To move to Folkestone - tell me all!

[Putthedamnlidonit]

Hi everyone,

We are considering a move to Folkestone from Portslade as the schools are better and we would like to get a bit more for our money. We have a budget of 700k max, have three children toddler -age 7. We are quite alternative and like the liberal feel of Brighton but can't afford a decent house and garden there. Have read through some awful threads about Folkestone but no recent ones. So, is it nice? Schools look excellent, are there plenty of things to do with kids, similar to Brighton and Portslade? We like where we live but are fed up of having a tiny garden. No need to commute to London anymore. Any advice much appreciated! Thanks!

Op avoid Margate. There is a small area in Margate that is nice the rest is so run down.

I have friends that lived in Folkestone and a lot of it was quite rough. A shall part of the town and seaside were nice though

Whitstable is nice and some good schools in the area. 700k will get you a nice house there

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/54712346

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/photos/53611233

Places like Birchington might be worth a look OP. My parents lived in Rottingdean when I was born - in 1960 - it was more expensive than most of Brighton then ! We moved when I was 7 but used to go back to the Lido in Saltdean I think.

Here's a nice one for you to look at

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/89218943

OP I agree with comments about Margate. Even in Fanitt it's known as Margitt. I can hear my mother now. "Tracey Emin, famous - you would never have been allowed to play with a child from there .

Birchington is a retirement home by the sea! So dull. I’d probably opt for Deal over Folkestone. It’s well kept, has a lovely high street and isn’t so racist. Folkestone is pro Brexit because of the demise of their fishing industry, and really does have an ‘anti’ vibe at the moment sadly.

Faversham is really nice and closer to London.

There’s a tiny place just outside of Whitstable called Seasaltzer. I think you could find a nice home there and be really close to all the towns along the coast as well.

Seasalter** stupid phone

I moved to Folkestone with my two daughters 2 1/2 years ago. It's paradise we love it. We live in the suburbs in a house I bought for third of your budget. With your budget you can buy a beautiful mansion lovely garden the works. Have a look on Rightmove. We've been swimming every day this week. My daughter goes to grammar school. It's gorgeous here.

Are you kidding?

Jesus.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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 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.

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 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.

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.

Which schools were you looking at?

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.

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

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

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