New £20million revamp to transform English seaside town with pretty central park

AN up-and-coming seaside town has revealed plans for its £20million revamp which includes a new central park.

Folkestone was named one of the best places to live in the UK last year, as well as one of the best places to visit by Time Out.

And the new scheme backed by Folkestone & Hythe District Council has confirmed the town's huge upgrades.

One of the biggest is the new park that at Bouverie Square, currently used as a bus station.

Images show a large central path surrounded by gardens and trees, as well as a plaza area and fountains.

As well as seating areas and bike stands, future plans also include a kids play park as well.

Councillor Clive Goddard (Con) said of the plans: “To me, this is the up-and-coming part of Folkestone.

“Yards to the left, you’ve got Guildhall Street, with all the fine development happening down there. This seems to give the businesses a new lease of life.”

The current bus stops would move closer to the entrance of the Bouverie Place shopping centre.

Works on the park plan to start next week, and finish by next summer.

It isn't the only improvements coming to Folkestone in the next few years.

The Lower Leas Coastal Park, which opened in the town in 2000, has one of the largest free adventure parks in the UK.

And the playground is set to undergo a huge renovation, although little else is known about it yet.

Most of the works will include improving the aging equipment with hopes for a new play area added.

Folkestone's funicular is also set to reopen, after closing nearly 10 years ago.

The Leas Lift restoration is currently underway, with the carriages to restart, connecting the cliff to the lower beach area.

Along with a new cafe, the works are set to cost £6.6milllion, and plan to be finished by early 2026.

Also part of the £20million Levelling Up fund are updated traffic systems across Folkestone as well as more pedestrian crossings.

It's not the only seaside town planning a huge multi-million renovation.

Weston-super-Mare – often named one of the UK's worst seaside towns – has revealed plans for a £20million face lift.

This includes reopening its Birnbeck Pier, which closed back in 1994, as well as opening more shops and markets in town.

Why is Folkestone such a great place to live?

Flying Eze's Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey made the move a few years ago – here's why she loves it.

The town has its own unique art trail, including a 2014Banksy, as well as theAntonyGormley cast iron statues and ‘Folkestone Mermaid,' similar to the one in Copenhagen.

An oversized pigeon unit, the ‘Folkestone Lightbulb' street art and Richard Woods holidayhomesare also spotted in the town.

Make sure to walk along the seafront from Folkestone to Sandgate too, to spot the brightly coloured beach houses, also part of the art trails.

I often spend my weekends having exploring the multicoloured Artist's Quarter, stopping for a coffee in Steep Street (a bookshop-cum-cafe) and picking up some local artwork.

And the Harbour Arm is the best spot when theweatherimproves.

This is where you will find the Lighthouse, an amazing champagne bar, as well it's sister restaurant Tasting Rooms (visit on Fridays for three-courses, complimentary fizz and Jazz music for £29).

I understand it's comparison to Brighton – they are both less than an hour from London (Folkestone is just 54 minutes to St Pancras) and both have an amazing art scene.

Folkestone does beat Brighton in one way, however – the average house price in Folkestone is £311,673 according to Rightmove, while Brighton's is £484,154.

Paignton in Devon is getting an upgraded £14million seafront.

And also in Kent, Dover has a £500million project to transform the Port of Dover by 2025.