Where in Kent would you live if...

[ExceptonWednesdays]

• You needed 4 double bedrooms
• Wanted a big garden and parking
• Worked in London
• Had primary-aged children and couldn't consider private schooling
• LOVED the sea, particularly with sandy beaches
• Were a serious trail runner (i.e. too much flat open space gave you the heebie-jeebies)
• LOVED Port Lympne (random, I know)
• LOVED a bouji hangout/café/eatery/arty spot
• Had £1.2m to spend.

Or would you look beyond Kent?! I'm a SE girl (not Kent), just always thought it's absolutely lovely whenever we go!

Yep. Somewhere like this:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138472793#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137907428#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or Whitstable if you could cope with pebble beaches.

I see people saying Broadstairs and yes, lovely beaches around there, but be prepared for Leave voters to be in the majority and pretty vocal about it. I am guessing you are coming from London and I don't want to assume but...Just putting it out there.

Worth looking around Maidstone? Some lovely countryside and good schools.

Whitstable is one of the most overrated areas in Kent - family members live there and it’s really overpriced for what it is

Folkestone, Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate.

Deal does not have a sandy beach but it is really lovely little town.

Also Sandwich.

Haha great intel @IfAIwasfedMN , thank you! Yes, not really our vibe!

Oh my word the LUXURY of those places!! We're currently squashed into a tiny terrace. Gorgeous location but man, for the size of our mortgage we'd love a bit more space and a dose of sea air!

Yes @decisionssmecisions. Which is very lucky, as we can't afford to send the kids to one!

@ExceptonWednesdays well tbf you have a 1.3m house budget so you could buy a cheaper house & then you could afford it.

Thanks! Yes, we really couldn't be any further from the sea where we are now so 'close by' would be a huge improvement. Super useful insights, thanks.

True, but our home is our sanctuary, and we'd never sacrifice a fabulous base (and nice holidays, trips out, great food and a lovely quality of life) to become part of a system we fundamentally disagree with. But that's another MN thread entirely!

Walmer, Deal, so beautiful 😍 Not sure of how expensive it is now but oh loved it there. X

How important is the commute? Because Canterbury probably has the shortest commute compared to Whitstable Folkestone or broadstairs. Do you want to be able to walk to/from the station or do you want to rely on getting parked at the station? These are the questions I'd be asking if thinking about east Kent because a lot of the lovely villages would add 20-30 mins onto your morning commute time.

Where in London are you commuting to? Is st pancras a good station for you or would victoria or Waterloo/London bridge be better? If so you need to consider the train lines carefully.

I wouldn’t go to Folkestone if I were you.

Which is fair enough @ExceptonWednesdays it was more the whole affordability argument.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139008260

Understood @decisionssmecisions - I should have said "choose not to" rather than "can't" afford to!

OMG <<sells up immediately>>

I live in kent. Don’t go to Folkestone or Dover or Margate. Most sea side towns are shut holes and not a good commute at all.
Kent is not really the place if you want a really nice place to live by the sea and get into London.
If I had 1.2 million I would 100% be moving to Tunbridge wells or Sevenoaks in as nice a house as that would get me and drive the 45 mins to the sea.
Nice people, great schools, lovely place for kids to grow up on the whole.

Wow that Deal house is amazing

What about Leigh on sea for a good commute & sea?

The other kind of places to think about are the Chichester/Witterings end of West Sussex?

No Brexiteers. Great theatre in the CFT. Great beach. Commute is ok if you aren’t doing it every day (1:30). South Downs Way passes through.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143170874#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138517877#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140442341#/?channel=RES_BUY

Folkestone & surrounding villages are beautiful. Agree town centre is shite, but the leas, the warren, the creative corner & harbour arm are stunning! House prices are rising rapidly, but still good when compared with other areas in Kent. Really lovely architecture (almost) every place you look. Canterbury & hythe are great areas for shopping, with both in easy reach. People are generally friendly and helpful. Driving around (except from Canterbury centre) is almost a relaxed experience! Lovely pubs and eateries,but, with exception of harbour arm, not reflective of real taste of other countries. Negatives may be, depending on your viewpoint, things like public transport, shops and restaurants shut down early. No 24 hour living there. Public transport & taxis are really expensive too. Healthcare also but shite with limited choice. Anyhoo, I've been here 10 years now, relish the peace and quiet, but plenty of things to do if I fancy. I feel safe, have great niebs, and can pop up to London if I fancy in less than an hour. What's not to like?

In Kent I'd head to Whitstable or Canterbury for proximity to sea.

Have you considered Rochester? HS to London and an excellent commute to Victoria. Easy to get to the coast. Gorgeous property and a lovely little city.

Cranbrook catchment area? Near to Bedgebury for great running, can be at the coast in half an hour, Cranbrook grammar for school and you could definitely get 4 bedroom with land etc for your budget. Trains to London from Staplehurst in an hour.