Folkestone; Friday, 24 January, 2025

Whilst the north of the country was being hit by yet another winter storm down here in the Southeast it had thankfully been a calm and dry day, so, after finishing work, I had a smooth journey up into London, across to St Pancras and onto the High Speed train down to the Kent coast.

As there was one waiting when I got out of Folkestone Central station I hopped in a taxi over to the hotel, rather than taking the 20 minute walk.

Once checked in I dropped my stuff off in the room and then headed out for a wander in towards the centre of town, along The Leas, the cliff-top area that the hotel was located in, home to many of the towns larger hotels, a theatre and the sadly now derelict – though soon to be restored – funicular railway.

As the Leas came to an end I had the option of taking the dimly lit path down the side of the cliff to the beach or the only slightly less dimly lit path along round towards the town church, I decided on the latter, not least of all as there was a guarantee of at least a supermarket if not a restaurant being open in this part of town, where as down on the beach that was much less likely at this time of night.

I headed past the parish church of St Mary and St Eanswythe (the latter being an Anglo-Saxon princess who is said to have founded Folkestone Priory) and from there on into the centre of town before stopping off at a very nice Indian restaurant for dinner.

After dinner I had a bit more of a wander through town before making my way back over to the hotel and turning in for the night.