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Folkestone has many hotels in all price ranges, catering to both the holidaymaker and the business person.  This is not a website promoting one hotel over another.  Personally I have not slept in any of them, and lets face it, many that I will show you have been rubble for years!

Talking of rubble.  Let's start with the pile of rubble above left, and what a magnificent pile the Royal Pavilion was for many years, until it was demolished to make way for the Burstin on the right.  Located right on the edge of the harbour, the view on this side is magnificent.  The Royal Pavilion of course was a perfect location for people arriving off the cross channel ferries as they could walk to it from the dock.   One of the buses outside the Burstin says Wallace Arnold Tours.
1917
Fancy a stay in the Royal Pavilion?  I would love it if only it were still possible!  I would especially like to stay for the prices they charged when most of these photos were taken.  Click HERE to see what was referred to as the 'Hotel Arrangements', which covered room prices, dinner menu, wine list with prices, the cost of your servant's meals plus the stabling of your horses.  For comparison, I will also list some current prices to stay in the Grand Burstin Hotel.
Did you ever read 'A Passenger to Folkestone' by J.S. Fletcher, published in 1927?  It's a very nice 'Whodunit', set in Folkestone, and the Royal Pavilion Hotel is featured quite prominently.  It often comes up for sale on E-bay.
The Grand Hotel on The Leas.  It sure looked grand too didn't it?  It was the biggest building around there.
The Grand Hotel again on the right, with its sister hotel, the Metropole.  Shown on a lovely leasurely summer day.

They were not built by the same builder, even though they look very similar.  But the Grand was built shortly after the Metropole towards the end of the 1800's

Here is a short history on The Grand

Both buildings are still standing, but I don't think either of them are used as a hotel any more.  The Metropole houses an Arts Centre among other things, and the Grand has self catering suits for rent from £90 - to £465 per week!
This is a photo of the Hotel Lyndhurst, which was located on the south side of Clifton Gardens.  I have a feeling it is no longer in business although it was still listed in my 1958 directory.
This postcard of the Metropole dates from 1910, and as you can see, the patrons didn't have very far to go to listen to the band did they?  They could also have quick access to the beach, because a funicular lift used to run from right opposite this hotel down to the bottom of the cliff.  For photos of this lift, see the Cliff Lift section.  Both this bandstand and the lift are now gone.
This photo is a little more up to date, judging by the length of the skirt on that lady bottom right.
I guess the Ambassador hotel must have paid to have its hotel pointed out in the photograph.
I wonder what that greek urn is in aid of at the bottom of the picture?  I don't think it is there these days
Here is a drawing of the Pavilion Hotel when it was first built.  Maple & Co must have made a tidy sum of money from that contract!
Another photo of The Leas featuring the Wythenshaw Hotel.  The cars look to be around the 30's or 40's don't they?  Again it is in my 1958 directory when it was owned by Mrs. H. Weatherby.
Still on the Leas in 1936. This postcard said that it showed Moore's Hotel, which it probably does, but who knows which one it is!
Here it is!  Two views of the Moore's Hotel.  I expect the building is still there, but is it still  Moore's Hotel?  It isn't listed in my Kelly's directory for 1958, but it probably doesn't list all  the hotels of the time.
Now this is what I would call giving your potential customers the big picture!  At the bottom of this card, it says "Sunnyside, 25 & 27 Clifton Crescent, Folkestone.  Private Hotel and Private Suites"  You can see they have put a square around the Sunnyside hotel in the picture.
A luggage label from the Royal Pavilion Hotel.
A Hotel Metropole luggage label
This 1906 picture depicts the Queens Hotel on the left, straight ahead is the Town Hall, and I am very curious about the two women on the right.  Are they identical twins?  Did you ever see such a square head on anybody as you see on the one on the left? :-)
Here we have the Barrelle Hotel
And this view of the Barrelle Hotel was taken in 1971 by David Santry, who was living on The Bayle at the time. 
This was an advertising postcard for the Wampach Hotel, seen here flying the flags.  The advertisement boasted having electric lights and a lift.  Quite a selling feature in those days!

Don't you love the way someone has written 'SEA' at the end of Castle Hill Avenue? They just didn't mention that there is a pretty high cliff to get down to reach it!
This is how the harbour looked in 1908, with the London & Paris Hotel down there on the left, and the Pavilion Hotel on the right. 
Right in the centre you can see the boat train chugging away.  If I am not mistaken, you can just make out one of the collier ships moored just in front of the Pavilion.
And here is the Wynstead in Clifton Crescent.
And the Lyndhurst in 1939, anyone for a jolly old game of tennis, what?
This building up on the Leas was called Leas Mansions in 1913.  Is it still there?  I don't know.
This is an art card dating back to 1913, promoting the virtues of the Westcliff Hotel.  You can see the clientelle they catered to in those days, can't you?  I bet these people never had a vision of the Westcliff Shades that was to arrive in its future!!
Talking about the Westcliff Shades, my niece has a nice website on that place dating from the 70's http://www.westcliffshades.co.uk/
Back to the Royal Pavilion again, showing you the view that patrons of the day had just across the street.  What a lovely sight that must have been!
This was the Avondale Hotel in the 60's.  Located at 19 Clifton Gardens.  In 1958 it was being run by Misses Rafferty.
And this was Bedford House on Marine Parade in 1934

This one is not listed in 1958.
The Merrythought Guesthouse was also located in Marine Parade, at No. 13.  I don't know the year this was taken, but in 1958 it was being run by Mr. & Mrs. H. Parham.
The Clifton Hotel, taken on the left in 1946, and on the right, by Cliff Sherwood, in 2003.  Cliff says on his website that the Clifton is the most haunted place on earth according to the Guiness Book of Records.  Dare you stay there?  If you would like to read more about it, and check out Cliff's other pics, click Virtual Tourist
This was the lounge of the Clifton Hotel, but something tells me this photo was taken many years ago.
This in an advertising multiview card for the Hotel Continental Wampach on Castle Hill Avenue.  This was the location of my first wedding reception.

Now THAT turned out to be a big waste of money! :-)
The Fernley Hotel advertising that they were for commercial and family guests.

I found a reference to this hotel in a 1922 Ward Lock red guide.

It was located on Guildhall Street, but the exact address wasn't mentioned.  However, it did state that a Mrs. Clements was the proprietress
This is another photo from Cliff Sherwood's site.  It is a nice closeup of The Grand Hotel apartments and tea rooms.

I plan to visit there when I next go over!
By contrast, here is one of the Hotel Metropole in 1897
I think the three photos above must be the back of the Lyndhurst hotel, and the one below left with the coach outside shows the front.
This was the Langhorne Hotel in 1911, which was being run by Mrs. Hughes.  I thought this was probably located either in Langhorne Gardens, or on the corner of The Leas and Langhorne Gardens,  I found it in an early Ward Lock Guide, but it just lists it on the Leas.
Now this is the Langhorne Garden Hotel in 1981.  I don't somehow think this and the one above are the same building, because prior to this, the Langhorne Garden Hotel was called The Norfolk Hotel, and had been since it was built in the late 1800's,  which is what it was still called in 1958.  History of this hotel can be found HERE
Sid Rowles sent this lovely photo of the Metropole, taken in 1915 when his Great Uncle Ted stayed there.
By contrast, here is a modern one of the Metropole taken by Cliff Sherwood.  It now houses an Art Centre, a Health & Fitness Club, a restaurant and apartments.
Back to 1931, and here is the Metropole with a lovely old car outside - which was probably brand new at the time!

See the telephone number?  446, don't you wish it was as easy as that to dial a number these days?
This beautiful photo of the Hotel Burstin, actually, I think its proper title is the Grand Burstin now was taken by James Ashby of Luton.

Isn't it a great shot?  Gives  you a lovely view of the houses as well, houses I might add that look in immaculate shape don't they?
The card on the left was called The Salisbury Clifton Hotels, but the one on the right was just listed as the Salisbury Hotel.  So this must be the corner of The Leas and Clifton Gardens.  Now we know that the Clifton is still there, but is the Salisbury?
Well, it certainly was around in the 50's, because that is when this card was posted.  As you might have guessed by that old car.
Still on the Leas, here we have the Southcliff Hotel in 1961
This Hawksworth Wheeler photograph (left) is of Spade House, a vegetarian hotel in 1955.  Did they really turn H. G. Wells' famous house in Sandgate  into a veggie hotel at one time?  Above is a photo of H. G. and Sarah Wells outside Spade House, and it certainly looks like the same place to me!
This building, which is still up on the Durlocks started out its life as the St. Andrews Nursing home, where people would come from all over to recover from their illness and take in the sea air.

Its next incarnation was as the W orkers Travel Association Guest House, as you see it here. 

Nowadays, it is a block of flats.
Here is The Grand again.  This 1908 postcard was listed as the Grand Mansions.  Note the bandstand right out front, not there any more.
This was (is?) The Mayfair Private hotel on The Leas.
Another two views of the Wampach
Wear Bay House, East Cliff, postally used in 1913.  Pretty good colour for the year isn't it?
A very old one of the West Cliff Hotel - 1908 in fact.  See the horse and cart trundling along the street?

You can see Christ Church in the background, and I believe the large building next to the hotel was the parsonage belonging to the church..
Another photo of the West Cliff when it was being used for another purpose.  During the war, it was used as an eye and ear hospital for Canadians.  I find that very strange, I wouldn't have thought there were enough Canadian servicemen with eye and ear problems to require a hospital for their use alone.  Where did the British have to go I wonder?
To the left we have the Wynstead Hotel in Clifton Crescent, and above is the Wyndham on The Leas.
  Click the link below to get back to the index page.
I put this one in the Hotels section instead of The Leas, because the card says "Shewing Skelmersdale Hotel".  (I do love the word 'shewing') Now I have no idea which one is the Skelmersdale, but maybe someone could tell me.
I did enlarge part of this card though, because I am sure many of you have never seen a horse-drawn lawnmover before!  I hadn't either!
Note the way the child on the right is dressed.  Tight trousers with thigh high boots.  Loose fitting shirt with a hip belt and flared cuffs.  Plus the large cap that was so fashionable in those days.  Obviously a child born with a silver spoon in his mouth!
I know we have seen many photos of the Royal Pavilion, but I couldn't resist putting this lovely closeup onto the page.  I had no idea they had a tennis court right in front.  This photo was taken by Hawksworth Wheeler, now that is a well established company!  Still around today I believe.
I did!  I went over in 2005 and did a tour of this hotel with the Folkestone Local History Society.  If you would like see some photos from this, click HERE
This picture of the Burstin was taken in March, 2005 by Sylvia, who was kind enough to send it to me.  Thanks Sylvia! :-)

You rarely see photos of it from this side, as most people aim to take it from the front, where it looks more like a ship. (Or a great white wedding cake, as one of my readers described it!).
This is a photo of the Courtland Private Hotel in Westbourne Gardens
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I originally had this one on the Buildings page, because I had no idea what it was, but was told by both Jean Adams and Alan Taylor that it was the Garden House Hotel, located at 142 Sandgate Road near Trinity Church.  The small building behind is the original Garden House.  The hotel  was gutted by fire on March 7, 1999, demolished in 2003.  New luxury retirement flats have been built on the site by McCarthy & Stone.  Thanks very much Jean & Alan! :-)
The year was 1885 and the time, according to the clock tower on the Royal Pavision was 4:25
Note the tall sailing ship in the background - probably a collier boat.
1906
Above and left we have Sothoron Lodge which used to stand on the corner of The Leas and Clifton Crescent.  A lovely building, now demolished.
A very early photograph of the Kings Arms Hotel which was located on the corner of Sandgate Road and Guildhall Street.  At that time, a Mr. W. Medhurst was the landlord.  Next door, you can see the livery stables of M. P. Valyer.
The King is dead, long live the Queen!

That spot was later taken over by the very large Queen's Hotel, seen again below.
Here we are at No. 8 Marine Parade, and looking at the Devonshire Hotel.  A lot of the channel swimmers stayed here during the late 50's..
What a lovely clear photograph this is of the Westcliff Hotel.  However, this was posted in 1916, and was entitled Eye and Ear Hospital.  So it was obviously during the first World War that it was put to that use.
The Windsor Hotel located at 7, 8 & 9 Langhorne Gardens.
The White House Hotel, at 5 & 6 Clifton Gardens.
This is the Burlington Hotel in the 50's.  Located at 3-5 Earls Avenue.
This one was entitled The Burlington & Manor House.

They are pretty magnificent edifices aren't they?
The year is 1910, and we are now outside 10 West Terrace, and looking at Flordon House.  By 1958 this address had become the Rates office.
I don't have a modern street directory, but I do know that Argos is located at 7-8 West Terrace, but whether this building is still standing I haven't a clue.
This was listed as Greystones Hotel, which isn't in my Kelly's for 1958, but if I am not mistaken, that is the Holy Trinity church in the background isn't it?  Which would place it in Trinity Gardens.
This is the Hotel Bristol, although in 1958 it was listed as the Bristol Hotel.  Regardless, the address was/is 3 & 4 The Leas.
This is a fairly new acquisition of mine, and I knew absolutely nothing about this hotel, and couldn't find anything on it, so wrote to Alan Taylor, who knows everything!  True to form he came up trumps, and this is what he told me:
"Hundert's hotel stood next to the Pleasure Gardens Theatre in Bouverie Road West. It was built in 1892 and run Max Wilhelm Hundert until  c1931. By 1933 the name had changed to the Princes Hotel. The Princes was purchased by the Orion Insurance Company ( which stood on the Theatre site and now the Police Station) it was demolished in August 1976 and the site became an extension to the Orion's gardens. '
Hotels change names so often, it is impossible to keep up.  This was listed as the Jubilee, again not listed in 1958, but could be later than that.
This 1909 photo depicts the Leas Hotel from the garden.  Not listed in 1958, and can't find anything on it now, so it has either been demolished, or has a new identity.
Now this one has been around for a very long time.  It is the Lismore, located in Trinity Gardens.
This lovely photo from 1906 is the Longford Hotel on the Leas.  As you can see, it was right next door to the Leas Pavilion, so the guests didn't have far to go for entertainment.

This hotel was still in operation in 1958, but I have a feeling it is not there any longer.  If I am wrong, please correct me.
Here we have yet another one of The Grand.  This too has an old car outside, but it looks more like a 30's or 40's doesn't it?
Here is another one with the Holy Trinity church in the background.  This time it is the Milford Court Private Hotel.
Now over to 10 - 12 Langhorne Gardens where we find the Norfolk Hotel in 1961  As mentioned above, this hotel is now called the Langhorne Garden Hotel.
This is the Queen Alexandra House on Earls Avenue.  It was described in my Kelly's  as Holiday Home (Order of St. John and British Red Cross & State Registered Nurses) (Miss M. F. M. Trimble R.R.C. warden)
The Salisbury Hotel right next the the statue of William Harvey on the corner of the Leas and Castle Hill Avenue.
Another view of the Salisbury Hotel, this time it has been taken from the other side looking West.
This elderly photograph was taken in 1908, and was called Westbourne House Kitchen garden.

My Kelly's lists a Westbourne Private Hotel at 7 Westbourne Gardens, but I really don't know if they are one and the same.  It is quite possible that this Westbourne House wasn't a hotel at all.
We can't go long without another look at the Metropole and Grand can we?

The photo on the left is from 1904 and the one above was taken in 1922.
The photograph above was sent by David Lyne-Gordon, whose family owned the Garden House Hotel.  He has written a very interesting article about it which you can read by clicking HERE
David was saying in his article how saddened he was to go back to the hotel after the fire and see the horrible mess it had become.  That is all in the past now,  Frank & Jane Sharpe from Dundee recently sent me the photograph on the above.  These are the luxury retirement flats mentioned by Alan Taylor above, and at that time, they were 75% sold.  They have called them Garden House Court, which is a nice way to remember the hotel.

Not quite the character of the Garden House Hotel, but better than a pile of burned out rubble.
This page updated March 8, 2007
Sent to me by Alan Taylor along with his research on it:  "Tthis was the Edith Morrison Holiday Centre.  The building was called 'Tower House' it is at 16 Manor Road (corner of Bouverie Road West).
It doesn't appear in the last Kelly's directory which was published in 1974, but we had a new directory called 'Thomson' which started in 1982. Edith Morrison Holiday Centre is listed in that directory from 1982 to 1987 under hotels."  The photo looks older than that doesn't it?
If you have your own memories of Folkestone, be sure to share them with us by jotting them down in the Guestbook below
On the right is an art card of the Hotel Majestic. located at 138 Sandgate Road.
The Skelmersdale Hotel was built in the mid 19th century ( around 1850) I've traced it back so far to 1871 where it was privately owned but the hotel was created in around 1892 and was at number 22 -24 the Leas it was later named The Ambassador Hotel which is now the South Cliff hotel
This snippet of information was provided by Mark Cunningham