Moving in Canterbury

[Eleonor]

Hi! I was offered a job in Dover and I am thinking of moving in Canterbury as it seems a safer place to live. The thing is that i dont know if it s possible to commute to Dover(by bus or train). Any ideas about the cost and the distance?

[SydneyCarton]

It’s about 25 minutes via the stopping train from Canterbury East to Dover Priory and there’s a fast option as well, maybe 15 minutes? I don’t think Dover is particularly unsafe to live in, although Canterbury is nicer and has more in terms of shopping, restaurants etc (more expensive though!)

[Eleonor]

I've been reading so many articles against Dover and I'm a bit puzzled actually. Dover is so much cheaper, maybe I should reconsider it. Any quiet and safe areas in Dover?

[sleepingdragon]

Folkestone is also a great place to live and slightly closer to Dover than Canterbury. It has a big arts/ cultural scene, restaurants, lots of people newly moved down from London (so looking for new friends) and the seaside!

[meganerk]

I live in Dover.

Honestly it has a bad rep but I can quite happily say that it isn't anywhere near as bad as people think.

I'm not from Dover. I didn't grow up here.

I admit the prospect of moving to Dover genuinely frightened me to start with. I'm originally from a sleepy little village full of oldies so the idea of moving to somewhere like Dover did make my eyes bulge a bit but seriously it's fine.

I don't think it's worse than anywhere else nowadays. I've been living here for three years now and have encountered zero problems.

It actually has some very lovely places.

We rent our home. It's a lovely three bed with a nice garden. It's relatively cheap too. The same property in Canterbury would be double the price which is something we just couldn't afford. Especially as I'm on maternity leave currently.

Personally have always found Canterbury overrated anyways.

Good Luck whatever you do.

[mamacheeks]

I live in Folkestone so another vote for Folkestone here. I work in Canterbury - it's crowded with students and tourists and has crazy traffic. Folkestone is well worth looking at because it's cheaper, has good transport links (London in 51 mins for 20 quid with a railcard), has a great range of people and is geographically stunning. You should look at Dover too though. I know lots of younger people moving and buying there as it is affordable.

[StillSmallVoice]

I second MamaCheeks. Canterbury is heaving with students and tourists and a lot of it is fairly rough. Have you thought of looking in Deal or Broadstairs?

[Eleonor]

Thank you all for your replies. Today I "discovered" also Folkestone, I really like it but it seems also expensive compared to Devon. Folkestone is connected to Devon as well?

[Eleonor]

Dover, sorry! 😀 (one really tired new mum)

[Atthebottomofthesea]

I can't speak for Dover but I was a student at Canterbury 23 a few years back. It is a lovely city and has a lot going for it, but as a pp says it is full of students which I imagine is worse than when I was there as the university/college (whatever they call themselves nowadays) as they have expanded over the years.

[Neolara]

Deal is lovely.

[OntoTheThird]

Original Dovorian here 👋
Dover town centre is a big no go, avoid surrounding areas such as st radigans, Melbourne, ayecliffe but anywhere around temple Ewell , river, Whitfield, elms vale, Lydden, coldred, shepherdswell are all lovely areas!

I worked in Canterbury for 10 years and never had a problem commuting by car used to take me 30mins in school rush hour, never attempted public transport as was lucky I could park for free a my office but the high speed and trains are pretty good from what I've heard!

[OntoTheThird]

Is original the correct term?haha I've just re-read my comment and it really doesn't sound right when I've re-read it 😂😂

[Eleonor]

Thank you original Dovorian!😀 I will certainly take a look at these areas. Dover town centre is a big no go even for shopping etc.?

[LurksNoLonger]

Moved to Folkestone last year and LOVE it. We looked at Canterbury for ages, but then viewed a house in Folkestone on a whim and are so pleased we chose here instead.

[OntoTheThird]

The shops aren't great but you can do a general shop if you can't get further to Canterbury or folkestone or Westwood cross! I still use the town when it's convenient for me at times but generally Whitfield has a good offering now of shops like tesco, b&m, Iceland warehouse, lidl etc it's a good area that's growing all the time! New leisure centre being built up there so only going to encourage more to join!
I live about 10/15mins from the town centre but have lived more central when we were renting and never had any issues!
The areas I mentioned I'm sure have good and bad bits to them but that's just from my knowledge from friends/aquantances from baby groups who have lived in all of those areas and also myself being in and around them (I visited ALOT of babygroups when I was a new Mum! Haha)

[Eleonor]

Thank you all with your great advice! Made me rethink my options!