Things to do in Hythe Kent
Welcome to the Kentish coastline, as you probably know Kent is in the south-east of the UK and Hythe is just a short hop from Folkestone there are plenty of options to get to the nearby Sandling station and then a 10-15 minute bus journey to the centre of town.
Things you can do in Hythe Kent:
If you’re coming by car it’s best to turn off at junction 11 of the M20 and it’s 6 miles or 10k from the Folkestone Eurotunnel terminal. Today we’ll be looking at the Beach, the Town Centre, St Leonard’s church, the Military Canal.
So let’s start with the beach then and when I say beach I’m talking about one of those a shingle one that runs from Deal all the way down to Dungeness on this stretch of the Kent coastline. In the summer it’s popular with families, and in the autumn the anglers appear. It is also home to a small, beach-based, fleet of fishermen not dissimilar to Hastings or Dungeness and as you’d expect there’s somewhere where you can enjoy the fruits of the sea.
Another feature of the landscape are the Martello towers 19th-century forts built to defend England against the French; another feature on this part of the beach is also the blackened fisherman’s huts. As you see in Hastings but on a smaller scale.
Now let’s head towards the historic town centre Which is a 10-minute walk from the beach Hythe is one of the original ancient Cinque Ports. It joined Hastings, New Romney, Dover and Sandwich as ports set up by Royal Charter in 1155 to provide the Crown with access to ports and ships as needed.
Today you have a High Street that’s full of charm and character and does not feel like a seaside town. It’s not that dissimilar to Deal, just round the coastline It’s not long before you get to the town hall, which was once a Guildhall, built in 1794 a reminder that you’re in a Cinque port So.
Take a narrow alleyway back to Bartholomew Street and you’ll find a house called ‘Centuries’ (Centuries is a house in Hythe, Kent, built in the 13th century, possibly earlier. It is the birthplace of Hamo Hethe, born 1275, who became the Bishop of Rochester in 1319)
As you head up the hill, take a look at Saint Leonard’s church. This church also dates from the 12th-century although the tower on our left-hand side had to be rebuilt in 1750 after it collapsed in an earth tremor of 1739 and that’s very unusual in Britain. This church has an Ossuary, that is, a collection of bones. For a small fee, during the summer months, the chancel is open to the public.
Another feature that runs right through the centre of Hythe, is the Royal Military Canal The canal was never built to transport goods, but once again to keep those pesky French out Built in the early 19th-century, it was actually never used as a defence mechanism.Now it’s just there purely for pleasure.
Last and not least The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. This 15-inch gauge railway has been a feature of the Romney Marshes since 1927 and the journey down to Dungeness will take just over an hour.
Since 1927 the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway has been an integral part of the landscape of the Romney Marsh.
‘Known as “Kent’s Mainline in Miniature”, our world famous one-third full size steam & diesel locomotives have powered their way along the 13½ miles of track from the Cinque Port town of Hythe, terminating in Dungeness; a National Nature Reserve. With 4 stations in between, all within walking distance of a beach, our railway provides you with an opportunity to explore this unique corner of Kent. Coast & country walks, with all manner of wildlife & flora to be seen, cycle rides, medieval churches and iconic lighthouses are all on our doorstep.
With excellent catering facilities available at some stations.’