UK staycations are booming as overseas travel becomes increasingly fraught. According to ABTA's annual Holiday Habits report, 87% of Britons went on holiday last year, but new barriers are making foreign trips less appealing. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has caused long queues at passport control, while the Iran war has led to thousands of flight cancellations at major hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. Rising jet fuel costs have also pushed airfares higher.
As a result, summer bookings at UK hotels and holiday parks have jumped significantly. Lovat Parks, for example, reported a 35% increase compared to last year. Metro Travel accepted an invitation to experience a hyper-local staycation in Kent, staying at Shoreline Folkestone, a seafront complex reachable in about an hour by train from London St Pancras.
Shoreline Folkestone: Luxury by the Sea
The apartment, called The View, features two bedrooms, two bathrooms with Aesop products, a kitchen with a wine fridge, and a rear terrace leading to a communal garden. The highlight is the living room with floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto a large balcony offering unobstructed beach views. Guests can enjoy local Kent wine, such as Heppington Chardonnay, while relaxing there.
Drivers can access an underground car park with automatic barrier recognition. The check-in process is automated, but staff are available for assistance. The building was designed by international architects ACME and is within walking distance of Folkestone town centre, which rivals Margate as a cool escape from London.
Sea Scrub Sauna and Harbour Delights
A short walk away on Harbour Arm, Sea Scrub Sauna offers a Finnish-style experience. The sauna features real wood-heated stoves, cold plunges, a hot tub, and sea views. A session includes a fragranced sea salt scrub, with 40-minute slots starting from £20. The attached cafe serves ramen, reflecting a Nordic-Japanese affinity.
For traditional seaside fare, brunch restaurant Sailbox provides fish and chips, while Shuck It & Sea offers oysters. Spicy fish tacos are also available. Folkestone's revamped harbour hosts numerous restaurants, bars, and cocktail spots, including Lighthouse Champagne Bar atop a Victorian lighthouse with views of the White Cliffs and, on clear days, the French coast.
Every Saturday until September, Pilot Beach Bar features free live music and DJ sets. The Creative Quarter, within walking distance, offers independent shops, vintage clothing, handmade jewellery, art, and vinyl records along cobblestone streets off the Old High Street.
Vineyards and Natural Beauty
Folkestone borders the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is near several vineyards. The chalky soil mirrors that of the Champagne region. Terlingham Vineyard, a family-run farm 10 minutes by car or 30 minutes by bus route 16, offers pesticide- and herbicide-free wine. Simpsons Wine Estate along the A2 provides tastings of its Chalkslands Classic Cuvée sparkling wine. Elham Valley Vineyard, established in 1985, has expanded its grape varieties and includes a garden centre and a charity-run cafe employing adults with learning difficulties.
Getting There and Accommodation
Trains from London St Pancras to Folkestone start from around £13 for an advance single on the regular service. High-speed Southeastern trains take under an hour, with singles from £19. Driving from London takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. A two-night stay at The View Shoreline starts from around £400 off-season for a luxury beach house sleeping four, rising to upwards of £800 during peak summer demand. The development also offers flats and houses for sale from £375,000.
Folkestone Pride is on July 25, and Under the Moon Art Market occurs the last Saturday of each month.
