The winter sun was beaming down on the coast on the most pleasant day of the year so far.

I’d had a bracing walk and was hoping to grab some breakfast at a bustling restaurant. Unfortunately, there was a queue of 20 people in front of me waiting to get in first…

Is this the price of so much hype?

I was visiting Folkestone after it was recently heralded by Time Out as the best place to visit in the UK this year.

Forget the bright lights of London or Edinburgh, or the stunning landscapes of the Lake District - it is this formerly “under-the-radar” seaside destination that topped the magazine's rankings.

Folkestone’s also been rated the best place to live in the south east by The Sunday Times. But can it live up to all this lavish praise? There was only one way to find out.

Time Out’s rough itinerary had advised: “Don’t miss walking from Sandgate down the seafront all the way to the Warren Nature Reserve, then back along the top; slowly crawling your way through the tiny galleries around Old High Street is a must, as is a pint at harbourside pub the Ship Inn.”

I didn’t want to end up walking back on myself. So I decided to park in one of the limited spaces available at The Warren before going down to the harbour arm, from where I’d stroll into the Creative Quarter and then head over to Sandgate.

Taking in the scenery at The Warren felt like a fantastic way to get things started, with clear skies and a calm sea creating a picturesque morning for dog walkers and nature lovers.

The beach here is typically quite quiet out of the summer season and it was no exception today, with the sun bouncing off the sand tinting my vision with a golden hue.

Away from the beach and on the muddy footpaths there were still pockets of beauty - although not much wildlife to be seen.

I wandered semi-aimlessly around the area for about an hour, getting as far as the Martello Tower next to the coastguard watching over the town (it’s a stunning view, spoilt only by the all too conspicuous Grand Burstin hotel) before heading back to the car.

I parked up at the harbour arm - a hugely popular attraction I expect most KentOnline readers will be very familiar with. Its street food stalls and trendy bars have played a key role in drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town every year.

It was a short walk to the Old High Street where the retailers I spoke to were unsurprisingly delighted with the Time Out article.

One said she’d been in the area for 18 years and had witnessed first-hand the shift in attitude towards the town.

It was clear that those who have businesses here lap up the glowing reviews.

There are some fantastic establishments located here too, with a special shout-out to the artists at Custard HQ and the Objectables gift shop.

As Time Out highlights, there are a good number of indie shops with artists galleries everywhere you look.

Kollectiv had an exhibition on waste put together by Canterbury College students which is worthy of praise. It’s nice to see the creatives of the future getting their names out there already.

I then went to Marley’s at the bottom of the Old High Street in the hope of some breakfast but, as mentioned above, too many people had the same idea. A colleague tells me this is a common experience and you need to get in really early on weekends.

Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to pick from. I had a breakfast wrap with a hot chocolate at Folklore instead, which went down a treat, before heading back to the car and driving a couple of miles along the coast.

While Time Out lauded the Ship Inn on the Stade overlooking Folkestone’s harbour, I thought it made more sense to visit The Famous Ship Inn in Sandgate to finish off my trip.

Sipping on a pint - once I’d finally got a parking space - I was able to embrace the quiet of this coastal village compared to bustling Folkestone and mull over my review.

Honestly, I had fun. It was a perfectly pleasant day out and everyone was in good spirits.

But when somewhere gets a reputation like Folkestone is gaining, for someone who grew up in Kent, I think it’s bound to fall a bit flat compared to how someone from outside the county would feel.

It’s still a brilliant town with a lot of heart and people love to be here.

But I’m not convinced it's the best place to visit in the UK. I do wonder whether those declaring it as such have even spent much time in Folkestone - or are just jumping on the bandwagon.

Because there is always more to any town than what you read in the broadsheets.

We’ve reported previously how some people in Folkestone feel left behind by what they see as its gentrification. The Shoreline Crescent flats on the beach - Kent’s priciest development - have become a symbol of this.

Meanwhile, last year’s Time Out list ranked Ramsgate at 11th in the UK, with judges calling it a “walkable gem with a hell of a lot of character”. This is the same town that has one in four shops empty in its high street.

I love both places for different reasons, but they have their problems.

Tourists only see what they want to see without really having to pay much attention to the other stuff which might spoil their visit.

The same would be said of me on a trip somewhere like York, which I’d call charming and beautiful – and may well be the candidate I’d put forward if I compiled a list of the UK’s best destinations.

This isn’t to say Folkestone isn’t worth visiting because it absolutely is. But almost every town in Kent has something worth going to see.

So I suppose my argument here is that these lists of “best places” don’t prove anything - you need to experience it yourself.