Abbot's Cliff Beach

The cliffs themselves are the main event here - towering chalk faces that rise dramatically from the shingle beach just outside Folkestone. You can access the beach via a steep path down from the clifftop, and it's genuinely striking once you're standing at the base looking up. The beach itself is mostly pebbles and rocks, so proper footwear matters. Swimming is possible, though the shingle shelves away quickly and the water's bracing even in summer.

This is walker territory rather than a traditional seaside resort. The clifftop path offers some proper views along the Kent coast, and the whole area feels surprisingly wild for somewhere so close to a town. On a clear day you can see across to France. It's not the place to come for buckets and spades - families with small children will struggle with the pebbles and the cliff descent - but teenagers or anyone who likes coastal geology will find it genuinely interesting.

The beach is free and accessible year-round, though winter storms can churn it up considerably. Allow a couple of hours if you're planning to explore both the beach and the clifftop walks. The nearest proper facilities are in Folkestone itself, so bring what you need. If you're staying at Varne Ridge Holiday Park - just a mile away - this is an obvious half-day outing. The Parkdean site at St Margaret's Bay is a bit further but still within easy reach, and makes for a worthwhile detour if you're doing a coastal drive through Kent.