A weekend in Folkestone Kent: what to see and do

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! Folkestone is a creative and colourful seaside town in Kent, England. I'm in love with Folkestone and over the last few years, it has become increasingly popular with Londoners and other tourists for its art scene, cool Harbour Arm area and quirky shops.

A weekend in Folkestone Kent: what to see and do

If you're planning a seaside break for the weekend in Folkestone, here is my guide on what to see and do in the coastal town.

What to see and do

The Leas

The Leas is one of my favourite areas of Folkestone because it's peaceful, has lots of green space and many things to do. You can have a stroll along the Leas and enjoy the views of the seaside and Harbour Arm, listen to music at the bandstand, have a picnic,  and soak up the summer sunshine or make use of seasonal events.  

The Leas has easy access to the beach, town and Harbour Arm as there are designated paths, such as the zig-zag path, to reach the key destinations.

Harbour Arm/Goods Yard Market 

As Folkestone's main attraction, you'll fall in love with the Harbour Arm. It's a destination with more than meets the eye and endless things you can do for all ages. There's the Goods Yard Market, which offers various food vendors, local artists and shops selling their work and the big screen, which shows films and sporting events throughout the year, especially in summer. The Goods Yard also offers live music regularly.

The Harbour Arm has other cafes, bars and restaurants along the arm, mini golf, an interactive darts venue (The Board Room), and is an ideal spot for a walk onto the beach.

Creative Quarter

Right next to the Harbour Arm is the Creative Quarter, a hub for creative shops. It's a colourful strip with cafes and something for everyone, including art prints, vinyls, cakes, toys, organic foods and much more. You can spend a while mooching in the shops, supporting local vendors and taking home a souvenir.

Explore the beaches

As a coastal town, you can't miss the beaches in Folkestone. Folkestone has a few beaches to wander along, enjoy a picnic, swim in the sea and have an ice cream. If you prefer sandy beaches, there's also Sunny Sands.

Walk to Sandgate

Sandgate is a gorgeous village in Folkestone, and a charming walk from the main hub of Folkestone. You can enjoy the pebbled beaches as you walk into Sandgate. The village has many cafes, delis, furniture shops, and other places to eat.

Visit Hythe 

Hythe is Folkestone's quieter sister and well worth a visit on your weekend away. The beach in Hythe is massive and the town has cute shops, independent restaurants and cafes. It's also home to a gorgeous canal area where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll, have a picnic and hire rowing boats in the summer.

Book a show at The Leas Cliff Hall or Quarter House

Folkestone is a hub for art, including theatre shows, music and comedy. The two best venues include The Leas Cliff Hall and the Quarter House, which host seasonal events and shows all year round.

Visit the Folkestone Bookshop

I adore books and love to support independent bookshops where I can, and my favourite is the Folkestone Bookshop. Located on Tontine Street, behind the Creative Quarter, it's a hub for all your book needs with a reading room.

Where to eat

Restaurant recommendations: Marley's, El Cortador, Sotirios Bar & Restaurant, Dr Legumes, The Harbour Inn, Annapurna Nepalese Restaurant, Viet Street, Luben's, Burrito Buoy and The Radnor Arms.

Cafe recommendations: Yoke, Okay Folke, Steep Street, Brew, Orchard Lane, Sailbox, Harbour Coffee and Panataria.

Pubs and bars recommendations: Brewing Brothers, The Beer Shop, Cabron, The Radnor Arms, The Pullman, The Pilot Bar, The Blind Pig and Blackmarket.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you planning a trip to Folkestone?

Thank you for reading <3

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5 Tips to Make Buying a Home Less Stressful

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums!

This blog post is a contributed post, written by another author.

Buying a home is a dream for countless people, and it’s natural to be excited when you’re in a position to do it. But it can also be a long and stressful process, especially when it’s your first home. More than a few people end up feeling a little overwhelmed because of it, and it’s easy to see why.


You could feel yourself feeling more than a little stressed because of it. You don’t have to settle for it being that way, though.

By using a few house-hunting tips, you could make the process a whole lot less stressful. You’ll still have to put the time and effort into it, but it shouldn’t have to be as complicated as you thought. You’ll end up making it a much easier process, especially with the right tips and tricks.

Some of these could have more of an impact than others, which is why they’re worth focusing on from the start.


Use Property Websites

Buying a property can be a stressful process for more than a few reasons. One of the more notable of these is that there are countless houses you could go out
and see. Trying to see each of these would take up too much time, and you mightn’t even end up liking many of them.

That’s where property websites come in. You can use these to find options you’ll actually be interested in. They’ll help cut down on the amount of time and effort you put into house hunting. After that, it’s just a matter of viewing the ones you’re actually interested in.


Factor in Repairs & Maintenance

You’ll find more than a few homes that’re almost perfect, and you’ll want to put an offer in on them. As amazing as many of these will be, it’s worth keeping potential repairs, maintenance, and improvement in mind. Many properties could need this more than you’d think.

Then there’ll be the overall cost of these as time goes on. For some homes, this cost could be larger than you’d like. Make sure you’ve factored that into your decision before signing any contracts. It’ll help you make sure your home is actually affordable to live in long-term.


Have a Narrow Search Area

You’ll need to narrow down potential properties before you start viewing them. If you don’t, you could end up wasting a lot of time on houses you don’t end up liking. They mightn’t be appropriate for more than a few reasons. By narrowing them down, you save yourself a lot of time and stress.

One of the best ways to do this is to have a relatively narrow search area for the properties you’re looking for. These could be certain neighbourhoods that you’ll like living in. The more specific you are with this, the easier it’ll be to find a property you actually want.


Be Ready to Buy Fast

The housing market can often be a competitive one, and you’ll often need to move quickly when you’re buying a home. Many houses you could be interested in could be bought up faster than you would’ve thought. It’s worth trying to prevent that as much as you can.

You’ll need to be ready to put an offer in relatively quickly. While that could mean getting your ducks in a row beforehand, it’ll help make sure you can actually get the house you like. It’s worth getting this sorted as early as you can.


Think Long Term

There’ll be plenty of houses you could end up liking and want to put an offer in. Think twice before you do, though. As much as the property could meet your needs now, you’ll also need to think long-term with it. Is the property somewhere you can see yourself living in as time goes on?

This is especially true if you’re planning on starting a family sometime soon. Make sure the property can meet your needs as time goes on. While that could mean taking a little extra time to think things through, it’ll be more than worth it. As exciting as buying a home can be, it also takes a lot of time and effort. It can be stressful because of that, which nobody wants to deal with. Thankfully, there are ways to get rid of a lot of the stress that’s usually involved in the process. More than a few house-hunting tips can be enough to help with this. 

There’s no reason why it should be a stressful process.
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Appreciating nature: how to prioritise it

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I know I'm now pushing 30, as I've fallen in love with nature more. I've always been wowed by the beauty of nature, the countryside, our beaches and the incredible natural landforms I've seen whilst travelling, yet as I'm getting older, it's becoming more profound to me.

I want to be present more, with the outdoors, listen to what's around me with no distractions and explore more of the countryside. 

If you're a nature lover or need to get outside more, here are my tips on prioritising and appreciating nature.

Leave the distractions at home on a walk

It's so easy and I do this a lot to use distractions when we're out and about on a walk or exploring any form of nature, whether listening to music or scrolling on our phones. When we do this, we tune out from the natural sounds of the birds, the wind in the trees and the waves of the water. Challenge yourself to leave those distractions at home and go out on a walk, and be present in what's around you. It can help you think clearly, come up with new ideas, reflect and be grateful for your surroundings. 

Get outside at least once a day

As a generation, we spend more time indoors than ever, with many people working online, going to the gym and having indoor hobbies. Some days, many of us don't spend much time outside. I challenge you to get outside at least once a day (the more times, the better). This could be for a walk, having your lunch outside, a run or reading a book. 

Research local countryside walks near you or plan a day trip

You'll be amazed at what's on your doorstep. I'm blessed that we have the countryside near where I live, but also amazing walks within an hour's drive. Research and book in time to do local walks to explore local nature, and see the wildlife, plants and beauty you can find. It can make for a lovely day out and show you what's around you.

Go sea swimming

I love to swim in the sea when it's warm; there's something freeing about it. If you have a beach near you, make the most of swimming in the sea or plan a day trip to nearby seaside towns where you can do that. If you're brave enough, you can swim in winter too!

Walk barefoot more in rural areas

This may sound a little hippy, but I love the feeling of not wearing shoes, especially when I'm at the beach or in the countryside where there's lots of grass. If you're having a picnic in the park or a beach day, take your shoes off and let your toes experience that relaxing feeling.

Have phone-free moments when out and about

It's sad how we're all so addicted to our phones, and I annoy myself constantly that I use it so much. Prioritise times in your day and week when you aren't on your phone when out and about, helping you be more present in your surroundings.

Explore in all weathers

I used to be that person who only wanted to go on a lovely, long walk when the weather was nice and sunny. However, I'm getting better at exploring in all weathers. The key is to be prepared for the weather, as it'll make the adventure more comfortable.

I hope you enjoyed this post! What would you add?

Thank you for reading <3

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