Relocation Advice needed: Canterbury, Folkestone or Hastings Areas?

[Relocating2024]

Hi everyone, we are thinking of relocating to either of the above towns and/or nearby. We've just come back from a trip to get a better sense of where we might like and would be very grateful for any real input from anyone who lives there. We have a 9yo girl so an excellent secondary school needed, life & culture overall (restaurants, cinema, museums etc), security, train line to London, local transport efficiency, traffic, cost of living, cost to buy a house (our budget isn't very high; late on the ladder); or any other thoughts. So far we are leaning towards Canterbury as seems so convenient, with Folkestone and Hythe second (a little too sleepy/ remote?), and as to Hastings we can't quite make our mind up; it definitely has it's own lively vibe yet there is something we couldn't quite place that's holding us back, the center was a little too gritty and our daughter didn't like it (that said Bexhill seems nice, and Battle and Rye were lovely). Moving in the UK in 2024 is a rubik's cube!! With sincere thanks for any help.

Bear in mind Canterbury and Folkestone have selection at 11. Which is lovely if your dd gets into the grammar school. Not so good if they don’t.

I would look at the East Kent coastal towns rather than Canterbury. We wound up in one by accident (not a fashionable one) and love it here.

It depends on whether you want to live by the sea or not.

Canterbury has a high student population.

Folkestone has improved massively in the past few years and is quite arty. It also has fast train connection to London (50 minutes).

I ended up living by the sea in Deal after decades living in London and love it here :). I visit Canterbury for shopping trips but much prefer a coastal town.

Hasting is quite arty as well but as you have noticed still a bit rough.

Also have a look at Sandwich, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.

Canterbury has got rougher since Redbridge council outbid Canterbury City council for the old barracks housing & moved all their problem families there.

There was a fatal stabbing on the High Street earlier this month.

thanks everyone, much appreciated. @PsychoSyd yes we did notice the Hight Street with people clearly on drugs, many groups of young men that didn't inspire confidence etc... Instead, perhaps there are nice places nearby but not in Canterbury itself?

Avoid Hastings!

As others have said in Kent we have the test at 11 and if passed there are great grammar schools.

Have you thought about Tenterden? Pricey but lovely.

What's your budget and expectations in terms of housing?
Where do you live now and why do you like it?
If moving to a grammar area be aware that many pupils receive a couple or more years of tutoring to get them through the test, so even if your child is bright they might need tutoring to pass the test as it's a quite specific way of testing.

Sandgate between Folkestone and Hythe is lovely although may be a bit quiet for your daughter as she gets older

Folkestone itself is on the up and becoming quite ‘hip’.

Did you consider Faversham?

A decade ago, London councils were moving their homeless families to Hastings, as accommodation there was both available and affordable. This has brought it's problems with it. There is a big issue with drugs.
Having said that, I love the old town.

Have you thought about Faversham? Better train service to London, easy drive to Whitstable for coast, open air swimming pool. Lots of new builds.

We lived in Canterbury years ago and everyone says how much it’s gone down. Thanet has been up and coming for about 30 years and still seems to be mostly retail parks to me. Hythe is lovely but yes sleepy and remote. Hastings I can’t comment on. Beware the Kent Test!

Hastings is not as bad as people say, there is lots going on and it’s friendly, but the schools have a fairly poor reputation and houses are not as cheap as they were. Bexhill is great if you like a quiet life, while being close enough to St Leonards and Hastings to get a lot of the benefits.

I would avoid Hastings, there is so much poverty there. I don't know the other areas quite so well. Bexhill is nice, there is a lovely park for the kids and the schools are better.

Sorry for jump here.... I'm planing the same, moving from London but not sure between Worthing area or Folkestone area. I'm a single mum with a 5 years old kid, so safety will be a bit win... thanknyouuu for any coment you can bring

Folkestone is great for kids, there’s a lovely adventure playground at the Coastal Park, beaches, hills for walking/biking, water sports of all kinds. Apart from all this, there are three theatres, an independent cinema, an outdoor cinema at the Harbour Arm, which in itself is a destination, with dozens of eateries, some of them in quite quirky locations like old railway carriages. Schools, primaries mostly good or outstanding, plus grammar schools and a few non-selective secondary schools.

Thank you for all the insights regarding Folkestone. I went there and i do feel in love with the place.
Just wondering about discrimination. Even if i felt welcome all the time i have read a lot about racism and discrimination for immigrants. We are from Colombia with full time job.
I don't want to upset anyone, just trying to get as much info as possible. Thank you for all your messages.

Does it have to be in Kent op? We have family in the Saltdean and Hove areas near Brighton and are thinking of moving from Kent to there when dd has finished school

Battle or Rye are as different to Hastings as chalk is to cheese.

This. Hastings is really underrated. Not sure about the schools though

Hello, what about extra curricular activities? tennis lessons, swimming lessons, i cant find any on the map or google. maybe I'm doing something wrong.

For Folkestone? There are tennis lessons in Hythe, they have kids lessons and summer camps too. For swimming lessons, I’d search local providers, like Puddle Ducks. Check out Creative Folkestone for arty extra-curricular activities.