To move to Folkestone - tell me all!

We have a weekend home in Hythe which we stopped using as the DCs got older and it is now on a long term rental. Hythe is lovely but Folkestone is a hovel. The coast and all the parks etc which have been created are fantastic and when daytrippers are in there is a lovely atmosphere, but the town itself is beyond grim. And yes I have been back since the investments started but it has barely scratched the surface.
The schools are not actually very good, it is a very deprived area and because not enough locals can pass the Kent test the "grammar" schools in Folkestone and Kent run a separate easier test to fill the spaces. Consequently the grammar school results in the area are barely on par with a decent comp and the academy school results are dire. As a parent I would be very concerned about the peer group my children would have. Look at the post 18 data for those going on to RG unis etc, there will be far less aspiration than in an area like Brighton.

OP, have a look at St Margarets at Cliffe near Dover.

Nice village with a beach area.

I grew up down that way and have lived there for many many years on and off. Definitely don't move to Folkestone. Apart from the harbour area and the road down where the arty / independent shops are there isn't a lot going for it. Debenhams closed a while ago and the High Street is a dump.
For coastal living, Whitstable is lovely though property can be expensive. The houses on the slopes are around 1 million... but obviously cheaper if you go a few minutes down the road. I lived there up until December and loved it. It has a nice community feel and there (in normal times) is a lot going on. Herne Bay is supposedly up and coming though may take a while. Deal and Hythe are lovely though limited shopping and transport links aren't great. Margate is to be avoided...another up and coming area....supposedly, Birchington / Minnis Bay are nice, lovely beach though limited for shopping ... Westwood Cross is the nearest shopping centre and not far though like many places a lot of shops have gone. Does have a decent M&S though.
Broadstairs and Ramsgate have lovely beaches though both can be a bit grim in winter...Ramsgate High Street is definitely nothing special and like most other places lots of empty shops.
Inland there are some great places (and being Kent, nowhere is that far from the sea). Canterbury has nice (ish) bits though lots of tourists, students (3 unis if you inside the art college) and language schools. Redevelopment planned .... who knows when it might be done though,.good transport links, some nice properties, decent schools. The villages surrounding it are nice. Faversham, home of Shepherd Neame could also be a possibility...good market, hop festival etc.

Oh and I didn't like Folkestone at all- depressing- deal and Walmer are nice though!

Hi OP,

I live on the Kent coast and it's glorious! Life long Londoner moved here ten years ago.

Whitstable- lovely shops and restaurants but busy and maybe a bit twee for me.

Herne Bay- chav central - big town centre

Birchington- lovely beaches. Good little high street, as demographic is older little crime/ issues/ quiet- I think it would be nice for a family

Westgate- great architecture and beaches high street nice but a few drinkers/ drug dealers about

Margate- great arty vibe, main beach packed in the summer, still a long way to go until it's there- drugs/ drink run down housing, but definitely on the up will take a few years yet-

Are you wedded to a coastal town or would you consider inland?

Bristol is like Brighton was 20 years ago before over development, rich wankers and arseholery ruined it.

Definitely explore Whitstable and Herne Bay and along the coast towards Margate but not Margate itself. Depends what kind of lifestyle you want really, if you want coastal town and wandering on the weekends, coffee shops and the like then Whitstable is for you. If you want a larger town with chain stores etc then it won’t suit you. I suggest a weeks holiday and some serious exploring of the area to see what takes your fancy

You might want to consider Hastings, OP. It was a shithole a few years ago, but it's starting to turn a corner. A lot of alternative/arty types have moved down over the last few years, and it's changing.

There's one road in the town centre that a couple of years ago was really rough at one end and like Brighton at the other. It has quite a good community spirit and lots of stuff going on.

The west of the town is more on the up than the east, and prices are still low, but climbing. Last year, rents and house prices went up more (pro rata) in Hastings than "naice" Lewes or Brighton. For your budget, you could get an enormous period pile, maybe even in the trendy Old Town. The area around Alexandra Park is lovely.

Re Portslade, it's so far from Brighton centre that you don't really get the Brighton vibe. On the edge of lovely countryside though.

If you have girls, the single-sex Helenswood has a good reputation.

Which schools were you looking at?

Folkestone has multiple problems as has Dover. With your budget look at Deal Walmer Sandwich area and surrounding villages. Good village schools and some good secondaries. I couldn't move quick enough away when I was old enough I never felt safe going out. If you want Folkestone side then Hythe is a nicer area.

I live in folkestone and i love it. Yeah it has its problems and deprived areas (show me a coastal town that hasnt!) but there's no way with 700k the op will be anywhere near them! The harbour arm, old high street, leas coastal park are amazing places, it's really arty and creative and there's been a ton of regeneration in the last few years. The beaches are gorgeous and there are lots of beautiful places to go for a walk. Close enough to Canterbury, ashford, Whitstable, Thanet, Maidstone etc if you want a day out. Loads of independent shops and restaurants, there are good schools here. Come for a visit once lockdown is over. As a pp said, Folkestone has a lot going for it. Plus it's easy to get to places, fast train to London is less than an hour and right by the m20/Dover if you fancy a trip to France. For 700k you could get an absolutely stunning house in a great location - West end of town or in one of the many little villages around here. This one's caught my eye: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-88113659.html

Don't rely on the opinions of people who haven't been for years or don't live here. Come and see it and make up your mind for yourself.

Like everywhere OP - Folkestone has it's lovely and not so lovely areas. The harbour is lovely with fresh seafood stalls and fishmonger and as another PP mentioned, the harbour arm, with food stalls and music. Sunny sands beach is quite touristy but a few minutes up the road is the Warren, a beautiful secluded beach for rock pooling and swimming. It's situated at the East Cliff area with some lovely houses on the main 'Wear Bay Road' with stunning sea views. The main primary school is St Mary's school and also a lovely little church school in the town called St Eanswythe. The coastal park is great for younger children and that has a shingle beach whereas the others are sandy. Radnor park has 2 play parks and events in the Summer including a fair and circus. There is also a soft play place in Cheriton, 5/10 minutes up the road.
Folkestone is central for most things but if you drive, I agree that for your money, Hythe is lovely along with Sandgate, Seabrook and Saltwood, as others have suggested. The Romney marsh light railway is delightful for children which runs from Hythe up to Dungeness with Dymchurch inbetween that has a small fun fair running through the Summer months.

Happy house hunting

I love the Kent coast although the larger towns are rundown these days as others have pointed out.

However, for your money, you'll be able to get a beautiful house in a gorgeous Kent coastal village.

If you drive along the coast, there are literally dozens of villages to choose from.

I miss Kent.

Folkestone is like any other seaside town in that yes there are rough areas. But the level of investment has been insane. The harbour arm is lovely, the creative quarter, the old high street etc. There's lovely pubs and cafes, and great independent businesses. There's great stretches of seaside, and the coastal park is fab. A new skate park is being built. For your budget you can get a nice big house in town but could go also get something a bit more rural within 20 mins drive - Hythe, Sandgate, Seabrook etc would all be walking distance to a nice beach. Hawkinge, Lyminge, Ethchinghill, Saltwood and the smaller surrounding villages would be a good shout. Schools are good. If your kids are younger there's tons of baby and toddler groups etc. We don't live any differently to how we would in somewhere like Brighton but it's cheaper with less traffic and tourists.

I don't live in Margate margate but near by
Look up westgate westbrook
Sandwich
Palm Bay
Kingsgate

Tellmetruth4

I lived in Folkestone and totally agree with your analysis even though I didn't see any tents on the beach. Interestingly, what's a Kipper vibe?

Avoid Folkestone. There are nicer places like Whitstable. I’d avoid Margate also. Lots of issues. Friends moved there and tried to talk it up. I’ve visited a few times and yes there are a few quirky shops but the majority of it is rundown. I can see some of the arty people trying to make it happen, but I can’t see it happening in the short-medium term. Lots of hostels, people with alcohol and drug issues (saw heroin addicts living in tents on the beach and quite a few alcoholic men) and a strange low aspiration Kipper vibe.

Pretty much everyone I've met here, people from the area & people who have moved here, all love it.

It's not perfect and does have some issues - but everywhere does. It's got a lot going for it.

Do look carefully at the non grammar schools. Our local ones in Kent were (sort of) nice but scarily unaspirational. I think there is less pressure further away from London but even so, passing the Kent Test is not easy and by no means a given.

LunaDeet Birchington is pretty and has lovely beaches and some interesting old properties and a Rosetti connection. I think it is underrated.

But yes I had forgotten Seasalter. I think the stations were Faversham, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, Whitstable and Tankerton, Hernia Bay, Birchington, Westgate, Margate, Broadstairs, Dumpton Park, Ramsgate. I would venture that Hernia Bay and Birchington are still vfm.

Are you kidding?

Jesus.