Folkestone

Trains thunder through the Channel Tunnel here every few minutes, making this coastal town feel like the gateway between Britain and Europe. It is exactly that, really - and the port's constant hum gives Folkestone a working character that's refreshingly different from Kent's more genteel seaside resorts.

The clifftop Leas stretch for miles above the town, offering cracking views across to France on clear days. Castle Hill and Sugarloaf Hill provide proper walking territory, though it's a bit of a trek to reach the best vantage points. Down in the old town, the harbour area has been smartened up considerably in recent years, though it retains its slightly rough-around-the-edges appeal.

Leas Cliff Hall still draws decent acts to its Victorian theatre, while the creative quarter around the old town showcases contemporary art spaces like We Could Have Been Anything That We Wanted To Be gallery. The contrast between old and new works surprisingly well here.

Folkestone sits on the main railway line to London, making it easily accessible from the capital in just over an hour. The M20 runs practically alongside the town, connecting it to Canterbury and the rest of Kent's countryside. Both Folkestone West and Folkestone Central stations serve different parts of town, though Central is more convenient for the harbour area.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of Kent. You're within easy reach of Romney Marsh, the medieval streets of Hythe, and Canterbury's cathedral city. The Kentish countryside here is surprisingly unspoilt once you get away from the main transport corridors.