Is there a joining fee for Folkestone hosts?

There isn't. HostFamily.uk is free for host families, with no subscription or placement fees.

Can students from Folkestone get to schools in other towns?

Yes. Folkestone has fast trains to Ashford and London and good connections to Canterbury and Dover, so a student can study in a nearby town and live here.

Does Hythe count as Folkestone?

Hythe is a separate town just along the coast with frequent buses into Folkestone. Schools search by location, so Hythe homes can be found too.

What do students like about Folkestone?

The Harbour Arm's food stalls, walks along The Leas, the beaches and the street art in the Creative Quarter are popular, and on clear days students can look out across the Channel.

Become a Host Family in Folkestone

Why Folkestone needs host families

The Harbour Arm, the clifftop promenade of The Leas and the galleries of the Creative Quarter have given Folkestone a fresh energy. Students can walk the coast to Sandgate and Hythe, or reach London by high-speed train in about an hour.

The Channel Tunnel terminal is on the edge of town, which makes Folkestone easy to reach from mainland Europe. Its links along the Kent coast and to Canterbury and Ashford also suit students on courses elsewhere in east Kent.

A host family gives a student far more than a bed. Evening meals, local tips and a bit of patience with new vocabulary help them settle, and you set the dates and choose the students who stay. Schools explain their own requirements, for example when placing younger students.

Host family sharing a meal with an international student in Folkestone

Who you could host in Folkestone

You choose the ages, lengths of stay and dates that suit your household.

Summer study trips

Young visitors from Europe often come to the Kent coast in summer for short courses, and a home with good transport links can suit schools placing them.

Adults on short courses

Adults sometimes book a week or two of English and like a seaside base with direct trains to London and nearby cities.

Students studying nearby

Learners on courses in Canterbury or Ashford may live in Folkestone and travel by train or bus each day.

Where you could host

Schools look for homes within easy reach of their classes. These are some of the areas in and around Folkestone.

Folkestone town centre

The Leas

Sandgate

Cheriton

Morehall

Hawkinge

Capel-le-Ferne

Hythe

Lyminge

Etchinghill

How it works

1. Register for free

Create your host profile in a few minutes. There are no fees or subscriptions.

2. Get found by schools

Language schools that place students in and around Folkestone search for hosts by location, rooms and availability.

3. Welcome your student

A school contacts you directly to arrange a placement. You decide which students you accept.

Earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free

Under the government's Rent a Room scheme, income from hosting students in your Folkestone home is tax-free up to £7,500 a year.

Applies whether you own or rent (with your landlord's permission)
Claim it with a single tick box on your tax return

General guidance only. Read more on GOV.UK

Hosting in Folkestone: common questions

Ready to host in Folkestone?

Registration is free and takes just a few minutes. Language schools can find you as soon as your profile is live.

Host families are also needed near Folkestone