Discover Sandgate: Coast, Fortifications and Parkland

Sandgate combines coastal scenery with impressive fortress history and special discoveries for a variety of travel days. Sandgate Beach has received a Seaside Award every year since 2013. There are also historic buildings that tell the story of the coast’s military importance, as well as a High Street with shops selling antiques, collectibles and gifts. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Sandgate can therefore choose the location according to their preferred combination of sea, nature, culture and family activities.

Coast, Park and Activities

Lower Leas Coastal Park is a linear park between Folkestone and Sandgate. It was developed for recreation and experiencing the coast, offering another way to incorporate the landscape into your travel plans. The park includes an undercliff area with a unique microclimate. This attracts wildlife that is rare in the United Kingdom. Families can also enjoy an inclusive, wheelchair-accessible play area.

A pleasant coastal promenade cycle ride between Folkestone and Hythe can be included in your Sandgate itinerary. This allows you to combine a coastal stay with an active outing without experiencing the town solely through its historic attractions. When choosing your accommodation, it is worth considering in advance whether the park, beach, play area or cycle ride should be the focus of your days.

Fortifications on the Coast and Cliffs

Sandgate Castle was built under Henry VIII as an artillery castle. Construction took place in 1539–40 to designs by Stefan von Haschenperg. The structure is considered a unique example of a Henrician fortification, built to protect the beach and coastal road in this part of Kent, rather than to defend a harbour or anchorage. The surviving remains can be seen above ground and as buried remains on the seafront south of Castle Road in Sandgate.

The Martello towers also illustrate the military past of the coast. Martello Tower No. 7 is one of six fortified cliff towers with ditches, built in 1805–06 to defend the coast between Hythe and Folkestone. From a steep, south-facing slope, it overlooks Sandgate and the sea. Martello Tower No. 8 is one of four Martello towers surviving on the cliff edge at Sandgate. It was built in 1806 as part of the coastal defences and is now a private house. This information is important for your planning: not every historic building should be considered an attraction open to visitors.

Church, Memorial and High Street

The Church of St Paul in Sandgate forms part of the town’s cultural history. The Grade II listed church was created in the Gothic Revival style in the late 1840s by S. S. Teulon. Its roof decoration dates from 1927–36 and was created by Charles Powell; several windows contain 20th-century stained glass. Sandgate's War Memorial was unveiled on 11 May 1921. Together with the High Street shops, these features create a townscape where architecture, remembrance and everyday browsing come together.

When looking for accommodation in Sandgate, it is therefore worth taking a clear look at your preferred mix of activities. If you would like to combine coastal scenery and park experiences with historic discoveries, the town offers a range of ideas for days spent together and quieter sightseeing.

You can find more entries for your travel planning here: Broad Street, Hythe, New Romney, Coxheath, Brookland, Willesborough, Waltham and Eythorne.

For the overarching travel overview: Kent.