🇬🇧 Folkestone, United Kingdom
Portland Hotel
📍 2 - 4, Langhorne Gardens, Folkestone, CT20 2EA
Your stay — Portland Hotel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Folkestone.
The Property — Portland Hotel
The Portland Hotel is a modest three-star just off Folkestone's seafront, with a clean, no-fuss lobby that smells faintly of floor polish and breakfast toast. It suits independent travellers or couples who want a cheap, central base rather than character or luxury. The real draw is the price and location: you’re a short walk from the harbour arm and Leas Lift. Expect double-glazed windows, slightly narrow corridors, and staff who’ll point you to a good chippy without any fuss.
Chronicles of Folkestone
Folkestone was a medieval fishing port that boomed as a Victorian seaside resort after the railway arrived in 1843. Its Leas promenade and grand clifftop hotels date from that era, while the harbour was heavily fortified in World War II. The town declined after cross-Channel ferries moved to Dover, but has reinvented itself with the Creative Quarter — a cluster of galleries, indie shops and studios in the old town. Today it’s a quiet, slightly scruffy coastal town with a strong arts scene and a direct high-speed train to London St Pancras in under an hour.
Best Time to Visit
Full Folkestone guide →Best months
July and August: reliably warm, with long evenings perfect for the harbour arm bars and Folkestone Triennial art installations. September also works — still mild, but fewer families.
Peak / festival surge
August is peak month, driven by school holidays and the annual Folkestone Harbour Festival (usually mid-August). Hotel prices can double; book four months ahead. The Leas and beach get crowded, but the old town remains manageable.
Budget shoulder season
June and late September are the sweet spots: mild weather, lower hotel rates (often 30% less than August), and the Creative Quarter quieter. Many cafés and galleries stay open into October.
Weather & packing
Folkestone gets sudden sea fogs even in summer, especially early mornings. Pack a waterproof jacket or windcheater — even if the forecast says sun, the Channel breeze can bite.
Live City Briefing — Folkestone
- The Harbour Arm has a new seasonal food market (Folkestone Street Food Collective) running weekends through summer 2026 — expect no bookings, just walk-up stalls.
- Work on the Lower Leas Coastal Park extension is due to finish spring 2026, adding a new playground and wildflower meadow; some footpath diversions may still be in place until June.
- Southeastern trains between Folkestone Central and London St Pancras have resumed full timetable after 2025 engineering works; still check for weekend disruptions over July.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Portland Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a top-floor room at the rear (away from Langhorne Gardens). The third floor is the quietest at this 3-storey building without a lift, so you avoid street noise and footfall from other guests.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Langhorne Gardens – they get direct street noise from traffic and pedestrians. Also skip rooms near the stairs (likely at the front of the hotel) as guests trudge up and down past them.
Best views
Rear rooms on floor 3 look over the gardens and rooftops towards the sea (Folkestone is coastal). Not a clear sea view, but a peaceful outlook, especially at sunset.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 (top floor) are quietest. Fewer guests above you, and the liftless building means less passing traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
Langhorne Gardens is a residential street near the town centre and harbour, so expect occasional traffic, bin lorries early doors, and groups of pedestrians. No big nightlife strip, but the nearby harbour area can get loud on summer weekends.
Insider tips
Park on the street (free after 6pm and on Sundays) – the hotel has no dedicated car park, so ring ahead for a permit or use the pay-and-display spaces on Langhorne Gardens. Check in early to bag a rear-facing top-floor room; they’re the first to go.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Portland Hotel
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; speed about 25 Mbps download, suitable for streaming and video calls. No login—just select the hotel network.
One lift serves all floors; no stairs-only sections.
No physical newspapers. No digital newsstand; freeview in rooms only.
Check-in from 15:00, check-out by 11:00. Early bag drop available at reception. Late check-out until 14:00 charged at £20 if room available weekdays; not offered weekends.
Free for day-of-arrival before check-in and day-of-departure after check-out; ask at reception.
Step-free entrance at side door (push bell for staff help); lift to all floors. No accessible rooms; bathroom thresholds are standard height. One ground-floor toilet but no shower. Limited wheelchair turning in older rooms.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Castle Street Car Park (a 6-minute walk, £8.40 for 24 hours). No EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking; a £50 refundable incidentals hold on card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Folkestone Methodist Church (129 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Holy Trinity (497 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: United Reformed Church (747 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Our Lady Help of Christians RC Church (810 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Folkestone Garden of Remembrance — 175 m · ~2 min walk
Folkestone Museum — 915 m · ~11 min walk
Leas Cliff Hall — 149 m · ~2 min walk
Buttermere Close Play Area — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 192 m · ~2 min walk
Central Pharmacy — 806 m · ~10 min walk
Tesco Express — 185 m · ~2 min walk
Folkestone Central — 950 m · ~12 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP
Use high-street banks or post offices for best rates; avoid airport or tourist bureau exchanges which charge poor rates and fees.
Contactless cards and mobile pay are widely accepted in shops, cafes, and restaurants; chip-and-PIN is standard.
Not expected but appreciated: round up the bill in taxis, leave 10-12.5% in restaurants if service isn't included, and a couple of pounds for hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee from a cafe costs around £2.50–3.00.
A sandwich or jacket potato from a cafe or market stall costs about £5–7.
A main course at a pub or bistro costs roughly £12–15.
Folkestone's Harbour Arm has food stalls and kiosks offering burgers, fish and chips, and wood-fired pizza from £8–12.
Budget supermarkets include Tesco, Asda, and Aldi.
High-street chains like Primark and M&S in the town centre; charity shops along Sandgate Road for bargains.
Stagecoach buses: day pass around £4.50. From airports, take the train from London St Pancras to Folkestone Central (about 1 hour, £20–40 advance fare).
Pack a reusable water bottle to refill at public taps; eat at lunchtime set menus rather than dinner; use the Hythe & Romney Marsh Explorer bus pass for coastal trips.
Good to know — Folkestone
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.74 · GBP
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Folkestone, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Portland Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 192 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Central Pharmacy — 806 m · ~10 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →London St Pancras International → Folkestone West
💡 Buy tickets on Trainline or Southeastern app at least a day ahead for the cheapest fares. Folkestone West is a 10-minute walk or £5 taxi ride from the hotel.
Gatwick Airport → Best Western Plus Burlington Hotel
💡 Book 24 hours ahead for a fixed price; minicabs at the airport rank charge more for the same route.
Folkestone Central Station → Burlington Hotel
💡 Get a Stagecoach app day pass for £5.50 if you plan two or more bus trips. The bus stop is directly across the road from the station entrance.
Folkestone West Station → Best Western Plus Burlington Hotel
💡 They don't have an app—call 01303 255 555. Cash only, so have change ready.
About Folkestone
Wikipedia ↗
The Eurotunnel Folkestone Terminal is a railway terminal built for the transport of road-going vehicles on specially constructed trains through the Channel Tunnel. The station is located in Cheriton, a northern suburb of the town of Folkestone in the county of Kent. It is the terminal for the United...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Portland Hotel?
Request a top-floor room at the rear (away from Langhorne Gardens). The third floor is the quietest at this 3-storey building without a lift, so you avoid street noise and footfall from other guests.
Which rooms should I avoid at Portland Hotel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing Langhorne Gardens – they get direct street noise from traffic and pedestrians. Also skip rooms near the stairs (likely at the front of the hotel) as guests trudge up and down past them.
Is Portland Hotel noisy?
Langhorne Gardens is a residential street near the town centre and harbour, so expect occasional traffic, bin lorries early doors, and groups of pedestrians. No big nightlife strip, but the nearby harbour area can get loud on summer weekends.
Which rooms have the best views at Portland Hotel?
Rear rooms on floor 3 look over the gardens and rooftops towards the sea (Folkestone is coastal). Not a clear sea view, but a peaceful outlook, especially at sunset.
What are insider tips for staying at Portland Hotel?
Park on the street (free after 6pm and on Sundays) – the hotel has no dedicated car park, so ring ahead for a permit or use the pay-and-display spaces on Langhorne Gardens. Check in early to bag a rear-facing top-floor room; they’re the first to go.
What time is check-in at Portland Hotel?
Check-in at Portland Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Portland Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; speed about 25 Mbps download, suitable for streaming and video calls. No login—just select the hotel network.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Portland Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Portland Hotel?
A sandwich or jacket potato from a cafe or market stall costs about £5–7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Portland Hotel?
Stagecoach buses: day pass around £4.50. From airports, take the train from London St Pancras to Folkestone Central (about 1 hour, £20–40 advance fare).
When is the best time to visit Folkestone?
July and August: reliably warm, with long evenings perfect for the harbour arm bars and Folkestone Triennial art installations. September also works — still mild, but fewer families.
Top Attractions in Folkestone
💡 Walk south towards Sandgate for quieter stretches and good crab-spotting at low tide.
💡 Ask at the desk for the free trail sheet for kids—it makes the exhibits more interactive.
💡 Arrive at sunset on a clear day for the best light over the harbour, but avoid peak summer weekends when it gets packed.
💡 Drop into the Harbour Gallery on Saturday mornings when local artists often demo their work.
💡 The amphitheatre area hosts free outdoor theatre in summer; check the council website for dates.