What’s it like being a teenager in whitstable?

[BrrrIsland]

Please indulge me as this is currently just fantasy - but as I’m hoping it might one day not be fantasy I need to think about these things

I live and grew up in London and have pretty much spent my whole life here (as has DH). I dream of living by the sea. We talk about moving a lot. I’ve lots of lovely favourite sea side places on my fantasy list, but most of them are probably quite dull for teens. We have a 7 year old Dd, so a way off teenage years yet, but realistically we wouldn’t be moving for a couple of years anyway. I’m trying to think of places that are by the sea and not dull/limiting to live for Dd. How does Whitstable stack up? Is there enough to do? Do older teens go out in Canterbury? (And what’s that like?) I was out going to gigs and later clubs all over london from 13 onwards. I remember how exciting it felt to be part of a ‘scene’ hanging about in Camden with Britpop bands. It feels a bit unfair to take a way things like that from Dd.

And what are the schools like? I know it’s grammar school/ comp but it totally confuses me. If you pass the 11+ Do you gave a choice of schools or is it the local one?

Don’t want to derail the thread but where are all the teenagers in London ? I’m about as central as you can get and hardly see any

My husband is from Whitstable. Its a lovely town, I would move there tomorrow but. ....schools....you need to go to Canterbury for grammar.

It takes ages to get anywhere.....if your kids want to go to uni in Birmingham, or Manchester or Edinburgh for example.
Yes there is the high speed train to St Pancreas but it is very very expensive.

However, you would be able to enjoy the sea....I would have loved sailing, paddle boarding, swimming etc etc

Property is expensive.....go further around the coast to get more for your money.

There is a thriving arts scene.

The traffic in town on holidays is bad. You plan your trips around the key times. Just 'popping to sainsbury' doesn't happen.

But it's still lovely and if my husband could have got work there we would have gone.

Glad it's not me @Hm2020!

I live near where I grew up, went to school, etc. We used to be in the park after school, outside the shopping centre, having a Mcdonald's, cinema on Fri night. I still go to these places but only see younger kids or people in their 20s.

Whitstable isn’t the middle of nowhere though.

I never said it was. I said I moved to the middle of nowhere as a teen.

I'd say there's a fair bit to do and good transport links to go to Canterbury or London if you'd fancy that. Much better than where I grew up so I guess it's what your comparison is! Teenagers find their own fun wherever they are. I wouldn't worry. Just be prepared to be a taxi for a few years if needs be.

Lived my whole life in whitstable, dad still lives there in my family home.

Love living by the sea, Canterbury would be the place to go for teens. I spent a lot of my teen years hanging around the shops/ gardens/ clock tower as a teen. Then when older went to the clubs. I went to a grammar school in Canterbury which obv meant a bus ride from whitstable which took about 50mins so did mean having to wake up at the crack of Dawn, which for me was ok because I was v disciplined but might be harder for more lazy teens