🇬🇧 Folkestone: The Seaside Gem Just 1 Hour from London! 🌊✨
📍 Folkestone, Kent CT19 5QY Ditch Brighton’s crowds for this artsy coastal town where pebble beaches, pastel beach huts, and a 2D optical illusion house collide with fish & chips perfection. 🚗 Getting There ✔️ Train: 55min from St Pancras (£20-30, book via TrainPal for deals) ✔️ Drive: 1.5hrs via M20 (park near Chummys seafood shack) 🏖️ Must-Visit Spots 🌊 Mermaid Beach Climb the rainbow steps to The Lighthouse Champagne Bar (sunset bubbles mandatory). 🏡 Old High Street Vintage bookshops, antique globes, and sourdough pizza in a Victorian time warp. 🎨 Folkestone Harbour Snap the trompe-l’œil house, then hunt for beach glass at low tide. 🦞 Foodie Wins ✔️ Chummys: £8 monster whelks so fresh they’re practically winking ✔️ The Pullman: Michelin-starred seafood platters in a converted train carriage 📸 Photo Ops ✔️ Painted beach huts at Sunny Sands ✔️ The Leas Cliff Walk (Channel views to France) ✔️ Harbour Arm’s neon sunsets 💡 Pro Tips ✔️ July-August: Folkestone Triennial art festival takeover ✔️ Train + bike: Rent Kent Cycle Hire bikes at the station ✔️ Avoid Sundays when day-trippers swarm #Folkestone #KentCoast #LondonDayTrips #SeasideArt #BritishSummer #HiddenBeaches #TrainTravel #FishAndChips