leaving London for Folkestone

[TAG30]

So after years of thinking about it, weve decided its now or never to leave London and its expense and find cheaper housing.
After months of research and visits we've settled on Folkestone to move to in the summer holidays. My husband will use the high speed into central London (he gets free travel so thats not a problem) and i have applied for nurse jobs at the William Harvey and Canterbury Hospital (if anyone has any nursing experience at these hospitals id love to hear what its like to work there).
Anyone else done this? Would love to hear any stories about relocating to Folkestone especially from London.
Also, if anyone could recommend any local dance clubs id appreciate that as my 11 year old currently dances and would like to continue. Were not sure what school she will go to but any views on the local secondary schools would also be appreciated smile

[QOD]

I work there, niece nurse at WHH and loves it

Look at Lympne, Lyminge, Saltwood, Wye, Smersh, Sellindge, Hawkinge etc rather than Folkestone. It's erm interesting in Folkestone

Secondary school either Folkestone School for Girls or Harvey Grammar for Boys OR Brockhill is the best secondary Modern. Don't forget it's a grammar area. Do not move summer of year 5 (thanks mum) and miss the 11+
If it has to be Folkestone then look st Golden Valley. Do NOT look at the East End of Folkestone

[QOD]

Julia's Dance Studios sand gate Road Folkestone or Insteps. Google it

[TAG30]

Thanks qod for your reply. I've read a lot of negative things about Folkestone which worried me and I've had a look around and stayed overnight so I've seen some of the interesting side to it as stayed at the View Hotel.
Unfortunately my husband needs the station and we're going from a 20 minute commute to 50 so I don't want to add much more to his journey. Therefore, for the next 10 years at least, he'll need to be walking distance to a station. Will definitely take on board the east/west side point though thank you. I've spoken to Folkestone grammar and they will test my daughter in June but if she doesn't pass its good to have a back up.
I've applied for a couple of jobs at the WHH so good to hear your neice likes it. I feel a bit out of water leaving London as its all I've known and you get a bit phobic of change!

I'll check out the dance ground too thanks again

[QOD]

What's your budget?
The coast side of the Folkestone West Station is lovely. Audley Road, Coolindge Lane etc or as I said Golden Valley which they now advertise as Sandgate.
I will honestly say there's some bits of Cheriton that are ghetto like but some lovely bits too.

[QueerAsFolkestone]

One of my children does dance with Dan www.danzstudio.co.uk/ which might appeal depending on what sort of dance your daughter does. There's also a lot of dance/performing arts at Brockhill secondary school - InStep that QOD mentioned is linked to Brockhill www.instepdance.co.uk/about/overview/

Coming down and exploring as much as you can is best. I moved here 6 years ago - was in Ealing before - and feel very positive about the place in general. I disagree with QOD about any part of Cheriton being 'ghetto-like' (!) but the end around Folkestone West station is broadly nicer than the end further west towards junction 12 and the big Tesco. Audley Rd, Coolinge Lane etc are indeed lovely, and house prices on them are inflated by the Sandgate Primary catchment factor as well as the proximity to the station.

[QueerAsFolkestone]

One of my children does dance with Dan www.danzstudio.co.uk/ which might appeal depending on what sort of dance your daughter does. There's also a lot of dance/performing arts at Brockhill secondary school - InStep that QOD mentioned is linked to Brockhill www.instepdance.co.uk/about/overview/

Coming down and exploring as much as you can is best. I moved here 6 years ago - was in Ealing before - and feel very positive about the place in general. I disagree with QOD about any part of Cheriton being 'ghetto-like' (!) but the end around Folkestone West station is broadly nicer than the end further west towards junction 12 and the big Tesco. Audley Rd, Coolinge Lane etc are indeed lovely, and house prices on them are inflated by the Sandgate Primary catchment factor as well as the proximity to the station.

[TAG30]

Great to have some road names to go on thank you QOD. My budget is around £350000 but i want 4 beds so not sure if i can include everything in that.
Re ghetto areas, im coming from South London where very nice streets meet with very bad ones so may be relative. However, that said, i dont want to jump out of the frying pan in to the fire!

Queerasfokestone - interesting to hear you made the move. What do you miss most about london, if anything? What do you love about Folkestone? What was your first 6 months like when you moved? Would you recommend Folkestone now you live there? (so many questions, sorry!)
As much as ive been down and looked around etc, its not the same as really living there.
my daughter does street, jazz and wants to start modern/contemporary so ideally looking for something with various disciplines. I noticed that the Brockhill Park school was a performing arts but wonder if the focus is diverted from academic work to performing arts. As much as my daughter loves dance, id rather it stayed a hobby until shes left full time education.

[QueerAsFolkestone]

We go back to London often to visit family and do London things, so don't miss it at all really - the high speed train makes it very easy to do that.

Yes, I would totally recommend it. We really enjoy the beach, the Leas, walking in the hills, the coastal park, the various places to eat, the old high street and the harbour arm and all the creative quarter goings-on... and going to places like Dover Castle or Canterbury or Deal too. I've read negative things about the town too, and it's not without its problems (is anywhere?) but it's been a good choice for us and I've made great friends here.

[TAG30]

Amazing thank you! I like all of those things you describe and initially looked at Kent villages but I don't think my daughter would have thanked me for that.
We're looking forward to the move

[QOD]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E521&maxPrice=350000&minPrice=325000&propertyTypes=detached%2Csemi-detached

With your budget you'll be in nice areas anyways

[Whyiseveryusernametaken]

Folkestone West is nice or Sandgate or Hythe (if you can afford it). Folkestone gets bad rep but the town centre has come on in leaps and bounds since I started living here 5 years ago. The creative quarter (old high street) is being developed, the harbour arm is being developed to have indepedent bars, shops and restaurants along it, the town itself isn't horrendous - you can pretty much find everything you need there. And although there is that brown field/demolition site where the rotunda used to be, the seaside gardens are nice and there are always people walking along he promenade with their dogs and kids.

I'm not saying it's the most amazing place to live but they are trying to make it better and I wouldn't be surprised if more people want to live here in 10 years time when everything is straightened out.

Good luck OP!!

[TAG30]

thanks for your input i really appreciate your comments. Ive got an interview at the William Harvey Hospital on Friday so it will give me another opportunity to have a look around again but we are almost certain of the move - excited but nervous!

[QOD]

Wahooo!
Shame it's not or Monday as I have an appointment 😂

[TAG30]

How funny as that's the type of smaller town stuff I'm not used to! I work in a central London hospital where you rarely see anyone you know but seems moving to Folkestone may be Change that after a while

[petitdonkey]

We have been in Kent for 12 years (from London) and Folkestone has improved so much in that time. The Harbour Arm was so fantastic last summer - great food and drink, lovely atmosphere. There are some lovely restaurants (we love Rocksalt) although I am nearer to Ashford so wouldn't go into the town of Folkestone for shopping etc. We love the beach there and walk all year 'round.

We go to London on a regular basis for shopping, museums, nights out - you only pay £1 for children to do a return trip!! (always buy at the counter, a ticket machine will charge more!)

My children are at school in Ashford and Canterbury so I don't have personal experience but have only heard good things about both of the Folkestone Grammars - has your DD done 11+? Brockhill didn't have the best reputation for a time but I have heard brilliant things about it recently (and check out the park next door to it at the weekend for lovely walks and a really brilliant vegetarian cafe!!)

It's a really lovely area - we are quite rural but now that my eldest is 12, I would wholeheartedly recommend living in the town rather than one of the villages.

[TAG30]

thank you for your reply its very helpful. Youve definitely sold it to me!
My daughter is going to sit the test at Folkestone girls in June but i need a back up plan in case she doesnt pass. Shes quite capable but takes her time and lacks confidence in her answers so often doesnt complete a paper in time.
Even if she doesnt pass and we apply to other schools, we are likely to need to appeal as places will have been taken up by the time we can apply! Its a really hard decision because its highly likely she will obtain a place at a brilliant state school here on allocation day next week but it seems like its now or never really and we cant afford to buy where we are.
Thanks again all your comments have really helped me

[QOD]

Make sure you also enter her for the Shepway Test - slightly different format and you can get into FSG on it without appeal
Also Dover Grammar for Girls has its own test

[par1980]

Does anyone have any experience of nurseries in Folkestone that would work for parents commuting to London? ie early drop-off / late pick-up

Thank-you!

[Sree2688]

Hi ...just came through your thread while searching about Folkestone area ,we are also planning to move to Folkestone from London ... how is life there ? I want to know about nurseries,schools,people ... even we are in a dilemma whether we could acclimatise in a new Area ... how good it is to move from London to Folkestone ?

[Lalalax3]

Following as we are thinking of moving to Folkestone soon with a budget of £180000. So we will end up in 'the ghetto' of which you all speak. TBH we live in a rough bit of East London now with gang problems and drug dealing so it won't be too much of a culture shock for us!

[LurksNoLonger]

Just joining this thread as we agreed a purchase on a house in Folkestone today! Are there any FB groups worth joining?? Have any PP now made the move? Coming down from South East London with three young boys. How is everyone else finding it? What's it like socially? TIA

[Oliviahartmann]

Hey guys I am also moving to folkstone with my little boy in January 2018. Maybe we should make a group like "new in folkstone" to exchange tips :)

[DumptonPark]

Check out the following FB groups:
Newbies in Folkestone
We Love Folkestone
Folkestone Kids

We have lived here for 5 years and love it.

[SallyForthSunshine]

I'm moving to North Folkestone next week for work. We are going to be very close to the Sainsbury's/Argos/Halfords industrial estate. It's not in the East part of town, so I hope isn't too bad? We visited twice and it seemed very similar to the small Bucks town we'll be leaving actually, except for the seagulls and sea air! I'm looking forward to it

[Cab65]

Before you settle on Folkestone have a look at Margate, Westbrook area or Westgate on Sea, both on the fast train line and so nice to live in. Margate is very up and coming prices have doubled in the last couple of years but still so much more for your money than London.