Children are welcome at The Pullman, Harbour Inn, The Ship Inn, Luben and Panataria, and each one has a kids’ menu. Folkestone is an easy town to spend a day in with children. There’s an adventure playground by the sea in the Lower Leas Coastal Park, and a sandy beach in the harbour, with places to stop for lunch close to both.
London & Paris Hotel, next door to Harbour Inn, is adults-only, so it isn’t the right choice for a family day out. Family lunch by the harbour belongs at Harbour Inn itself.
Things to do
The Lower Leas Coastal Park
The Lower Leas Coastal Park runs along the seafront between Folkestone and Sandgate. Folkestone & Hythe District Council describes its adventure playground as the largest free adventure playground in the South East. The council also notes picnic areas, a 350-seat amphitheatre, the Zig Zag path, and a play area designed for inclusive play. It’s outdoors, so pick a dry day.
Sunny Sands
Sunny Sands is the sandy beach in Folkestone Harbour. The council describes it as being in the heart of the harbour, and as a good place for swimming, bodyboarding and building sandcastles. It’s a short walk from the Harbour Arm.
The Harbour Arm
The Harbour Arm runs out from the harbour into the sea, and walking out along it to the lighthouse is a good way to spend some time. Check its website for what’s on before you go.
The Leas and the Creative Quarter
The Leas is the clifftop promenade above the coastal park, looking out over the Channel. From there you can walk between the town and the park. Down towards the harbour, the Creative Quarter sits around Rendezvous Street and the Old High Street, which is where you’ll find Luben, Panataria and Cat & Fiddle. Visit Kent’s Folkestone page is a useful official starting point for a day in town.
Where to eat with the family
Children are welcome at all the places below, and each one has a kids’ menu. For a lunch-only version of this, with the same kids’ menu details, see our family-friendly lunch guide.
Luben, 24 Rendezvous Street
Luben is our family-friendly restaurant for Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza, at 24 Rendezvous Street, Folkestone CT20 1EZ. It’s open Monday to Thursday 12PM to 9PM, Friday and Saturday 12PM to 9:30PM, and Sunday 12PM to 8PM. You can eat in, and takeaway is available.
The kids’ menu is £8.95 including a drink, with a starter, a main such as pizza, pasta or mac and cheese, and a dessert. High chairs are available. Book a table, or walk in if a table is free. See the Luben menu.
Panataria, 15 Rendezvous Street
Panataria is our deli and café, a few doors from Luben, open every day from 9:30AM to 4PM. It’s walk-in only, with one menu all day. The kids’ meal deal is +£5 for a cheese or ham sandwich, crisps and a carton. There aren’t high chairs here. You can eat in or take away over the counter, which makes it a handy place to pick up a picnic for the coastal park. See the Panataria menu.
The Pullman, 7 to 9 Church Street
The Pullman is our first pub, in the middle of Folkestone, and there’s a cosy fire in the colder months. Breakfast is 10AM to 12PM every day, walk-in only. Lunch is 12PM to 3PM, Monday to Saturday. On Sunday, food is served all day until 8PM, and roasts start at 12PM.
The kids’ menu is £6.95 including a drink. Mains come with chips or mash, and include a beef burger, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, sausage, sausage and mash, or a vegan soy burger. There’s a Kids Roast at £11.95 on Sundays. High chairs are available. See The Pullman menu and book a table for lunch or Sunday lunch.
Harbour Inn, 24 to 26 Harbour Street
Harbour Inn is on Harbour Street, so it’s handy after Sunny Sands or a walk on the Harbour Arm. It’s known for mussels and seafood, with fish from the local boats. The dining room windows look out over the water, and there’s a cosy fire in the colder months.
Food times and the kids’ menu are the same as at The Pullman, including the Kids Roast at £11.95 on Sundays. High chairs are available, and Harbour Inn also offers a Cawston Press carton upgrade for +£1 on the kids’ menu. See the Harbour Inn menu.
The Ship Inn, 65 Sandgate High Street
The Ship Inn is at 65 Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Kent CT20 3AH, a walk west along the seafront from the coastal park. The beach is just across the road, and the restaurant has sea views. Food times and the kids’ menu are the same as at The Pullman, including the Kids Roast at £11.95 on Sundays. There aren’t high chairs at The Ship Inn. See The Ship Inn menu.
Cat & Fiddle on Rendezvous Street is family-friendly, but it doesn’t have a kids’ menu. It’s closed Sunday to Tuesday, opens at 5PM on Wednesday and Thursday, and opens at 12PM on Friday and Saturday.
Ideas for the day
By the harbour. Start on Sunny Sands, walk out along the Harbour Arm, then have lunch at Harbour Inn.
In the coastal park. Pick up a picnic from Panataria, spend the morning at the playground, then walk on along the seafront to The Ship Inn in Sandgate.
In town. Wander through the Creative Quarter, walk along the Leas, and finish with pizza at Luben or lunch at The Pullman.
Staying for longer? Our weekend guide has more. Bringing the dog as well? See our dog-friendly guide. At weekends and in the school holidays, it’s worth booking: use the Book a table button. Panataria is walk-in only.
Questions
Where can we eat with children in Folkestone?
Children are welcome at The Pullman, Harbour Inn, Luben and Panataria, and each one has a kids' menu. The Ship Inn in Sandgate does too. London & Paris Hotel is adults-only.
Do you have a kids' menu, and how much is it?
Yes. At The Pullman, Harbour Inn and The Ship Inn the kids' menu is £6.95 including a drink, and there's a Kids Roast at £11.95 on Sundays. Luben's kids' menu is £8.95 including a drink. Panataria has a kids' meal deal at +£5 for a cheese or ham sandwich, crisps and a carton. Cat & Fiddle doesn't have a kids' menu.
Is there a playground in Folkestone?
Yes. The Lower Leas Coastal Park has an adventure playground. Folkestone & Hythe District Council describes it as the largest free adventure playground in the South East. The park is on the seafront between Folkestone and Sandgate.
Where can we eat near the Lower Leas Coastal Park?
The Ship Inn in Sandgate is a walk west along the seafront from the coastal park. You can also pick up a picnic from Panataria on Rendezvous Street.
Do you have high chairs?
Yes, at The Pullman, Harbour Inn and Luben. We don't have high chairs at The Ship Inn or Panataria.
Do I need to book?
It's a good idea at weekends and in the school holidays at The Pullman, Harbour Inn, The Ship Inn and Luben. Use the Book a table button. Panataria is walk-in only.
Fancy it? Book a table.
Book a table →Written by Jonnii, L&B Marketing.