Live in the Garden of England
With breathtaking countryside, jaw-dropping coastlines, buzzing towns and laid back villages, Kent, the Garden of England offers a great quality of life if you are looking to get away from the city.
Folkestone and around
Folkestone is just a few miles from Otterpool Park. Make it your destination for your daily sea swim before or after work, take in its world-class art and culture and savour its food and drink – from street food to fine dining.
Folkestone is home to the Folkestone Triennial, a major outdoor arts exhibition that has left a legacy of artworks dotted throughout the town and seafront.
A destination for all things culture, soak up music, theatre and the arts at The Quarterhouse, Leas Cliff Hall and at pubs and small venues dotted through the town. Events in Folkestone range from the annual Folkestone Book Festival to the colourful Charivari Festival, from Folkestone Pride to The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, celebrated on singer Kate Bush’s birthday (this one has to be seen to be believed!).
Shops, cafes and galleries can be found in the throughout the town centre and the colourful Creative Quarter. Folkestone Harbour Arm is packed with street food sellers, live music and even a lighthouse Champagne bar. The Lower Leas Coastal Park is a destination where botanical trees and plants and postcard-perfect sea views evoke the Med on a sunny day. It also boasts the largest outdoor play area for children in the south-east.
Local life
Discover mile after mile of coastline on Kent’s Heritage Coast, whether on foot or two wheels. Stretching from Folkestone towards Dover, this stunning coastline was recognised as one of the best regions in the world in 2022 to visit by Lonely Planet.
The charming market town of Hythe is close to Otterpool Park, and is an excellent choice for a trip to the beach or a day out on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, one of the county’s top tourist attractions.
Take a look at the villages near Otterpool Park – they include Sellindge, Lympne, Stanford, Newingreen, Westenhanger, Barrowhill, Postling and Saltwood. There are plenty of local pubs to discover including The Tiger at Stowting and The Five Bells at Brabourne.
When you live at Otterpool Park you might just catch a glimpse of the occasional giraffe in the distance, as you’ll be right next door to the world-famous Port Lympne Safari Park and Wild Animal Reserve!
It’s a day out from your doorstep. Go on safari in the Kent countryside and spot lemurs and lions, gorillas and giraffes. Enjoy a coffee and let the children run off some steam in play areas and take a step back in time to explore the scarily realistic dinosaur park. Grab an annual pass and make it a regular visit.
Food heaven
From street food packed with flavour to Michelin-starred restaurants, from owner-run cafes to micropubs and everything in between, you’ll find something to wow you and your friends and family.
Top of the shops
There will be plenty of opportunities for everyday shopping at Otterpool Park.
For big brand shopping, the Ashford Designer Outlet is only 10 miles away and can be reached by train from Westenhanger station in under 10 minutes. Folkestone Central is also a 10 minute journey, and the town offers a wide choice of shops from large retailers to independent businesses.
Otterpool Park also has excellent transport links to and from London, making the shops and sights of the city possible in an hour.
The great outdoors
Bike rides, walks and runs in the scenic countryside, days on the beach and daily dips in the sea, or just breathing in some fresh air and enjoying the views, there’s every opportunity to get outdoors.
Explore 28 miles of historic Royal Military Canal, suitable for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and horse riders.
Thill seekers head this way, with everything from skateboarding, BMXing and boxing at F51 in Folkestone, the world’s first multi-storey sports park to sea swimming, kayaking and other water sports locally.
Or if golf’s your thing, there’s nearby Hythe Golf Club, Sene Valley, Etchingham, Littlestone and Lydd to try.
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