The station was built by the South Eastern Railway (SER). The line through the station opened on 28 June 1843, before construction had started.[1] It was announced on 28 November 1843 and was planned to be the station serving Hythe; the SER Chairman Joseph Baxendale hoped to stand as a candidate in the next general election for that constituency. It opened on 7 February 1844 along with the extension from Folkestone Central to Dover Priory.[2] An inn was built next to the station in September.[3]
The station became a junction when the SER's branch line to Sandgate opened on 10 October 1864. However, it was inconveniently placed, and the SER considered closing it and building a station somewhere else. Ultimately, the station was not closed and Sandling railway station opened.[4]
British Rail proposed the closure of the station as from 3 February 1969.[5] Objections were made which were considered by a Transport Users' Consultative Committee, after which the Minister of Transport decided against closure.[5]
In 2017, Shepway District Council announced plans to build a garden town next to the station, with around 12,000 new homes.[6]
Plans for the Otterpool garden town were approved by Folkestone and Hythe District Council in April 2023.
Racecourse station
In 1898, a station about 250 metres west of Westenhanger was built to serve the adjacent Folkestone Racecourse. It was only used on race days.[7] It closed in the 1960s.[8]1976 [9] As in 2022 the majority of the disused platforms were still in situ.
Facilities
The station is unstaffed and facilities are limited.
There is a self-service ticket machine at the station entrance and passenger help points located on each of the platforms. There is also a small (free) car park at the station entrance.
The station has step-free access available to the London bound platform although the Dover bound platform can only be reached via the footbridge meaning step-free access is not possible.[10]
