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Original poster

Folkestone or Margate?

30 replies

Jumpingvenus · 06/11/2021 17:18

We’ve finally decided to leave London and after quite a few visits and discussions, have decided on either of these two. The trouble is I can’t quite decide. There’s more choice of house for our budget in Folkestone, but I feel Margate is a bit ‘groovier’? We’ve two children, not yet at school, one with potential SEND so need to factor that in too. Anyone know either/both towns and have wise words to share?
Thanks.

OP posts:
folkybythesea · 06/11/2021 17:24

Hi there, we relocated to Folkestone from East London in 2018, just before the birth of our second child. Our first child has SEN too, he's seven now and attends a fantastic special school in town, it's brand new, state of the art and OFSTED rated it Outstanding. It has pretty much every type of facility you can imagine a child with complex needs would require, and excellent links with community.

I'm originally from Margate and you couldn't pay me to move back there. All the issues that were there before gentrification are still there, and now you have a lot of hipsters on top, making it all ridiculously expensive. Folkestone has fewer hipsters, and is much more family oriented.

We rented for eighteen months to get a feel for the different areas, and then bought our 3 bed semi with large garden in E Folkestone for £280k in 2019. It's worth around £325k now.

cultkid · 06/11/2021 17:28

Depends on what you're into.

I live in Margate and I think a lot of people who move down here are really happy

What's your budget

How severe do you think your child's SEN will be? There are good provisions here in ordinary primary schools and some good SEN schools

I think Birchington Minnis and Westgate are good investment areas

Our house has gone up massively in value

I want to leave as I'm not from here and I'm tired of the polarised lifestyles

There is a real lack of infrastructure eg

Good gyms and pools
Tennis courts football pitches etc

I get my shopping from Ocado so I get whatever I want from them but the local shops are fine not brilliant. A few are cropping up.

If you want to get a return on money Margate is probably a better area

I still think it's rough here and it's not a social system I'm used to tbh.

Sn0tnose · 06/11/2021 17:28

Folkestone. For the exact same reasons as @folkybythesea gave.

Original poster
Jumpingvenus · 06/11/2021 17:39

Budget 359 ish, depends on how much work needs doing. Child with SEND is not due to start school until 2023, and we’re waiting for assessment for autism.
We’re currently in a flat in East London and quite a few people have gone to Margate so I guess that was part of the reason I liked it, but then the people I know who have gone to Folkestone are really happy. I wouldn’t say we’re hipsters, but I do like the option of cafes, independent shops etc. I wfh anyway and partner will do two days in London so we think either will work. Family orientated is probably the way forward…

OP posts:
CampervanQueen · 06/11/2021 17:41

I grew up in Folkestone, spent a lot of time in Margate, and agree with pretty much everyting @folkybythesea has said. I live away now, and if I had to relocate to either (family notwithstanding), I'd take Folkestone over Margate any time.

What's the quickest commute time into London from Margate? I know Folkestone to St P International is around the hour mark.

ThreeCharacters · 06/11/2021 17:41

I thought this was a baby names thread!

folkybythesea · 06/11/2021 17:46

@Jumpingvenus

Budget 359 ish, depends on how much work needs doing. Child with SEND is not due to start school until 2023, and we’re waiting for assessment for autism. We’re currently in a flat in East London and quite a few people have gone to Margate so I guess that was part of the reason I liked it, but then the people I know who have gone to Folkestone are really happy. I wouldn’t say we’re hipsters, but I do like the option of cafes, independent shops etc. I wfh anyway and partner will do two days in London so we think either will work. Family orientated is probably the way forward…
No end of quirky independent cafes in Folkestone.
LittleLottieChaos · 06/11/2021 17:50

Moved to Folkestone with a toddler last year. Love it here. Well technically renting in Hythe, to get a feel of the area and been viewing houses this year.

Only issue now is houses are selling at a ridiculously inflated rate, well above the average across England. But, what can you do… always dreamed of living by the sea and now we’re 15 mins walk to it. Not much about in rentals either so I really don’t know what people are doing in that sense as I personally wouldn’t want to move permanently without trialing it first.

cultkid · 06/11/2021 17:50

I think for that budget go to Folkestone

I would say you might slot in better in Margate the people who are my friends have moved down here too but if you want to be central Margate you won't get a huge place for that

If you look at St. Peter's, Birchington Minnis etc

For autism I reccomend St Crispins in Westgate

DM if you have any more questions

I would chose Margate over Folkestone

G x

folkybythesea · 06/11/2021 18:02

We were in E17 prior to Folkestone. My son is also autistic, and starting to struggle with sensory overload that came with living in London. He is much calmer here, we are ten mins from the beach and there are several parks within walking distance of our house. It's safe to walk around in the evenings.

Local schools are all pretty good, several outstanding. Our DS goes to special school and he is very well looked after there. My DD goes to mainstream next Sept, and it's a big mixed comp not dissimilar to London primary schools.

Art is huge here. It's everywhere. And every weekend there's something different going on for families: art trails, festivals, air shows, fetes, fairs...

The Old High Street looks like a picture postcard and is rammed with independent shops and cafes. It's not very buggy friendly though, but you can forgive it that because it's so nice.

My favourite things are seeing France from the end of my driveway and the darkness at night and being able to see the stars. You can also see France twinkling away over the water on a clear night. It's magical.

folkybythesea · 06/11/2021 18:05

Posted send too soon, I would imagine for your budget you would get a four bed terrace with a smaller garden, or a three bed semi with a larger garden.

The nearer you get to the ocean, the smaller the gardens get. Also Sandgate is v popular but we found the gardens in that area all monstrously steep, so stuck with our search on the less trendy East side of town. E Folkestone has a slightly worse rep with locals, but if you're coming from E London you will honestly think it's like Disneyland Grin

Original poster
Jumpingvenus · 06/11/2021 18:23

Thanks everyone, really helpful.

Funnily enough we’re in E17 now, near to Whipps Cross so not a great bit! We’re very close to some busy roads so looking forward to escaping that.

OP posts:
folkybythesea · 06/11/2021 18:34

@Jumpingvenus

Thanks everyone, really helpful.

Funnily enough we’re in E17 now, near to Whipps Cross so not a great bit! We’re very close to some busy roads so looking forward to escaping that.

I used to live on Roland Road, right near Whipps X. Honestly Folkestone will seem like utopia in comparison Grin
folkybythesea · 06/11/2021 18:35

@Jumpingvenus

Thanks everyone, really helpful.

Funnily enough we’re in E17 now, near to Whipps Cross so not a great bit! We’re very close to some busy roads so looking forward to escaping that.

(Prior to leaving I had tentatively researched autism schools in a five mile radius to E17 and was mildly horrified by the ones I saw and visited)
TheSpanishApartment · 06/11/2021 20:41

I also grew up in (well, near but went to school in) Folkestone. I’d agree Folkestone is the better choice. There’s loads for families now.

LuckyLucyLoot · 07/11/2021 21:55

I live in Folkestone and work in Margate. Crime rates are much higher in Margate!
The only negative of Folkestone is a lack of highstreet shops and chain restaurants, but there are plenty of independent shops and restaurants, and Ashford or Canterbury aren't far away.

UpThePodge · 08/11/2021 10:19

Folkestone all the way
Loads to do and lots of things are free to enjoy
Their is also a newly built special shool which has an excellent reputation as well as some good primary schools
Which part of Folkestone are you thinking of?

Chippymunks · 08/11/2021 10:40

My friend lives in Westgate and loves it there.

Savill2710 · 23/07/2022 19:32

Just been reading the post and thinking of relocating to Folkestone from Bexleyheath, could anyone give me any advice on the ‘nice’ parts of Folkestone. Or any roads which are lovely. Currently thinking about looking at a property online at Lime Road and wondered if anyone knew much about that area…..I can see the schools are outstanding which is great.
Thank you
Hayley

VelvetThunder · 23/07/2022 19:41

As someone who lives close to both, with those choices I'd definitely pick Folkestone over Margate!

UmbaRumba · 23/07/2022 19:58

@Savill2710 Limes Road is near Folkestone West Station which makes it very desirable, it comes under Cheriton rather than Folkestone
The 'posher' part of Folkestone is literally the other side of the track but Limes Road seems lovely
I'd just be concerned about parking permits
They have a fantastic fruit & veg Market just outside the station every week
Big houses, walking distance to the leas, train station & good schools, I wouldn't say no

Savill2710 · 23/07/2022 20:34

Thank you for replying! I love period houses and unable to afford one here. Is it walking distance to the town centre….sorry for the 20 questions, I literally haven’t a clue.

Stomacharmeleon · 23/07/2022 20:47

I live in Margate and have three sons- two with EHCP's who have attended local primaries than 'special Ed' secondaries.

It does have its dodgy areas but I love living here, love the beaches and the bays and have found there is lots to do.

I have experience of Folkestone as a a child and prefer Margate of the two. I think they can be similar in that they have nice and not so nice areas.

I do think it can be a bit them and us here... my partner is a real margatonian and I am from a local (and much rougher) place but it's served us all well.

UmbaRumba · 24/07/2022 08:33

It's about 3 minutes walk to Cheriton high street or a good 15/20 minute walk into Folkestone @Savill2710 all on the flat
Buses run all the time though

Savill2710 · 24/07/2022 09:49

Thank you! Fingers crossed.