Hythe is a small market town on th edge of Romney Marsh and was once the central Cinque Port in the defence of the south coast. The town developed along a series of terraces built into the cliff face but was originally Saxon in origin. Today there is no port but its name remembers its past - Hythe is an Old English word meaning haven or 'landing place'.

Hythe is on the south coast about four miles from Junction 11 of the M20 motorway which connects with the M26 and M25 motorways south east of London. Folkestone is five miles and Ashford fourteen miles. Dover is about thirteen miles. Fast trains to London (Charing Cross) take just under an hour and a half.