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The Great Britain Guide logoThe Great Britain Guide

Castles · South East England

Folkestone Castle

In or near Capel-le-Ferne.

Norman & medieval♿ Wheelchair: limited👪 Family-friendly4.6 · 90 Google reviews

Folkestone Castle — castle in Folkestone, Kent, England, UK.

Folkestone Castle, castles in Kent

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Folkestone West · 1.6 km
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Folkestone Castle, the nearest railway station is Folkestone West, located 1.6 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is CT19 4QB. Accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Folkestone Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1095. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in Folkestone, Kent, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.0985°, 1.1608°.

Photo gallery

Heritage listing

Folkestone Castle stood on a spur of the North Downs to the north of the town of Folkestone, Kent (grid reference TR214380). The Norman castle existed in the late 11th and 12th centuries and was built on a natural mound which. It was excavated in 1878 by Augustus Pitt Rivers and this has been claimed to be the first excavation of a medieval site in Britain using scientific methods. Known locally as "Caesar's Camp", it is not actually Roman at all, but was probably constructed as early as 1095 and was certainly occupied for some time following the Norman invasion. The hill on which it stands is known as Castle Hill and it affords splendid views over the town and coast, from Folkestone across Romney Marsh to Dungeness, Rye and Fairlight.

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: Folkestone to Etchinghill Escarpment SSSI
  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Kent Downs

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Folkestone Castle stood on a spur of the North Downs to the north of the town of Folkestone, Kent (grid reference TR214380). The Norman castle existed in the late 11th and 12th centuries and was built on a natural mound which. It was excavated in 1878 by Augustus Pitt Rivers and this has been claimed to be the first excavation of a medieval site in Britain using scientific methods. Known locally as "Caesar's Camp", it is not actually Roman at all, but was probably constructed as early as 1095 and was certainly occupied for some time following the Norman invasion. The hill on which it stands is known as Castle Hill and it affords splendid views over the town and coast, from Folkestone across Romney Marsh to Dungeness, Rye and Fairlight. The earthworks now overlook the end of the M20 motorway and the entrance to the Channel Tunnel at Cheriton.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Coordinates
51.0985, 1.1608
County
Kent
Parish
Folkestone
Postcode
CT19 4QB
Parliamentary constituency
Folkestone and Hythe
Established
1095
Nearest railway station
Folkestone West1.6 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

The slopes of Castle Hill - geograph.org.uk - 3627957📷 5

Archaeological sites · South East England

Folkestone Castle Hill

Folkestone Castle Hill — a archaeological site in england south east.

On the ramparts of Castle Hill - geograph.org.uk - 3627941📷 5

Mountains & hills · South East England

Castle Hill

Castle Hill — mountain in england south east. Elevation: 126 m.

🐕
Castle Hill - geograph.org.uk - 7706910📷 5

Public art & sculpture · South East England

Other People's Photographs Birkdale Drive

Other People's Photographs Birkdale Drive — a public art in england-south-east, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Castle Hill - geograph.org.uk - 7706910📷 5

Public art & sculpture · South East England

Other People's Photographs Linksway

Other People's Photographs Linksway — a public art in england-south-east, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Castle Hill - geograph.org.uk - 7706910📷 5

Public art & sculpture · South East England

Other People's Photographs Ainsdale Close

Other People's Photographs Ainsdale Close — a public art in england-south-east, United Kingdom.

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Cattle from Crete Road West - geograph.org.uk - 1525595📷 5

Burial mounds & barrows · South East England

Bronze Age Bowl Barrow and World War 2 Pill Box

Bronze Age Bowl Barrow and World War 2 Pill Box — a burial mound in england-south-east, United Kingdom.

Free🐕

Where to eat & stay near Folkestone Castle

Places to stay

Burger King Fast Food Restaurant - geograph.org.uk - 2170963📷 5

Hostels · South East England

Cherry Garden B&B

Cherry Garden B&B — a hostel in england south east.

Looking west-southwest across Castle Hill Avenue - geograph.org.uk - 4838966📷 7

Hotels · South East England

10 to 12

10 to 12 — a hotel in england south east.

Flats on Westbourne Gardens, Folkestone (3) - geograph.org.uk - 3912048📷 5

Hotels · South East England

Best Western Plus Burlington Hotel

Best Western Plus Burlington Hotel — a hotel in england south east. Brand: Best Western Plus.

A distant view of the sea - geograph.org.uk - 3311179📷 5

Campsites · South East England

Pete's Field

Pete's Field — a campsite in england south east.

The Inner Harbour, Folkestone - geograph.org.uk - 6788063📷 5

Hotels · South East England

Grand Burstin Hotel

Grand Burstin Hotel — a hotel in england south east.

britanniahotels.com
Folkestone, Little Switzerland Campsite - geograph.org.uk - 2261625📷 5

Campsites · South East England

Little Switzerland

Little Switzerland — a campsite in england south east.

caravancampingsites.co.uk

Places to eat & drink

The Raglan, Folkestone - geograph.org.uk - 4586246📷 5

Historic pubs · South East England

The Martello Public House

The Martello Public House in England South East, United Kingdom.

El Davo mural, St Eanswythe Way - geograph.org.uk - 5095633📷 5

Historic pubs · South East England

The Samuel Peto

The Samuel Peto in England South East, United Kingdom.

jdwetherspoon.com
Hythe High Street, Elizabeth Jane and Alexander Fleming - geograph.org.uk - 5258067📷 5

Historic pubs · South East England

The White Hart Inn

The White Hart Inn in England South East, United Kingdom.

The Dukes Head, Dymchurch Road, Hythe - geograph.org.uk - 6348842📷 5

Historic pubs · South East England

Dukes Head Inn

Dukes Head Inn in England South East, United Kingdom.

Five Bells sign - geograph.org.uk - 6478972📷 5

Historic pubs · South East England

The Five Bells

The Five Bells in England South East, United Kingdom.

fivebellsbrabourne.co.uk
Close-up of Kingston Village Sign - geograph.org.uk - 1694022📷 5

Historic pubs · South East England

Black Robin Public House

Black Robin Public House in England South East, United Kingdom.

Other castles from this era

Allington Castle📷 5

Castles · South East England

Allington Castle

Allington Castle — stone-built moated castle in Allington, England.

FreeGrade I👶allingtoncastle.com
Guildford Castle📷 5

Castles · South East England

Guildford Castle

Guildford Castle — castle in Guildford, Surrey, England, UK.

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Rochester Castle📷 5

Castles · South East England

Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle — castle in Rochester, Kent, South East England.

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Arundel Castle📷 5

Castles · South East England

Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle — castle in West Sussex, England, UK.

👶arundelcastle.org

More castles in this region

Abinger Castle📷 5

Castles · South East England

Abinger Castle

Abinger Castle — castle in Surrey, England, UK.

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Betchworth Castle📷 5

Castles · South East England

Betchworth Castle

Betchworth Castle — castle in Brockham, Mole Valley, Surrey, England, UK.

👶visitsurrey.com
Castlehill Farm - geograph.org.uk - 7219357📷 5

Castles · South East England

Bletchingley Castle

Bletchingley Castle — castle in Surrey, England, UK.

👶bletchingleyhistory.org.uk
Leybourne Castle📷 5

Castles · South East England

Leybourne Castle

Leybourne Castle — castle in Leybourne, Kent, England, UK.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Folkestone Castle?
Folkestone Castle is in Kent, South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode CT19 4QB), in the parish of Folkestone.
What is Folkestone Castle?
Folkestone Castle — castle in Folkestone, Kent, England, UK.
How do I get to Folkestone Castle?
The nearest railway station is Folkestone West, about 1.6 km away. Drivers can use postcode CT19 4QB.
When was Folkestone Castle built?
Built or established in 1095.
Is Folkestone Castle a listed building?
Folkestone Castle is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
Is Folkestone Castle a protected site?
Yes — Folkestone Castle is part of the Folkestone to Etchinghill Escarpment SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB).
Does Folkestone Castle charge admission?
Folkestone Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
How do I get to Folkestone Castle?
The nearest railway station is Folkestone West, about 1.6 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode CT19 4QB.