Forget the Med — the ‘Costa del Kent’ is this summer’s trendiest getaway

Folkestone is a nice mix of seaside charm, and decent dining and drinking spots, just a short train from London (Picture: Getty Images) In theory, there has never been a better time to travel abroad. We’vecome on leaps and bounds since the first commercial flight in 1914. Flights and hotels can be booked in minutes from the sofa, and gone are the days of paper maps and travellers’ cheques. For most Brits, going on holiday is no longer a rarity: some 87% of us went away last year, according to ABTA’s annual Holiday Habits report. It’s ironic, then, that travelling overseas has never felt more difficult. The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing chaos across the continent, leaving passengers stranded due to queues at passport control. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Meanwhile, the Iran war has brought anxiety and uncertainty to global travel, with thousands of flights cancelled at major hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, severing connections between East and West. Throw in the rising cost of airfares thanks to the jet fuel crisis, and it’s not hard to see why so many are choosing to stay put on Blighty. Summer bookings at the UK’s hotels and holiday parks have jumped. Lovat Parks, for instance, has seen a 35% increase compared with last year. So when Metro Travel was invited to try a hyper-local staycation in Kent, we jumped at the chance. Our digs for the weekend: The View Shoreline designed by award-winning international architects, ACME (Picture: Noora Mykkanen) My digs for the weekend was Shoreline Folkestone, a posh seafront complex that can be as little as an hour by train from London St Pancras. If you prefer to drive, like I did, you can zoom straight into the underground car park. Your plate, recorded in advance, opens the doors automatically. A nice touch. The cherry on top is that you can get to your apartment directly from the car park through a private entrance. The check-in process is also automatic, but staff are on hand in case you need help. The building, a futuristic structure designed by international architects ACME, is walking distance from the town, which, in my opinion, rivals Margate as the coolest place to escape the capital. The beach houses have direct access to the coastal path, and a private entrance through the car park (Picture: Noora Mykkanen) The apartment, aptly named The View, has two bedrooms, two bathrooms kitted out with Aesop products, and a kitchen (with a wine fridge) that leads out to a rear terrace and a gate to the communal garden. But the star of the show is the living room, a bright and airy space with floor-to-ceiling windows that open out onto a large balcony with unobstructed views of the beach. It was a lovely spot to relax with a glass of local Kent wine which the county is famed for, with a glass or two of Heppington Chardonnay slipping down easily. Every detail feels thought through in the luxury beach house, which feature two or four bedrooms (Picture: Noora Mykkanen) The main en-suite bedroom has a view of the gated, communal patio area (Picture: Noora Mykkanen) I could have sat there all day was it not for a session I had pre-booked at Sea Scrub Sauna, a few minutes’ walk away on Harbour Arm. Being from Finland, I have exacting standards when it comes to saunas. But this got my Nordic seal of approval – real wood heated stoves (a rarity in the UK), cold plunges, a hot tub and sea views make it worth the trip. Sea Scrub Sauna Folkestone, the UK’s biggest beach spa, has already won the best new sauna award by the British Sauna Society, and it has only been open since March (Picture: Noora Mykkanen) The löyly (a Finnish term for the steam released when water is poured onto heated sauna stones) enveloped us in a warm hug, a near-spiritual experience for any Scandi. Finished with a fragranced sea salt scrub and a dip in the hot tubs, it was a great way to unwind after the drive down. Though luckily, I visited before the heatwave. There are social and private sessions, and 40 minutes starts from £20. The sun does shine brighter on Costa del Kent, and especially from the Shoreline’s beach house balcony (Picture: Noora Mykkanen) Attached to the sauna is a cafe that sells ramen, a nod to the affinity between Japan and the Nordic countries. They may be on opposite sides of the world, but both share a love of minimalism, high-quality food and functional design. It certainly looked good, but it felt remiss to be by the Great British seaside and not go for some fish and chips. Brunch restaurant Sailbox was perfect for satisfying that craving, although oysters from Shuck It & Sea seafood takeaway also caught my eye. Less traditional were the spicy fish tacos, though just as delicious. Folkestone harbour is a foodie haven, from takeaway oysters to fish and chips, fish tacos and Mediterrannean cuisine (Picture: Noora Mykkanen) If none of that does it for you, Folkestone’s revamped harbour is lined with excellent restaurants, bars and cocktail spots. A glass of bubbly on the top of the Victorian lighthouse, at the Lighthouse Champagne Bar, is a great way to end any day. Even if you don’t fancy a drink, the lighthouse itself is worth a visit, with sweeping views of the famous White Cliffs and the French coast on a clear day. Every Saturday until September, the Pilot Beach Bar on Beachside features free live music and DJ sets. The Folkestone Lighthouse which has a champagne bar inside, is worth a visit with a view of the White Cliffs and, on a clear day, the French coast (Picture: Getty Images) Within walking distance of the harbour is Folkestone’s colourful Creative Quarter. Independent shops, boutiques and bars line the cobblestone streets off the Old High Street, where you can find vintage clothes, hand-made jewellery, art, and vinyl records. Folkestone Pride is on July 25, and Under the Moon Art Market happens on the last Saturday of every month. Folkestone’s colourful Creative Quarter is a rival to Brighton’s Artist Quarter (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images) For dinner and drinks away from the harbour, head to Pomus, a trendy neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar, or sit down for Spanish tapas at El Cortador. For Sunday roast or a pint, The Pullman Folkestone. Folkestone borders the Kent Downs area of natural beauty and its selection of vineyards, drawing character from its chalky soil, the exact same soil as in the Champagne region across the Channel. The Domaine Evremond Winery outside Canterbury (Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images) For a taste of pesticide and herbicide free wine, head to Terlingham Vineyard, a family-run farm 10 minutes above Folkestone by car or half an hour with bus route 16. Simpsons Wine Estate is along the A2 between Folkestone and Canterbury, and you can taste their famous sparkling wine, the Chalkslands Classic Cuvée as part of the tasting experiences. Nearby is the Elham Valley Vineyard, which started in 1985 and has since expanded into more grape varieties. It’s has a garden centre and a lovely charity-run cafe that provides jobs to adults with learning difficulties. The essentials Getting there Take the train Folkestone from London St Pancras. Advance single tickets on the regular service start from around £13. A high-speed Southeastern train from St Pancras to Folkestone Central takes just under an hour, but will cost a bit more, with singles from £19. Expect to spend around 1h 30 minutes in a car if you’re driving down from London. Where to stay A two-night stay at The View Shoreline starts from around £400 during off-season for one of the luxury beach houses (which sleeps four). Peak demand season like summer holidays will see prices rise upwards of £800. If you’re on the hunt for a beach retreat to call your own, the Shoreline development also has flats and houses available to buy from £375,000 in addition to short-stay rentals. A great way to try it first. 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