Travelers gather around the cozy fireplace to plan their day over a delicious meal, then breeze through express check-out when it's time to continue their journey.
The Carlton Hotel blends seaside charm with practical comforts. Guests can dine at the on-site restaurant, relax with drinks at the bar, or use two well-appointed meeting rooms. The oceanside setting offers a refreshing backdrop for both leisure and business travelers.
Located in Folkestone, The Carlton Hotel is in the city centre and by the sea. Dover Western Docks Cruise Terminal and Dover Eastern Docks Ferry Terminal are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and Gardens and White Cliffs of Dover. Leas Lift and Elham Valley Railway Museum are also worth visiting. Visit our Folkestone travel guide
16/19 The Leas, Folkestone, England, CT20 2DU
What's nearby
Leas Cliff Hall
1 min walk - 0.1 miles
Lower Leas Coastal Park
1 min walk - 0.1 miles
Sandgate Beach
9 min walk - 0.5 miles
Folkestone Harbour
12 min walk - 0.7 miles
Folkestone Beach
16 min walk - 0.9 miles
Getting around
Folkestone Central Station
11 min walk
Restaurants
The Bouverie Tap
4 min walk
The Chambers
3 min walk
Papas Fish & Chips
3 min walk
The Firkin
4 min walk
The Radnor Arms
5 min walk
About this property
The Carlton Hotel
Hotel by the sea
You can look forward to a terrace, a fireplace in reception and a bar at The Carlton Hotel. The on-site restaurant offers dinner. In addition to a business centre, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi, with a speed of 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices).
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
Free self-parking
Continental breakfast (surcharge), express check-out and express check-in
Concierge services, luggage storage and a banquet hall
Room features
All 70 rooms feature comforts such as free WiFi and sound-insulated walls.
More amenities include:
Bathrooms with baths or showers and free toiletries
In-room WiFi speed: 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices)
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Free self parking on site
Limited on-site self parking
Food and drink
Daily continental breakfast available 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM for a fee: GBP 5 for adults and GBP 5 for children
A bar/lounge
A restaurant
Snack bar/deli
Things to do
TV in common areas
Family friendly
Snack bar/deli
Soundproofed rooms
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Luggage storage
Safe at front desk
Guest services
Concierge services
Housekeeping (daily)
Multilingual staff
Tour and ticket assistance
Business services
2 meeting rooms
Business centre
Outdoors
Picnic area
Terrace
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Assistive listening devices
Lift
Well-lit path to entrance
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
More
3 buildings
4 floors
Banquet hall
Built in 1880
Fireplace in lobby
Smoke-free property
Victorian architecture
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Bathtub or shower
Free toiletries
Hair dryer (on request)
Private bathroom
Towels provided
Entertainment
Flat-screen TV
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
More
Heating
Soundproofed rooms
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age - 18
Check-out
Check-out before 10:30 AM
Contactless check-out
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: GBP 15
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are not available
Payment types at the property
Important information
Optional extras
Fee for continental breakfast: from approximately GBP 5 for adults and from GBP 5 for children
Late check-out fee: GBP 15 (subject to availability)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
We should mention
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)
Frequently asked questions
Is The Carlton Hotel pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at The Carlton Hotel?
As of 14 Jun 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Carlton Hotel on 21 Jun 2026 start from £48, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at The Carlton Hotel?
Self-parking is free at this property.
What time is check-in at The Carlton Hotel?
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime.
What time is check-out at The Carlton Hotel?
Checkout is at 10:30 AM. Late checkout is available for GBP 15 (subject to availability).
Where is The Carlton Hotel located?
Located in the heart of Folkestone, this hotel is steps away from Lower Leas Coastal Park and Leas Cliff Hall. Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe and Leas Lift are also within 10 minutes. Folkestone Central Station is 11 minutes by foot and Folkestone Harbour Station is 17 minutes.
Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?
Yes, this property offers free cancellation on selected room rates because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.
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Reviews
The Carlton Hotel Reviews
5.8
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
5.6
Cleanliness
8.0
Location
6.8
Staff & service
5.0
Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 154 out of 1022 reviews
10 - Excellent
154
Rating 8 - Good. 205 out of 1022 reviews
8 - Good
205
Rating 6 - Okay. 226 out of 1022 reviews
6 - Okay
226
Rating 4 - Poor. 166 out of 1022 reviews
4 - Poor
166
Rating 2 - Terrible. 271 out of 1022 reviews
2 - Terrible
271
Reviews
Verified
6/10 Okay
Catherine
31 May 2026
Liked: Cleanliness
Good sized room for family of 4! Good location and fine for 1 night!
Catherine
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified
6/10 Okay
Pete
31 May 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The hotel was clean and functional, the building needs a bit of work (floor was sloping in the room) but cheap and cheerful, staff were friendly and helpful.
Pete
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified
8/10 Good
George
30 May 2026
Liked: Cleanliness
Free parking is included in the price, making this hotel excellent value for money. Although the building is quite old, it is kept clean and well-maintained
Best to avoid this place. Location is good but rooms are pretty gross. Walls are paper thin and had to listen to a couple listen to loud music, then have sex for two hours and have a heated argument that culminated in the man punching the wall and kicking his partner out.
Nico
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified
8/10 Good
Carol
16 Apr 2026
Travelled by train,bedding and towels spotless,property needs updating.Didnt have breakfast just coffee but everything looked fresh.
This place was certainly unique! From the pink and red contrasting wallpaper to the old musty smells there wasn’t much to be excited about, although for the price I shouldn’t expect 5 ⭐ luxury but had hoped for better.
The bedroom decor was something to be marvelled at, whoever came up with the black/grey scheme with a pine wardrobe painted black must have an interesting mind.
The shower was horrendous and while the water barely trickled out it either scalded you or froze you to death.
The brown carpet however was on another level! It looked like it had its own ecosystem and decided not to walk on it barefoot, I recommend nobody else does too.
Apart from that it was a good location and had a great weekend, mostly because I wasn’t in the room.
The hotel has good parking and a grear location and it is really cheap. The lounge and bar area are pleasant but the rest of the hotel is tired. We had a kettle that had been burnt through the bottom by a cigarette. Quickly replaced but surely it should have been checked? Paper thin walls so the louder residents were audible. Not sure if it's a halfway house for homeless or whether it's where workers stay but they were all loud and smokers...not the best.
Free parking which is so handy.
The room was much better than expected and was clean and comfortable. I think we lucked out on the room we got. Decent for cheap
I didn’t really see any staff other than one man who wouldn’t let us in the building after we had returned. We had to get our friend who had already to come home to let us in and then he made us stay so he can check the room was booked for 3 - despite me saying it was booked for 3. In one sense this is good for safety but another sense we were three young girls in early twenties with an older man who was getting aggy with us. But I do understand it’s for safety ? When trying to find a staff at reception to ask about parking no one was there and did not come for ages so we just left it.
The staff were very helpful and the room was immaculate
Most impressive for me was the bar area which was warm and inviting
Thank you for a wonderful stay
The location is wonderful right on the seafront, with a car park. The property itself could do with modernising throughout. The bar area vibe doesn’t match the style of the building.
My room wasn’t particularly clean the headboard had dust and the tv was covered in dust and the remote was sticky and dirty. The shower didn’t have hot water.
We didn’t have a comfortable sleep as the bed was hard and lumpy.
If the rooms had a refresh it would be a great place to stay.
Staff on reception were friendly and helpful and check-in was quick and easy. My room contained everything I required during my stay.
Marc
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
George
22 Sept 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Great location near the sea.
The hotel is old and characteristic but clean. The staff were friendly and helpful especially the receptionist as she helped with the parking and provided useful info.
George
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025
Verified
6/10 Okay
Jeanette
7 Apr 2025
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Great location
Jeanette
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
adrian
28 Jul 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Friendly staff
Very basic, but friendly staff and good location
adrian
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
LINDA
12 Apr 2025
Liked: Staff & service
good location. comfortable room and great staff
LINDA
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified
6/10 Okay
Lou
8 Jun 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Nice budget hotel. Great location. Coffee and breakfast could be a lot better.
Lou
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
John
27 Aug 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Handy for the Channel Tunnel.
A basic hotel. Good value. An easy walk to shops and a few restaurants.
John
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
Verified
6/10 Okay
Charlie
23 Oct 2025
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Staff very friendly. lounge, reception and bar very clean and refurbished. Unfortunately the room let it down with lots of damage to the walls and the bathroom including past damp leaks and previous guests hair everywhere. Free WiFi in room with smart tv and sea view within very close walking distance to the town was a bonus though, was fine for what we needed the room for.
Charlie
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
chloe
23 Jun 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
The staff were very friendly and helpful.
We only needed a bed for the night and a shower for when we left and for the price we paid we cant fault it.