On Saturday 28 March, Sunny Sands became the setting for a large-scale public book swap, as 2,073 people gathered to take part in a one-hour exchange of books.

Participants arrived with books to pass on, creating a wide, open-air exchange across the shoreline. Over the course of the hour, books moved from person to person, with people pausing to browse, recommend and take part in the shared experience unfolding across the beach.

Participation went well beyond the previous benchmark of 591 for an event of this kind, with the scale of what took place clear on the day.

Beyond the swap itself, the beach hosted a range of activity including readings, radio broadcasts and informal spaces to sit, spend time and take part at a different pace. An accessible area on Coronation Parade ensured that the event extended beyond the sand.

The Beach Book Swap forms part of Folkestone is a Library, a town-wide programme exploring how stories can move through public space and everyday life. Folkestone is a Library is a three-year Arts Council England Place Partnership Programme by Creative Folkestone, with additional funding from The Linbury Trust and Holiday Extras, and delivered in partnership with Kent County Council, local libraries, Turner Schools and community organisations.

Saturday’s event offered a clear example of that idea in practice, with participation shaped by those who came along and took part. The book swap is one of the ways that we are contributing to the National Year of Reading 2026 a national movement and a UK-wide campaign designed to help more people rediscover the joy of reading.

Further activity will continue across Folkestone as the project develops over the coming years.

Read the full press release here.

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