Latest news with #FolkestoneTriennial
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I visited hidden UK beach with picturesque views and sand that feels like Spain'
With summer in full swing, it can be tempting to book all the holidays you want, but it could sometimes come at a price. Luckily one UK beach feels like Spain and it's really close Summer is here and it's safe to say we've been blessed with some decent weather in the UK. After a few days of torrential rain, a UK weather map revealed when the sunshine is finally coming back – and it's soon. And with the summer holidays in full swing, it can be tempting to book the next flight out for sun, sea and sand. But what can you do if you no longer have many annual leave days left? Well luckily for you, one hidden UK beach that "feels like Spain" is quite local and it's just one hour away from London, so have you been yet? In a post with her 11,700 followers on Instagram, user @wonder_lesea revealed the ultimate day trip. It's so pretty it can make you feel like you're in the Mediterranean and it's located in Folkestone, Kent. The video shows a little glimpse of the gorgeous blue sea with picturesque views and smooth sands. Whether you fancy a relaxing beach trip, or a little walk, this place has it all. Mermaid Beach also boasts a glorious stretch of pristine goodness with an eye-catching coastline which is in the shape of a mermaid's tail. In the social media post, it read: "Feels like Spain, but it's UK. Mermaid Beach. CT20 2DZ "A hidden beach with turquoise water and a walking trail through cliffs and lush parkland. "Like a slice of the Mediterranean – but just an hour from London. "1 hour by train from London to Folkestone Central, then a 25-minute scenic walk through Lower Leas Coastal Park." The Instagram post then claimed it's also a "place you'll want to come back to". There's loads to do in Mermaid Beach if you do plan on taking a trip. You could check out the Folkestone Mermaid sculpture located on the beach. There's also the Lower Leas Coastal Park which is one of the most visited tourist spots. This award-winning park has one of the largest free adventure playground for children, as well as beautiful gardens and forest treks, perfect for the whole family. Meanwhile Folkestone itself is gaining recognition as a hub for art and culture. There's the Folkestone Triennial which is an international public art festival that scatters sculptures and other artistic creations throughout the town. And nearby is the Folkestone Museum, which offers details about the local history and culture.
The Irish Sun
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The up-and-coming English seaside town with beachfront hotels, viral Kate Bush event and new ‘open-air art' trails
WHAT do Kate Bush and Folkestone have in common? Absolutely nothing — apart from one day of the year when nearly 1,000 red dress-clad Kate fans descend on the town to celebrate the singer. 5 The lighthouse cool bar Credit: Alamy 5 Participants celebrate Wuthering Heights day Credit: PA 5 The town's scenic harbour Credit: Alamy Called The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, the unusual event has been running in the Kent town since 2023 and kicks off at midday today on the harbour front. It's certainly a sight to behold — men and women throwing their arms in the air, dancing to the famous Wuthering Heights song. But even non- Launching today is the Folkestone Triennial, a huge open-air art exhibition that takes place every three years. Read More on Travel It features 70 pieces of artwork, including works by Tracy Emin, Chased by oysters One of my favourite spots is the beautiful Lighthouse Bar inside a former lighthouse. Look up and you will see 'Weather is a Third to Place and Time,' painted on the side, a leftover piece from the 2014 Triennial. Look even further and you might glimpse France. Most read in Best of British It's not a place for sitting indoors — there are barely more than a couple of tables. Instead grab one of the benches lining the harbour. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival There is no better feeling than having the sea breeze blow past, and watching errant paddleboarders while sipping a glass of champagne chased by oysters. I'm surrounded by city dwellers (dubbed DFLers — Down From Londoners) who are all exclaiming how surprised they are by the town. Lighthouse Bar owner Simon explained to me: 'We were told we were mad to open in Folkestone ten years ago — now look at us.' Often aligned with other Kent seaside destinations Most tourists will flock straight to the Harbour Arm, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Lined with shipping containers serving food and drink, every summer there are new additions to the complex. My favourite new stall this year is The Mompling House, serving Nepalese snacks with juicy steamed momo dumplings and aloo chops, a spiced potato croquette. There's the award-winning Rocksalt, serving up fresh seafood while overlooking the harbour. Or new this year is Pomus, a restaurant that opened earlier this month after success in But my favourite spot is Marley's, an unassuming place from the outside that offers a small, farm-to-table menu inside (be sure to try the zesty pan-fried sea bass). 5 The town's quaint, quirky shops Credit: Alamy 5 When the booze and food becomes too much, the best place for some respite is The London & Paris Hotel Credit: Alamy It's one you'll need to make reservations for, as it is always full of locals, but it's one that's worth the wait. You can barely turn a corner without spotting a bar here. I inadvertently ended up doing my own drinks crawl, after being tempted inside many of them. Two must-visits are Burrito Buoy for their frozen margaritas, or The Beer Shop Folkestone, which serves up local craft beers. When the booze and food becomes too much, the best place for some respite is The London & Paris Hotel. First opened in 1853 to cater for travellers heading across Each of the rooms has a sea view, all with modern coastal chic decor — think blue striped walls and floral patterned pillows. It felt like my head barely touched the pillow of my extremely plush king-size bed before I was woken up to the sound of seagulls. A tap on the door heralds the arrival of breakfast, a cute hamper with fresh croissants, juice and fruit And being so close to town, my early awakening also meant I was able to make the most of the peace and quiet before the crowds came in for the day. I filled my bag with souvenirs from the Creative Quarter, the famous multi-coloured, steep street peppered with locally run shops. But after all that eating and drinking, you won't see me Running Up That Hill. GO: FOLKESTONE STAYING THERE: One night at The London & Paris Hotel is from £90 on room-only basis (£114 to include breakfast). See OUT & ABOUT: For more on the Folkestone Triennial, see
Scottish Sun
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The up-and-coming English seaside town with beachfront hotels, viral Kate Bush event and new ‘open-air art' trails
Launching today is the Folkestone Triennial, a huge open-air art exhibition that takes place every three years THAT'S NOT ALL, FOLKES THAT'S NOT ALL, FOLKES The up-and-coming English seaside town with beachfront hotels, viral Kate Bush event and new 'open-air art' trails Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHAT do Kate Bush and Folkestone have in common? Absolutely nothing — apart from one day of the year when nearly 1,000 red dress-clad Kate fans descend on the town to celebrate the singer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The lighthouse cool bar Credit: Alamy 5 Participants celebrate Wuthering Heights day Credit: PA 5 The town's scenic harbour Credit: Alamy Called The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, the unusual event has been running in the Kent town since 2023 and kicks off at midday today on the harbour front. It's certainly a sight to behold — men and women throwing their arms in the air, dancing to the famous Wuthering Heights song. But even non-Kate Bush fans will find themselves being swayed into the joy of Folkestone, with or without the bold outfits. Launching today is the Folkestone Triennial, a huge open-air art exhibition that takes place every three years. It features 70 pieces of artwork, including works by Tracy Emin, Banksy and Antony Gormley. Chased by oysters One of my favourite spots is the beautiful Lighthouse Bar inside a former lighthouse. Look up and you will see 'Weather is a Third to Place and Time,' painted on the side, a leftover piece from the 2014 Triennial. Look even further and you might glimpse France. It's not a place for sitting indoors — there are barely more than a couple of tables. Instead grab one of the benches lining the harbour. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival There is no better feeling than having the sea breeze blow past, and watching errant paddleboarders while sipping a glass of champagne chased by oysters. I'm surrounded by city dwellers (dubbed DFLers — Down From Londoners) who are all exclaiming how surprised they are by the town. Lighthouse Bar owner Simon explained to me: 'We were told we were mad to open in Folkestone ten years ago — now look at us.' Folkestone is certainly becoming one of those places being mentioned as the 'next big thing'. Often aligned with other Kent seaside destinations Whitstable and Margate, the train from the capital in less than an hour makes it an easy day-trip destination. Most tourists will flock straight to the Harbour Arm, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Lined with shipping containers serving food and drink, every summer there are new additions to the complex. My favourite new stall this year is The Mompling House, serving Nepalese snacks with juicy steamed momo dumplings and aloo chops, a spiced potato croquette. Folkestone isn't short of fantastic restaurants either. There's the award-winning Rocksalt, serving up fresh seafood while overlooking the harbour. Or new this year is Pomus, a restaurant that opened earlier this month after success in Margate. But my favourite spot is Marley's, an unassuming place from the outside that offers a small, farm-to-table menu inside (be sure to try the zesty pan-fried sea bass). 5 The town's quaint, quirky shops Credit: Alamy 5 When the booze and food becomes too much, the best place for some respite is The London & Paris Hotel Credit: Alamy It's one you'll need to make reservations for, as it is always full of locals, but it's one that's worth the wait. You can barely turn a corner without spotting a bar here. I inadvertently ended up doing my own drinks crawl, after being tempted inside many of them. Two must-visits are Burrito Buoy for their frozen margaritas, or The Beer Shop Folkestone, which serves up local craft beers. When the booze and food becomes too much, the best place for some respite is The London & Paris Hotel. First opened in 1853 to cater for travellers heading across the Channel, it fell into disrepair before a multi-million-pound renovation in 2023 saw it reopen as an 11-room hotel. Each of the rooms has a sea view, all with modern coastal chic decor — think blue striped walls and floral patterned pillows. It felt like my head barely touched the pillow of my extremely plush king-size bed before I was woken up to the sound of seagulls. A tap on the door heralds the arrival of breakfast, a cute hamper with fresh croissants, juice and fruit And being so close to town, my early awakening also meant I was able to make the most of the peace and quiet before the crowds came in for the day. I filled my bag with souvenirs from the Creative Quarter, the famous multi-coloured, steep street peppered with locally run shops. But after all that eating and drinking, you won't see me Running Up That Hill.
The Sun
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The up-and-coming English seaside town with beachfront hotels, viral Kate Bush event and new ‘open-air art' trails
WHAT do Kate Bush and Folkestone have in common? Absolutely nothing — apart from one day of the year when nearly 1,000 red dress-clad Kate fans descend on the town to celebrate the singer. 5 5 5 Called The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, the unusual event has been running in the Kent town since 2023 and kicks off at midday today on the harbour front. It's certainly a sight to behold — men and women throwing their arms in the air, dancing to the famous Wuthering Heights song. But even non- Kate Bush fans will find themselves being swayed into the joy of Folkestone, with or without the bold outfits. Launching today is the Folkestone Triennial, a huge open-air art exhibition that takes place every three years. It features 70 pieces of artwork, including works by Tracy Emin, Banksy and Antony Gormley. Chased by oysters One of my favourite spots is the beautiful Lighthouse Bar inside a former lighthouse. Look up and you will see 'Weather is a Third to Place and Time,' painted on the side, a leftover piece from the 2014 Triennial. Look even further and you might glimpse France. It's not a place for sitting indoors — there are barely more than a couple of tables. Instead grab one of the benches lining the harbour. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival There is no better feeling than having the sea breeze blow past, and watching errant paddleboarders while sipping a glass of champagne chased by oysters. I'm surrounded by city dwellers (dubbed DFLers — Down From Londoners) who are all exclaiming how surprised they are by the town. Lighthouse Bar owner Simon explained to me: 'We were told we were mad to open in Folkestone ten years ago — now look at us.' Folkestone is certainly becoming one of those places being mentioned as the 'next big thing'. Often aligned with other Kent seaside destinations Whitstable and Margate, the train from the capital in less than an hour makes it an easy day-trip destination. Most tourists will flock straight to the Harbour Arm, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Lined with shipping containers serving food and drink, every summer there are new additions to the complex. My favourite new stall this year is The Mompling House, serving Nepalese snacks with juicy steamed momo dumplings and aloo chops, a spiced potato croquette. Folkestone isn't short of fantastic restaurants either. There's the award-winning Rocksalt, serving up fresh seafood while overlooking the harbour. Or new this year is Pomus, a restaurant that opened earlier this month after success in Margate. But my favourite spot is Marley's, an unassuming place from the outside that offers a small, farm-to-table menu inside (be sure to try the zesty pan-fried sea bass). 5 5 It's one you'll need to make reservations for, as it is always full of locals, but it's one that's worth the wait. You can barely turn a corner without spotting a bar here. I inadvertently ended up doing my own drinks crawl, after being tempted inside many of them. Two must-visits are Burrito Buoy for their frozen margaritas, or The Beer Shop Folkestone, which serves up local craft beers. When the booze and food becomes too much, the best place for some respite is The London & Paris Hotel. First opened in 1853 to cater for travellers heading across the Channel, it fell into disrepair before a multi-million-pound renovation in 2023 saw it reopen as an 11-room hotel. Each of the rooms has a sea view, all with modern coastal chic decor — think blue striped walls and floral patterned pillows. It felt like my head barely touched the pillow of my extremely plush king-size bed before I was woken up to the sound of seagulls. A tap on the door heralds the arrival of breakfast, a cute hamper with fresh croissants, juice and fruit And being so close to town, my early awakening also meant I was able to make the most of the peace and quiet before the crowds came in for the day. I filled my bag with souvenirs from the Creative Quarter, the famous multi-coloured, steep street peppered with locally run shops. But after all that eating and drinking, you won't see me Running Up That Hill.
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Outdoor art festival returns to Folkestone
A prestigious outdoor contemporary art festival is returning to a Kent town after being delayed for a sixth edition of the internationally renowned Folkestone Triennial starts on Saturday and runs until 19 year's event was delayed after local officials secured £20m Upton, chief executive of Creative Folkestone, said: "Over the last two decades, the Folkestone Triennial has been instrumental in reimagining the town as a hub for artistic innovation." This year's Triennial will see 18 artists from 15 countries create "ambitious new commissions that will transform Folkestone's urban and coastal landscapes", organisers said. The commissions will take over some of the town's most striking and unusual locations, including a church built for the fishing community, a former customs house, a Martello Tower, a lookout point across the Channel, and a disused railway bridge. Sorcha Carey, the exhibition's curator, said: "All the artworks are created and presented in response to the specific context and landscape of Folkestone. "But the questions they explore are universal." Organisers say the outdoor exhibition has brought in £100m to the local area over the years. Previous exhibitions have included new works by Tracey Emin, Mark Wallinger and Yoko 2014 a Banksy mural appeared on a park wall during the most recent Folkestone Triennial, in 2021, welcomed more than 220,000 visitors, according to its organisers.
