UK’s most underrated seaside town is known for its ‘hidden gem’ mermaid beach | Travel News | Travel

As the summer approaches many people will be planning their next holiday – and it turns out you can have a wonderful beach holiday without dealing with crowds here in the UK. 

Folkestone in Kent, England has been named one of the quietest and most underrated seaside towns in Britain despite being a picturesque place to visit. 

It is known for its spectacular white chalk cliffs which offer incredible views of the English Channel and is also surrounded by wildflower meadows, so it is no surprise that it has been named one of the most beautiful destinations in the world to visit according to Lonely Planet. 

No holiday is complete without a trip to the seaside, and Folkestone is known for its sandy white beaches and cliffside promenade with cafes, shops, landscaped gardens and its historic lift which connects to the beach below. 

The Leas Lift was built in 1885 and operates using water and gravity, meaning it emits no pollution, making it a fun way to travel and take in the sights before you even step onto the beach. 

Things to do in Folkestone 

Folkestone is surrounded by several beaches with the most popular being Sunny Sands Beach but one of the sights worth seeing is the beautiful Mermaid Beach, which has a shingle shore with rocks arranged to look like a massive mermaid tail. 

It also has beautiful pastel beach huts and many amenities such as the Mermaid Cafe nearby, making it both a unique and beautiful place to visit. 

If you are someone who loves nature then it is also worth taking a look at the England Coastal Path, a massive 2,800 trail which Kent is part of. Walk a small part of the trail in Folkestone and take in the incredible sights. 

In the heart of Folkestone is the Creative Quarter, known for its cobblestone streets, brightly painted buildings and being a place with many fun shops, galleries or places to eat. 

The Folkestone Harbour also looks like the setting of a postcard with colourful boats, brick buildings and lush woodlands in the background. There are also plenty of bats and restaurants to get somewhere to eat while taking in the sights. 

What also makes Folkestone a worthwhile place to visit is its artwork scattered about the town, and one fun activity is to go on a treasure trail to look for the 74 different artists, and the town even has its own Banksy. 

What are people saying about Folkestone? 

On Trip Advisor, many visitors highly praised this charming coastal town due to its natural beauty at the beachside and for being a quiet place to visit. 

A top comment said: “The beach is beautiful we have been many times. If you go in June it is beautiful and quiet, [but] in July [it’s] more busy.”

Another person wrote: “Such a fantastic place to unwind at the weekend with family and friends. We had a picnic and built sand castles.”

Someone else commented: “Clean water Blue Flag Beach [with] loads of local restaurants and coffee shops – including the Boathouse, the Beachfront Coffee Shop for ice creams hotdogs…and [it had] the best soft ice cream for miles.”

Another enthusiastic user said: “On a sunny day like today we could see for miles and the beach was almost empty. It was so clean and a pleasure to stroll in a clean environment.”

One popular review of Mermaid Beach described it as a “hidden gem” and said: “I was enchanted by the peaceful ambience and picturesque views (including that of France!) that stretched as far as the eye could see.”