The Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity

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The Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity Restoring Folkestone’s historic Leas Lift and securing its sustainable future for generations to come.

🎢 The Leas Lift wasn’t the only attraction drawing crowds to the seafront. Just a short distance away stood the famous S...
07/10/2026

🎢 The Leas Lift wasn’t the only attraction drawing crowds to the seafront. Just a short distance away stood the famous Switchback Railway, an early rollercoaster-style ride that formed part of Folkestone’s growing leisure scene.

The Switchback was eventually badly damaged by a storm in 1909 and dismantled, but the Leas Lift remains as a remarkable link to that golden age of the town’s seaside history.

Two very different rides, both part of the story of Victorian and Edwardian Folkestone 🚋

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📩 Keep up with the latest from the Leas Lift.As we continue our restoration journey towards reopening, sign up to our ne...
30/09/2026

📩 Keep up with the latest from the Leas Lift.

As we continue our restoration journey towards reopening, sign up to our newsletter to be among the first to hear the latest news and updates from the Lift.

Join via our website and stay connected with everything happening along the way.

🌐 www.leaslift.co.uk

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🎂 This week, the Leas Lift celebrated its 141st anniversary!Originally opened on 21 September 1885, the Lift has been pa...
25/09/2026

🎂 This week, the Leas Lift celebrated its 141st anniversary!

Originally opened on 21 September 1885, the Lift has been part of Folkestone’s story for well over a century.

141 years of history, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for the next chapter soon ❤️

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The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? 👀Nope, just one of our historic Leas Lift carriages taking to the skies! 🚋🏗️__The National ...
18/09/2026

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? 👀

Nope, just one of our historic Leas Lift carriages taking to the skies! 🚋🏗️

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The National Lottery Heritage Fund

🍂 Fancy a scenic stroll and exploring the many delights that Lower Leas Coastal Park has to offer this September?👣 The F...
14/09/2026

🍂 Fancy a scenic stroll and exploring the many delights that Lower Leas Coastal Park has to offer this September?

👣 The Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity is organising free, accessible autumnal walks, giving visitors the chance to discover the area's rich heritage and natural beauty.

♿️ With access to Changing Places UK toilets, nearby refreshments, and plenty of spots along the route to sit and take in the scenery, why not come along?

📌 Spaces are limited, so be sure to book your place ➡ https://www.ticketsource.com/folkestone-leas-lift-company-cio

🚶 Join us tomorrow for a Leas Lift Heritage Walk!Explore Folkestone’s coastal heritage on a relaxed 75-minute guided wal...
14/09/2026

🚶 Join us tomorrow for a Leas Lift Heritage Walk!

Explore Folkestone’s coastal heritage on a relaxed 75-minute guided walk, starting at the bottom of the historic Leas Lift.
Along the way, discover the stories behind the Zig Zag Path, Leas Cliff Hall, Toll Cottage, Cow Path, Metropole Lift, Switchback and the historic Pier.

There’s still time to book your place 👇
https://www.ticketsource.com/folkestone-leas-lift-company-cio/leas-lift-heritage-walk/e-jpkvok

📅 Tuesday 15 September
⏰ 11am
📍 Bottom of the Leas Lift
🎟️ FREE

Please arrive five minutes before the start.
Please note, this is a heritage walk around the local area and does not include access to the Leas Lift site.

🚡 Then and now.Back in February 2025, our carriages were lifted away as our major restoration got underway.Fast forward ...
12/09/2026

🚡 Then and now.

Back in February 2025, our carriages were lifted away as our major restoration got underway.

Fast forward to today, and they’re back in Folkestone, rebuilt and sitting once again on the tracks.

These before-and-after photos don’t just show the transformation of the carriages, but how far the wider restoration project has come too.

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🚡 Back where they belong.A great view of our rebuilt carriages sitting proudly back on the tracks behind the Lower Stati...
11/09/2026

🚡 Back where they belong.

A great view of our rebuilt carriages sitting proudly back on the tracks behind the Lower Station, complete with their restored bogies, tanks and wheels.

📸 Apex Contractors

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10/09/2026

🚡 A closer look at yesterday’s milestone…

Our rebuilt carriages are back at the Leas Lift and, yesterday, were carefully lifted back onto the track.

Take a look at how it happened 👀

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The National Lottery Heritage Fund

🚡 Back on track!A huge moment for the Leas Lift today as our two historic carriages are back home and back on the track ...
09/09/2026

🚡 Back on track!

A huge moment for the Leas Lift today as our two historic carriages are back home and back on the track for the first time since February 2025!

They’ve been on quite a journey, undergoing an extensive rebuild with specialist engineers. The work has included new hardwood window frames, a stronger steel frame and important upgrades to safety, durability and accessibility, all while keeping the familiar character of the carriages Folkestone knows and loves.

Original features are still prominent, including the ironmongery and seats, which have been carefully retained and reused wherever possible.

A huge thank you to Rochester Bridge Trust for supporting this stage of the restoration, and to the team on site for coordinating the carriage return on site.

There’s still important work ahead, including mechanical installation, testing and commissioning, but this is another very exciting step towards reopening 🎉

More info 🔗 - https://leaslift.co.uk/blogs/news/back-on-track-as-leas-lift-carriages-return-home

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The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Address

Lower Sandgate Road
Folkestone
CT201PR

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