ˈæftɚ stˈʌdiɪŋ æt ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv ˈɛdɪnbʌɹə ænd bɹˈeɪsnoʊz kˈɑːlɪdʒ, ˈɑːksfɚd, ænd ˈæftɚɹ ɐ tˈʊɹ ʌv jˈʊɹɹəp, fˈoʊkstoʊn sˈɛɾəld æt kˈoʊlshɪl, ɪn bˈɜːkʃɚ, wˌɪtʃ ɹᵻmˈeɪnd hɪz fˈeɪvɹɪt hˈoʊm fɚðə ɹˈɛst ʌv hɪz lˈaɪf.
After studying at the University of Edinburgh and Brasenose College, Oxford, and after a tour of Europe, Folkestone settled at Coleshill, in Berkshire, which remained his favourite home for the rest of his life.