne culture, emerging during the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, spread acros ...
existed, which produced
quern-stone
A quern-stone is a stone tool for hand-grinding a wide variety of materials, especially for various types of grains.
They are used in pairs. The lower stationary stone of early examples is called a ''saddle quern'', while the upper mobile st ...
s on an almost industrial scale.
Those quern-stones, which were used for grinding cereals into flour, were traded for continental exports such as pottery and wine. A modest
Roman-style villa was constructed over the Iron Age settlement some time during the 1st century AD, followed by a more luxurious one in about 200 AD. The villa was abandoned during the 3rd or 4th century for unknown reasons.
In 597 AD, monks, led by
Augustine of Canterbury
Augustine of Canterbury (early 6th century in England, 6th century â most likely 26 May 604) was a Christian monk who became the first archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597. He is considered the "Apostle to the English".
Augustine ...
, arrived at
Ebbsfleet on the
Isle of Thanet
The Isle of Thanet () is a peninsula forming the easternmost part of Kent, England. While in the past it was separated from the mainland by the Wantsum Channel, it is no longer an island.
Archaeological remains testify to its settlement in a ...
, on a mission from
Pope Gregory Gregory has been the name of sixteen Roman Catholic Popes and two Antipopes:
*Pope Gregory I ("the Great"; saint; 590â604), after whom the Gregorian chant is named
*Pope Gregory II (saint; 715â731)
*Pope Gregory III (saint; 731â741)
*Pope Gre ...
to re-Christianise Britain. He was greeted by the Anglo-Saxon pagan King of Kent,
Ăthelberht, and his Christian Queen,
Bertha. Augustine was granted land in Canterbury, where he built his church and, outside the walls, founded the monastery of St Peter & St Paul, now known as
St Augustine's. Ăthelberht was succeeded as Anglo-Saxon king of Kent by his son
Eadbald, whose daughter
Eanswythe refused all offers of marriage. In 630, Eanswythe founded a nunnery on the site of her father's castle near Folkestone by the present
parish church of St Mary & St Eanswythe.
Eanswythe died around 640 and was quickly made a saint. Her remains were moved into the chancel of the current church on 12 September 1138, which has since been commemorated as the Feast of St Eanswythe. They became the focus of prayer and pilgrimage, so Eanswythe was quickly adopted as the town's patron. The religious community grew and developed into a monastery until it was
dissolved by
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
, and St Eanswythe's remains disappeared. They were rediscovered in June 1885 when workmen, carrying out alterations to the high altar, found a battered lead casket immured in a niche in the north wall of the chancel. Examination by archaeologists at the time, and again in 1981, confirmed that the casket was of Anglo-Saxon origin and the few bone fragments were those of a woman in her early thirties. The relics are still housed in the church, close to where they were discovered, flanked by a pair of small brass candlesticks. St Eanswythe also appears on the town's seal, along with
William Harvey
William Harvey (1 April 1578 â 3 June 1657) was an English physician who made influential contributions to anatomy and physiology. He was the first known physician to describe completely, and in detail, pulmonary and systemic circulation ...
, the Folkestone-born 17th-century physician who discovered blood circulation.
A
Norman knight held a Barony of Folkestone, which led to its entry as a part of the
Cinque Ports
The confederation of Cinque Ports ( ) is a historic group of coastal towns in south-east England â predominantly in Kent and Sussex, with one outlier (Brightlingsea) in Essex. The name is Old French, meaning "five harbours", and alludes to ...
in the thirteenth century and, with that, the privilege of being a wealthy trading port. At the start of the
Tudor period
In England and Wales, the Tudor period occurred between 1485 and 1603, including the Elizabethan era during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558â1603). The Tudor period coincides with the dynasty of the House of Tudor in England, which began with ...
, it had become a town in its own right. Wars with France meant that defences had to be built, and a
harbour was built, though the coming of the railways in 1843 had a greater impact on its development.
Dover Hill, the highest point in Folkestone, was a sighting point for the
Anglo-French Survey (1784â1790)
The Anglo-French Survey (1784â1790) was the geodetic survey to measure the relative position of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Paris Observatory via triangulation (surveying), triangulation. The English ...
, which measured the precise distance between the
Royal Greenwich Observatory
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich (ROG; known as the Old Royal Observatory from 1957 to 1998, when the working Royal Greenwich Observatory, RGO, temporarily moved south from Greenwich to Herstmonceux) is an observatory situated on a hill in G ...
and the
Paris Observatory
The Paris Observatory (, ), a research institution of the Paris Sciences et Lettres University, is the foremost astronomical observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centres in the world. Its historic building is on the Left Ban ...
. The hill provided a sight-line to the east along the line of the Folkestone Turnpike to
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England and is Grade I listed. It was founded in the 11th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history. Some writers say it is the ...
, one of the two principal cross-channel observation points, the other being
Fairlight Down in Sussex.
Folkestone Harbour
Until the 19th century, Folkestone remained a small fishing community with a seafront continually battered by storms and encroaching shingle, making it hard to land boats. In 1807, an
act of Parliament, the
Folkestone Pier and Harbour Act 1807 (
47 Geo. 3 Sess. 2. c. ii), was passed to build a pier and harbour, which was built by
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford (9 August 1757 â 2 September 1834) was a Scottish civil engineer. After establishing himself as an engineer of road and canal projects in Shropshire, he designed numerous infrastructure projects in his native Scotland, as well ...
in 1809. By 1820 a harbour area of had been enclosed. Folkestone's trade and population grew slightly, but development was still hampered by sand and silt from the Pent Stream. The Folkestone Harbour Company invested heavily in removing the silt but with little success. 1842, the company went bankrupt, and the government put the derelict harbour up for sale. It was bought by the
South Eastern Railway (SER), which was then building the London to Dover railway line.
George Turnbull was responsible in 1844 for building the Horn pier. Dredging the harbour, and the construction of a rail route down to it, began almost immediately. The town soon became the SER's principal packet station for the Continental traffic to
Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer (; ; ; or ''Bononia''), often called just Boulogne (, ), is a coastal city in Hauts-de-France, Northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Pas-de-Calais. Boul ...
. The last ferry ran in 2001.
The Harbour Arm, formerly used solely for port activities, has been extensively restored and developed as a recreational space and promenade to which the public has access, including bars and restaurants, with entertainment at weekends and on some evenings. The former railway station and harbour viaduct have been reconstructed as a successful public walkway and promenade following the full closure of the branch railway in 2014.
Governance
The governance of Folkestone lies in both national and local government. Insofar as the national government is concerned, Folkestone is part of the constituency of
Folkestone and Hythe, which is currently (2024) represented by
Tony Vaughan (Labour). Before
Brexit
Brexit (, a portmanteau of "Britain" and "Exit") was the Withdrawal from the European Union, withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU).
Brexit officially took place at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020 (00:00 1 February ...
in 2020, Folkestone was part of the
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, regions of England that are in the ITL 1 statistical regions of England, top level category for Statistics, statistical purposes. It consists of the nine counties of england, ...
constituency in the
European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...
.
The local government consists of three tiers. In the first tier,
Kent County Council
Kent County Council is a county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Kent in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includes the Unitary authorities of England, unitary auth ...
, Folkestone is divided into two divisions each returning one County
Councillor
A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or re ...
. Folkestone West is represented by Dylan Jeffrey (Conservative). Folkestone East is represented by Jackie Meade (Labour).
The second tier of local government is the
non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially "shire districts", are a type of Districts of England, local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties (colloquially ''s ...
. Folkestone forms a part of
Folkestone and Hythe district, which was first established by the
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...
as Shepway. Folkestone elects 10 of Folkestone and Hythe District Council's 30 Councillors.
The third and lowest tier was established as the
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
: in Folkestone's case, because it held a
Town Charter, and when the then Folkestone Borough Council was abolished, councillors elected to represent Folkestone's wards were designated as the Town's
Charter Trustees In England and Wales, charter trustees are set up to maintain the continuity of a town charter or city charter after a district with the status of a borough or city has been abolished, until such time as a civil parish council or in larger settle ...
, responsible for electing a Town Mayor. This role has since passed to Folkestone Town Council which is based at
Folkestone Town Hall.
Folkestone
Town Council
A town council, city council or municipal council is a form of local government for small municipalities.
Usage of the term varies under different jurisdictions.
Republic of Ireland
In 2002, 49 urban district councils and 26 town commissi ...
was established in 2004, comprising the area of the former
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various English language, English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
History
...
of Folkestone less Folkestone
Sandgate ward, which was separately parished. Folkestone Town Council comprises eight wards: Cheriton; Morehall; Park; Harvey West; Harvey Central; Harbour; East; and Foord. Each ward returns two or three members, for a total of 18 councillors elected to four-year terms. Each year, Folkestone Town Councillors attend the
Annual General Meeting
An annual general meeting (AGM, also known as the annual meeting) is a meeting of the general membership of an organization.
These organizations include membership associations and companies with shareholders.
These meetings may be required ...
and Mayor-making ceremony to appoint both a Town Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from their number for the coming year.
Geography
Folkestone is located where the southern edge of the
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. Much of the North Downs comprises two Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Areas of Outstanding Natural Be ...
escarpment meets the sea. In contrast to the white cliffs at
Dover
Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...
further to the east, the cliffs at Folkestone are composed of
greensand belonging to the
Folkestone Formation and
gault clay. A small stream, Pent Brook, cuts through the cliffs at this point, and provided the original haven for fishermen and cross-channel boats. The cliffs are constantly under attack from the sea, and the original headlands, which once protected the port, long ago ceased to do so. Artificial protection, in the form of breakwaters and piers, have been necessary since the 17th century.
The town is now built on both sides of the original valley: the West Cliff and ''The Bayle'' to the West, and the East Cliff on the other side of the stream. The Pent Stream now runs through a culvert from the fire station, at the junction of Radnor Park Road, Park Farm and Pavilion Road, until it reaches the inner harbour. Remains of a quay, dating to the 17th century, were discovered under what is now a public car park, between the Old High Street and the railway viaduct, adjacent to the current harbour. Included in the town is
Cheriton, where the
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel (), sometimes referred to by the Portmanteau, portmanteau Chunnel, is a undersea railway tunnel, opened in 1994, that connects Folkestone (Kent, England) with Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais, France) beneath the English Channel at ...
's northern exit is located;
Newington; and
Peene
The Peene (; ) is a river in Germany.
Geography
The Westpeene, with the Ostpeene as its longer tributary, and the Kleine Peene/Teterower Peene (with a ''Peene '' without specification (or ''Nordpeene'') as its smaller and shorter affluent) f ...
.
In August 1996 a one-in-600-years storm left homes and businesses in Black Bull Road, in the Foord Valley, under two metres of water. Heavy rainfall combined with inadequacies in the Pent Stream and local drainage caused the flooding. A crowd of 2,332 saw
Folkestone Invicta play hosts to
West Ham United
West Ham United Football Club is a professional Association football, football club based in Stratford, London, Stratford, East London, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English f ...
in a benefit football match following the flood.
Climate
Folkestone experiences a temperate
oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate or maritime climate, is the temperate climate sub-type in Köppen climate classification, Köppen classification represented as ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of co ...
, much like the rest of England. The air temperature is moderated by its proximity to the coast, however winter temperatures are not as mild as in southwest England. Temperature extremes include a high of recorded on 3 August 1990,
and a low of on 10 February 1986.
Folkestone receives, on average, 1,931.6 hours of mean annual sunshine – the highest amount for a British mainland weather station.
Economy
Folkestone was at one stage a resort town with a developed shipping trade. With the decline of those industries others have filled the gap. The
Dormobile works, car conversion manufacturers were based in the town.
Church and Dwight
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is an American consumer goods company focusing on personal care, household products, and specialty products. The company was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Ewing, New Jersey. It is the parent company of well-kno ...
, the US company famous for
Arm & Hammer baking soda
Sodium bicarbonate (IUPAC name: sodium hydrogencarbonate), commonly known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda (or simply âbicarbâ especially in the UK) is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. It is a salt (chemistry), salt compose ...
-based consumer products, has its UK headquarters in the town.
Silver Spring Mineral Water Company, was the largest independently-owned soft drinks manufacturer in Britain, based in Park Farm, but closed down in 2013.
During the 1980s and 1990s the construction of the Channel Tunnel provided employment, as well as bringing many people to the area, and on completion the running of services still provides work for many. Several insurance firms are based in Folkestone. Some of them used to be involved in the shipping trade but have since diversified into other fields.
Saga plc has its headquarters in Folkestone.
Along with other Kent seaside towns, there has been a resurgence in domestic tourism linked to a growing arts scene.
Main sights
The major landmark in Folkestone, apart from the harbour, is The Leas, the cliffs above the beach. Located in the west part of the town, it is a unique promenade designed in the mid-1800s by
Decimus Burton
Decimus Burton (30 September 1800 â 14 December 1881) was one of the foremost English architects and landscapers of the 19th century. He was the foremost Victorian architect in the Roman revival, Greek revival, Georgian neoclassical and Reg ...
who also worked on
Regent's Park
Regent's Park (officially The Regent's Park) is one of the Royal Parks of London. It occupies in north-west Inner London, administratively split between the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden, Borough of Camden (and historical ...
, London and
St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea (commonly known as St Leonards) is a town and seaside resort in the borough of Hastings in East Sussex, England. It has been part of the borough since the late 19th century and lies to the west of central Hastings. The origin ...
. The promenade along the sea includes many crescents, hotels, private parks and alleys.

A
Martello Tower
Martello towers are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the French Revolutionary Wars onwards. Most were coastal forts.
They stand up to high (with two floors) and typica ...
(No 3) stands on the cliff above Copt Point. Built in 1806 as a defence against
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 â 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
, it has also been a
Coast Guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a Maritime Security Regimes, maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with cust ...
lookout, a family home, a golf clubhouse and a
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 â 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive weapon placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Similar to anti-personnel mine, anti-personnel and other land mines, and unlike purpose launched naval depth charges, they are ...
control post. It now houses a visitor centre. The
Folkestone White Horse is carved on
Cheriton Hill above the Channel Tunnel terminal.
The
Kent Downs
The Kent Downs is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in Kent, England. They are the eastern half of the North Downs and stretch from the London/Surrey borders to the White Cliffs of Dover, including a small section of the London Boroug ...
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB; , AHNE) is one of 46 areas of countryside in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland that has been designated for conservation due to its significant landscape value. Since 2023, the areas in England an ...
includes part of the town area. The nearby
Brockhill Country Park, to the west, with footpaths around a lake and in a valley, links with the
Royal Military Canal
The Royal Military Canal is a canal running for between Seabrook near Folkestone and Cliff End near Hastings, following the old cliff line bordering Romney Marsh, which was constructed as part of British anti-invasion preparations of 1803â0 ...
at
Hythe.
Folkestone is near to two important
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain () was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force ...
landmarks: the
Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne
The Battle of Britain Memorial is a monument to aircrew who flew in the Battle of Britain. It is sited on the White Cliffs of Dover, White Cliffs at Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, on the coast of Kent.
History
It was initiated by the Battle o ...
and the
Kent Battle of Britain Museum.

The Old High Street is an ancient route connecting the Bayle with the Harbour, and is now at the heart of Folkestone's Creative Quarter. The narrow, cobbled slope was one of Charles Dickens' favourite streets. Together with Rendezvous Street, this part of Folkestone is now thriving, with independent businesses and restaurants surrounded by colourful restored buildings.
Transport
Folkestone developed because of its transport links. With France visible across the
Strait of Dover
The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait, historically known as the Dover Narrows, is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel, marking the boundary between the Channel and the North Sea, and separating Great Britain from continental ...
, the town became an important transit point for those travelling from the UK to the Continent. Plans to restore ferry traffic to
Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer (; ; ; or ''Bononia''), often called just Boulogne (, ), is a coastal city in Hauts-de-France, Northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Pas-de-Calais. Boul ...
, following termination in 2001, were discussed in 2005, but they did not come to fruition. The Channel Tunnel northern entrance is located at Cheriton.
Rail
The railway reached Folkestone on 28 June 1843 and a temporary railway station was built while the construction of the line to Dover continued. This started with the Foord viaduct, designed by
Sir William Cubitt, completed in 1844.
Folkestone Junction railway station was then opened and construction through the cliffs between Dover and Folkestone commenced. Once the line was opened to
Dover
Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...
, the town began to prosper (which meant growth westwards), further stations were opened at
Folkestone West (originally named ''Shorncliffe Camp'') in 1863, and
Folkestone Central in 1884.
Folkestone Harbour station was used to transfer passengers from specific trains; the line from the junction was very steep and needed much additional locomotive help. A local group, the Remembrance Line Association, is actively seeking to retain the harbour branch as a tourist/heritage railway operation, though as at 2019 the future was uncertain. Today the domestic services from Folkestone use the Central and West stations on the
South Eastern Main Line.
Venice-Simplon Orient Express passengers now change at Folkestone West for road coaches and the onward journey through the
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel (), sometimes referred to by the Portmanteau, portmanteau Chunnel, is a undersea railway tunnel, opened in 1994, that connects Folkestone (Kent, England) with Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais, France) beneath the English Channel at ...
.
High Speed 1
High Speed 1 (HS1), officially the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), is a high-speed railway linking London with the Channel Tunnel.
It is part of the line carrying international passenger traffic between the United Kingdom and mainland Euro ...
(HS1) is a high speed railway built to French 'LGV' (Ligne Ă Grande Vitesse) standards, connecting the Channel Tunnel to London. Since December 2009, high speed commuter services from Dover have called at Folkestone and then, using the South Eastern Main Line to
Ashford International, the services join HS1 for the journey to
Ebbsfleet,
Stratford International and
London St Pancras. The journey time to London via this route has been reduced to under 1 hour; some trains from Folkestone West take as little as 52 minutes to reach the capital by High Speed Train.
The
Eurotunnel Shuttle terminal, for car transport to
Calais
Calais ( , , traditionally , ) is a French port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,544; that of the urban area is 144,6 ...
by train using the Channel Tunnel, is in the Folkestone suburb of
Cheriton.
The
Leas Lift
The Leas Lift is a grade II* listed funicular railway that carried passengers between the seafront and the promenade in Folkestone, Kent. Originally installed in 1885, it is one of the oldest water lifts in the UK.
The lift operates using ...
, a Victorian water lift that opened in 1885, connects the Leas with the beach.

There were two other lifts on the Leas in Folkestone history: the Metropole Lift (closed in 1940) and the Sandgate Hill Lift, which closed in 1918.
Roads
The town is located at the eastern end of the
M20 which provides fast access to
Ashford,
Maidstone
Maidstone is the largest Town status in the United Kingdom, town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, l ...
,
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
and also to the
M25. The
A20 is motorway-standard to
Dover
Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...
and runs locally towards Ashford and London, following the M20 but runs locally via
Sellindge, Ashford,
Lenham, Maidstone,
Aylesford
Aylesford is a village and civil parish on the River Medway in Kent, England, northwest of Maidstone.
Originally a small riverside settlement, the old village comprises around 60 houses, many of which were formerly shops. Two pubs, a villa ...
,
Wrotham
Wrotham ( ) is a village on the Pilgrims' Way in Kent, England, at the foot of the North Downs. It is north of Borough Green and approximately east of Sevenoaks. It is between the M20 motorway, M20 and M26 motorway, M26 motorways.
History
T ...
and
Swanley
Swanley is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England, southeast of central London, adjacent to the Greater London boundary and within the M25 motorway periphery. The population at the 2021 ce ...
where the A20, M20 and M25 meet and the A20 continues through
Sidcup
Sidcup is an area of south-east London, England, primarily in the London Borough of Bexley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, bordering the London Boroughs of London Borough of Bromley, Bromley and Royal Borough of Greenwich, Greenwich. It was ...
and
Lewisham
Lewisham ( ) is an area of southeast London, England, south of Charing Cross. It is the principal area of the London Borough of Lewisham, and was within the Historic counties of England, historic county of Kent until 1889. It is identified in ...
to
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, in England, spanning the City of London and several boroughs. Over time, a number of definitions have been used to define the scope of Central London for statistics, urban planning and local gove ...
. Folkestone marks the eastern end of the
A259
The A259 is a road on the south coast of England passing through Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, and Kent, and is the longest Zone 2 A road in Great Britain. The main part of the road connects Brighton, Peacehaven, Eastbourne, Hastings, ...
although this is no longer part of the South Coast Trunk Road east of Brenzett, although it remains a primary route. The road gives access to the
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about . The Marsh has been in use for centuries, though its inhabitants commonly suffered from malaria until the ...
,
Hastings
Hastings ( ) is a seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England,
east of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to th ...
,
Eastbourne
Eastbourne () is a town and seaside resort in East Sussex, on the south coast of England, east of Brighton and south of London. It is also a non-metropolitan district, local government district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, bor ...
and beyond. To the north, roads connect Folkestone to
Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
and the nearby villages of
Elham and
Lyminge
Lyminge is a village and civil parish in southeast Kent, England. It lies about five miles (8 km) from Folkestone and the Channel Tunnel, on the road passing through the Elham Valley. At the 2011 Census the population of Etchinghill, Kent ...
.
Stagecoach in East Kent operates local buses from the town. It is served by The Link services to
Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
,
The Wave service to
Dover
Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...
,
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about . The Marsh has been in use for centuries, though its inhabitants commonly suffered from malaria until the ...
and
Hastings
Hastings ( ) is a seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England,
east of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to th ...
. Other bus routes run to
Hythe, Ashford and Maidstone.
National Express
Mobico Group, formerly National Express Group, is a British multinational public transport company with headquarters in Birmingham, England. Domestically it currently operates bus and coach services under brands including National Express. Th ...
runs coaches to Ashford, Dover, Hythe, Maidstone and London.
Education
Schools and colleges in Folkestone include
Folkestone Academy (formed by the merger of Hillside School for Boys and Holywell School for Girls in the early 1970s, and formerly known as Wyndgate Secondary School in the 1970s, the Channel High School in the 1980s, and the Channel School in the 1990s); and
Turner Free School (opened in 2018 on the site of Pent Valley Technology College, formerly Pent Valley Secondary Modern, formed by the merger of Harcourt Secondary School for Girls and Morehall Secondary School for Boys in the 1970s).
There are two selective state secondary schools:
Folkestone School for Girls (formed by the merger of Folkestone Technical High School for Girls and Folkestone Grammar School for Girls in the 1980s) and the
Harvey Grammar School for boys. The latter was founded in 1674. These two schools have a common sixth form timetable.
East Kent College have a Folkestone campus providing a variety of courses including Apprenticeships, Hairdressing and Construction.
From 2007 to 2013, the University Centre Folkestone (a joint initiative of
Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is a Public university, public research university located in Canterbury, Kent, England. Founded as a Church of England college for teacher training in 1962, it was granted university status in 2005.
...
and
University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is a public university located in London and Kent, United Kingdom. Previous names include Woolwich Polytechnic and Thames Polytechnic.
The university's main campus is at the Old Royal Naval College, which along wi ...
) was located in the town providing a specialism in Performing Arts.
There are a number of primary schools in the town. State primaries include Folkestone Primary, Sandgate Primary, Morehall Academy and Martello Grove Academy, a new academy that opened in September 2015. Martello Grove Academy moved to new buildings on its campus in Warren Way in autumn 2016.
Footballer and army officer
Walter Tull
Walter Daniel John Tull (28 April 1888 â 25 March 1918) was an English professional footballer and British Army officer of Afro-Caribbean descent. He played as an inside forward and half back for Clapton, Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton ...
attended the town's Mundella Primary School when it was North Board School.
Leisure
The town is situated at the foot of the
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. Much of the North Downs comprises two Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Areas of Outstanding Natural Be ...
, with views of the surrounding countryside and the coast of France, away. The area is a magnet for passing migrating birds and the Warren (woodlands adjoining Wear Bay) and the cliffs above are of particular interest during the spring and autumn periods.
These are now part of
East Cliff and Warren Country Park.
Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charities are lands which were donated to the people of Folkestone for perpetual recreational use by the
Earls of Radnor during the 19th century. The lands are administered by Shepway District Council, with the Cabinet members forming the Board of
Trustee
Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, refers to anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the ...
s. Previously, the Charter Trustees were also Trustees of the Charities, but that arrangement lapsed upon the parishing of the Folkestone and Sandgate area. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the transfer of the lands to Folkestone Town Council and Sandgate Parish Council.
There are two major
long distance footpath
A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, equestrianism or cross-country skiing. They exist on all continents exce ...
s through the town. The
North Downs Way
The North Downs Way National Trail is a long-distance path in South East England, opened in 1978. It runs from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent, past Guildford, Dorking, Merstham, Otford and Rochester, through the Surrey Hills National Lan ...
, starting its course in
Surrey
Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...
, reaches the coast at Folkestone and continues through
Capel-le-Ferne
__NOTOC__
Capel-le-Ferne is a village on the White Cliffs of Dover, near Folkestone in Kent, England. Its name derives from a medieval French term meaning "chapel in the ferns". In 2011 the village had a population of 1,884. It is perched on ...
, and to its end at
Dover
Dover ( ) is a town and major ferry port in Kent, southeast England. It faces France across the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part of the English Channel at from Cap Gris Nez in France. It lies southeast of Canterbury and east of Maidstone. ...
, some away. The
Saxon Shore Way starts at
Gravesend
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, situated 21 miles (35 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross (central London) on the Bank (geography), south bank of the River Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. Located in the diocese of Roche ...
, Kent and traces the Kent coast as it was in
Roman times
In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman civilisation from the founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingd ...
, via Folkestone, as far as
Hastings
Hastings ( ) is a seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England,
east of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to th ...
, East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total.
Nearby places of interest include the
Kent Battle of Britain Museum and the
Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne
The Battle of Britain Memorial is a monument to aircrew who flew in the Battle of Britain. It is sited on the White Cliffs of Dover, White Cliffs at Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, on the coast of Kent.
History
It was initiated by the Battle o ...
.
Culture
Folkestone has been home to many galleries over the years. The long-established Metropole Galleries, located in the one-time Metropole Hotel on the Leas, staged year round exhibitions until it closed in 2008. Its place has been largely taken by the Creative Foundation. The Foundation has opened a medium scale theatre, conference and music venue in the heart of the Creative Quarter named Quarterhouse. It offers a year-round programme of live music, comedy, film, talks, theatre and children's entertainment. George's House Gallery and Googie's Art Cafe hold frequent exhibitions by local artists and the Folkestone Art Society, established in 1928, holds three annual art exhibitions and publishes an annual art review of work by local artists.
Leas Cliff Hall is the biggest entertainment and function venue in Folkestone with a large choice of concerts, comedy and theatre. An earlier venue the
Pleasure Gardens Theatre opened in 1886, later converting into a cinema before closing in 1964.
The first
Folkestone Triennial art event took place between June and September 2008 with artists such as
Christian Boltanski
Christian LibertĂ© Boltanski (6 September 1944 â 14 July 2021) was a French sculptor, photographer, painter, and film maker. He is best known for his photography installations and contemporary French conceptual style.
Early life
Boltanski wa ...
and
Tracey Emin
Dame Tracey Karima Emin (; born 3 July 1963) is an English artist known for autobiographical and confessional artwork. She produces work in a variety of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, film, photography, Neon lighting, neon text ...
making site specific work for a wide variety of locations around the town. Many of the commissioned works remain permanently in the town. The 2011 Triennial 'A Million Miles From Home' was launched on 24 September 2010 and commissioned 19 international artists to develop new works for Folkestone's streets, squares, beaches and historic buildings.
Folkestone has an annual Chamber Music Festival each May curated by the
Sacconi Quartet. The festival is based in the town's 13th century Parish Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe in the Bayle and comprises concerts of chamber and ensemble music with guest performers. The church also hosts a series of Sunday afternoon concerts under the auspices of Bayle Music presenting local, national and international performers as well as occasional concerts by visiting choirs and ensembles. Folkestone New Music promotes concerts of contemporary music and Folkestone Early Music explores music, from medieval to baroque, through a year-round programme of concerts, talks and workshops.
The annual 'Folkestone Documentary Festival' was founded in 2021 and takes place at the Silver Screen Cinema and Creative Folkestone Quarterhouse each October. The festival also hosts the Folkestone Doc Club at the Silver Screen Cinema, which brings the latest and greatest documentaries to Folkestone every month.
Folkestone, together with
Hythe, has an
amateur theatre
Amateur theatre, also known as amateur dramatics, is theatre performed by amateur actors and singers. Amateur theatre groups may stage plays, revues, musicals, light opera, pantomime or variety shows, and do so for the social activity as well as f ...
group:
Folkestone & Hythe Operatic & Dramatic Society. It is a charitable organisation, producing and performing several different shows a year at its own venue, the
Tower Theatre, located in
Shorncliffe. The society also has a youth section, which puts on three performances a year at the Tower Theatre: the Brigadier Thomas Memorial Competition, a summer show and a Christmas revue.
The literary journal ''
The Frogmore Papers'', published by the Frogmore Press, was founded in Folkestone in 1983. The Folkestone Book Festival takes place every November.
Folkestone Museum, which holds a collection of fossils, archaeological remains and paintings relocated to Folkestone Town Hall in spring 2017.
Folkestone has an annual ''Comic Convention'' each May organised by ''Planet Folkestone''. The convention is a volunteer-run event which raising funds for local charities including Academy FM, East Kent Hospitals and Help for Heroes. Each year more than 7,000 people attend the event, which brings celebrities from TV and film to the coastal town. Folkestone Film, TV and Comic Con 2016 had many actors attending including the television actors
Sylvester McCoy and
Peter Davison
Peter Malcolm Gordon Moffett (born 13 April 1951), known professionally as Peter Davison, is an English actor. He made his television acting debut in 1975 and became famous in 1978 as Tristan Farnon in the BBC's television adaptation of Jame ...
from Dr Who and
Julian Glover
Julian Wyatt Glover (born 27 March 1935) is an English actor with many stage, television, and film roles. Classically trained, he is a recipient of the Laurence Olivier Award and has performed many times for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Gl ...
from Game of Thrones.
The 2018 event took place at the iconic Leas Cliff Hall.
Folkestone is home to the 'Hellfire Film Festival' that runs throughout the year at various locations.
An annual ''Zombie Walk'' also takes place in Folkestone around Halloween with permission from Shepway District Council. The walk is a way for adults and children to celebrate Halloween and has a larger and larger following every year.
In 2016, in the event's 6th year, the organisers "''Planet Folkestone''" announced that they were stepping down from organising the free event as they could no longer commit their own time and resources to the event due to its ever-increasing costs and restrictions.
Strange Cargo was established in Folkestone in 1995. The group put on a number of annual events including the Cheriton Light Festival
in the winter and
Charivari
Charivari (, , , alternatively spelled shivaree or chivaree and also called a skimmington) was a European and North American folk custom designed to shame a member of the community, in which a mock parade was staged through the settlement accompa ...
Day,
a street parade taking place in July which all local schools are invited to take part in.
Local media
Newspapers
Folkestone has two paid-for newspapers. One of them is ''Folkestone and Hythe Express'' (a weekly title published by the KM Group). It was previously part of the Kentish Express series but relaunched in October 2013 and is part of the KM Group's portfolio which also includes KentOnline.co.uk. The other is ''Folkestone Herald'' (published by Kent Regional News and Media, part of the Local World group). There is also a monthly paid magazine ''Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Life''.
Free newspapers for the town include the ''Folkestone and Hythe Extra'', part of the KM Group; and ''yourshepway'', part of
KOS Media. Kent Regional News and Media previously published the ''Folkestone Adscene'', but this was merged with the paid for ''Herald'' in 2008.
Magazine
Following the monthly magazine ''The Quarter'', which ran from 2003 to 2005, a new arts magazine ''Folkestone Creative'' has been published locally since 2005. It reviews events and developments throughout Folkestone, Hythe and the villages nearby.
Digital design magazine ''DesignFizz'' (thedesignfizz.com) was founded in 2014 in Folkestone.
Television
Local television news programmes are
BBC South East Today and
ITV News Meridian.
Radio
A 24-hour community radio station,
Radio Folkestone, began broadcasting in March 2011 as Aacademy FM Folkestone on 105.9FM. It adopted its current name in May 2024. The radio station is operated by a charity (Academy FM Folkestone, No.1137248) and as of 2022 features new young presenters such as Folkestone Academy Sixth Formers including music researcher Luke Murrum and public speaker Cayden Fuente-Collins. The station's licence was renewed for a five-year period in 2016 and again in 2021. It broadcasts from the
Folkestone Academy secondary school and a studio in the Glassworks building in central Folkestone, and the charity works with young people in the Academy school in addition to pupils in Primary schools across the District, with the organisation's educational work reaching over 800 children and young people a year in the period between 2015 and 2022. The charity is funded by sources including the Folkestone Academy, the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, the Kent Community Foundation, and various National Lottery funds. Academy FM Folkestone also carries commercial advertising and sponsorship under the terms of its Ofcom license.
The renowned poet David Sharp, M.B.E., was the Station Manager of Academy FM from its launch in 2011 until July 2022 but re-joined and led the station temporarily from January 2023 until July 2023. Academy FM have also achieved multiple prestigious awards such as 7 Community Radio Awards and 4 Young Audio Awards. Other presenters of the radio station include; Kay McLoughlin (self-titled 'President of Folkestone'), Steve Bispham, Josh Carter, Ross Hoare, Taya Walters and Ethan Cole.
KMFM Shepway and White Cliffs Country is the local commercial radio station for Folkestone, broadcasting to the town on 96.4FM (along with 106.8 in Dover). The station was founded in Dover as Neptune Radio in September 1997 but moved to Folkestone in 2003 after being rebranded, following a takeover by the KM Group. The studios were moved again, to Ashford, in 2009. The station started broadcasting county-wide in January 2011, with adverts and sponsors now being the only local content.
BBC Radio Kent also broadcasts to the town, as does
Heart South.
Folkestone is also served by a low power small scale radio station, BFBS Radio, which broadcasts on 105.4FM. This is to serve the Gurkha community who reside in West Folkestone and who are based at Shorncliffe Barracks. The station is licensed by OFCOM and its signal can be received within 1 mile of the barracks.
Sport
Folkestone Invicta Football Club was formed in 1936 and played in the Eastern Section of the Kent Amateur League (now the Kent County League), taking over the Cheriton Road ground in early 1991 after the demise of the old
Folkestone F.C. which had had a long history in the Southern League.
Folkestone Rugby Club was formed in 1974 and currently play in London and SE league 4. The club runs 4 adult, a ladies and various colts teams. A former ladies player, Catherine Spencer, captained the
England women's national rugby union team to a grand slam in 2008.
Folkestone Cricket Club currently competes in the first division of the Kent Cricket League. It was formed in 1851. Current Kent players such as
Robbie Joseph and
Geraint Jones, plus
Neil Dexter, who moved to Middlesex CCC at the end of the 2008 season, have all represented the club.
James Tredwell, who came through the youth academy, is still heavily involved with the club.
Folkestone is home to Astra, one of the most prominent Motorcycle Grasstrack clubs. Their meetings take place at
Swingfield Minnis and over the years have hosted a number of championship meetings. In 2007 and 2016 they hosted the
European Grasstrack Championship
The European Grasstrack Championship is a motorcycle championship and is organised by FIM Europe. The first championship took place in 1978 at Hereford Racecourse, England, and was won by Chris Baybutt. The competitors qualified though two semi- ...
finals and well as the
Team Long Track World Championship Team Cup in 2013. They hosted the major Domestic championship â the British Masters â in 2000, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2014.
Folkestone Optimist Hockey Club are based at Three Hills Sports Park (along with the cricket and netball clubs).
There is a Bowls Club and a Running Club based in the town.
Folkestone hosted the
5th Chess Olympiad in 1933. Among others, the artist
Marcel Duchamp
Henri-Robert-Marcel Duchamp (, ; ; 28 July 1887 â 2 October 1968) was a French painter, sculptor, chess player, and writer whose work is associated with Cubism, Dada, Futurism and conceptual art. He is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Pica ...
took part as a member of the French team.
People
There are a large number of people with connections to the town who have made themselves important in one sphere or another. Men such as
William Harvey
William Harvey (1 April 1578 â 3 June 1657) was an English physician who made influential contributions to anatomy and physiology. He was the first known physician to describe completely, and in detail, pulmonary and systemic circulation ...
and his father Thomas Harvey Mayor in 1600 here, discoverer of the circulation of the blood; and
Samuel Plimsoll
Samuel Plimsoll (10 February 1824 â 3 June 1898) was a British politician and social reformer, now best remembered for having devised the Plimsoll line (a line on a ship's hull indicating the maximum safe draught, and therefore the minimum ...
who invented the line named after him for ship safety.
Walter Tull
Walter Daniel John Tull (28 April 1888 â 25 March 1918) was an English professional footballer and British Army officer of Afro-Caribbean descent. He played as an inside forward and half back for Clapton, Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton ...
, the first black officer in the British army was born here.
There have been many actors and actresses,
David Tomlinson was brought up in the town, while others started their careers at
Arthur Brough
Arthur Brough (born Frederick Arthur Baker; 26 February 1905 â 28 May 1978) was a British actor, theatre founder, producer, and director. He is best known for portraying the bumbling senior menswear salesman Ernest Grainger on the BBC TV sitc ...
's Folkestone Repertory Company including Robert Arnold; comedians including
Michael Bentine
Michael Bentine (born Michael James Bentin; 26 January 1922General Register Office for England and Wales â Birth Register for the March Quarter of 1922, Watford Registration District, Reference 3a 1478, listed as "Michael J. Bentin", mother's ...
(who was in the local patrol of the
ARP) and a large number of artists in various fields.
Wilkie Collins
William Wilkie Collins (8 January 1824 â 23 September 1889) was an English novelist and playwright known especially for ''The Woman in White (novel), The Woman in White'' (1860), a mystery novel and early sensation novel, and for ''The Moonsto ...
,
Radclyffe Hall,
A. E. Coppard and
Catherine Crowe were all writers; and there have also been musicians:
Noel Redding
Noel David Redding (25 December 1945 â 11 May 2003) was an English rock musician, best known as the bass player for the Jimi Hendrix Experience and guitarist/singer for Fat Mattress.
Following his departure from the Experience in 1969 a ...
among them.
King Edward VII and his mistress
Alice Keppel
Alice Frederica Keppel (''nĂ©e'' Edmonstone; 29 April 1868 â 11 September 1947) was an aristocrat, British society hostess and a long-time mistress (lover), mistress of King Edward VII.
Keppel grew up at Duntreath Castle, the family seat of ...
(great-grandmother of
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla (born Camilla Rosemary Shand, later Parker Bowles, 17 July 1947) is Queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III.
Camilla was raised in East Sussex and South Kensington i ...
) regularly enjoyed the luxury (and discretion) of the Grand Hotel on the Leas.
Eamon Everall, artist/educator and founder member of the
Stuckism
Stuckism () is an international art movement founded in 1999 by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson (artist), Charles Thomson to promote Figurative art, figurative painting as opposed to conceptual art.[June Brown
June Muriel Brown (16 February 1927 â 3 April 2022) was an English actress and author. She was best known for her role as Dot Cotton on the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' (1985â1993; 1997â2020). In 2005, she won Best Actress at the Inside ...]
had two homes in the town.
Jimmy Hill
James William Thomas Hill, Order of the British Empire, OBE (22 July 1928 â 19 December 2015) was an English football in England, footballer and later a television personality. His career included almost every role in the sport, including pla ...
, presenter of ''
Match of the Day
''Match of the Day'' (abbreviated to ''MOTD'') is a Association football, football highlights programme, typically broadcast on BBC One on Saturday nights during the Premier League season.
''Match of the Day'' is one of the BBC's longest-runn ...
'', was stationed at Folkestone Garrison during the Second World War, during which time he entertained troops and played for the local football team.
The novelist
Jocelyn Brooke, who died in 1966, wrote evocatively about Folkestone and Sandgate in his memoirs. Rosemary Stewart the Canadian insurance heiress resided here for an extended period, known for dedication to coastal swimming from the harbour. During her time she continued to increase her fortune by becoming a significant player in the rag trade.
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
William Hall-Jones was born and raised in Folkestone.
Dita Garbo, an English drag performer who competed on the sixth series of
RuPaul's Drag Race UK, was born in February 1975 and raised in Folkestone.
Twin towns
Folkestone is
twinned with:
*
Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer (; ; ; or ''Bononia''), often called just Boulogne (, ), is a coastal city in Hauts-de-France, Northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Pas-de-Calais. Boul ...
, France
*
Middelburg, Netherlands
*
Ătaples-sur-Mer, France
*
Tres de Febrero, Argentina
*
Mechinagar, Nepal
In popular culture
''
The Sea Lady'' by
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 â 13 August 1946) was an English writer, prolific in many genres. He wrote more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His non-fiction output included works of social commentary, politics, hist ...
takes place in Folkestone.
Author
Russell Hoban repurposes Folkestone as "Fork Stoane" in his 1980, post apocalyptic novel ''
Riddley Walker''.
Folkestone is mentioned as a destination for a character
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
is playing in
Granada Television
ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV (TV network), ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire on weekdays only, as ABC Weekend TV, ...
's adaptation of
The Norwood Builder.
Last scene of MiloĆĄ Crnjanski's famous "Novel of London" takes place at Folkestone
See also
*
2007 Kent Earthquake
*
Folkestone power station
*
Trinity House Pilot Station
References
Sources
*
External links
The Folkestone Warren LandslideBritish Geological Survey
{{Authority control
Towns in Kent
Ports and harbours of Kent
Seaside resorts in England
Ports and harbours of the English Channel
Cinque ports
Populated coastal places in Kent
FranceâUnited Kingdom border crossings
Beaches of Kent