The downs rise steeply above the town of Folkestone to heights in excess of 150 metres.
The Channel Tunnel Terminal lies at the foot of the downs and the British portal is directly below the slopes of Castle Hill.
The extensive flora includes many typical species found in chalk grassland including horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa), squinancywort (Asperula cynanchica) and small scabious, as well as scarce species such as bedstraw broomrape (Orobanche caryophyllacea).
Much of Folkestone Downs is owned by Eurotunnel and managed by the White Cliffs Countryside Project.
Grazing was abandoned after the Second World War resulting in an invasion of coarse grasses and scrub.