London to Folkestone, any experience of moving there...

[AuraofDora]

that you can share with me?

DH is mad keen, and well, I've only been for an afternoon so don't feel qualified to make a decision.
My main queries are -
the commute, it would only be me still working in London, does this sort of daily travel grind you down? I know the HS train is only an hour but it means being uber organised and leaving work on time all the time to have some family time
the mix of people, is it mixed and is it chilled?
Schools look fine - any horrors to avoid?
and just how did you feel?
I would be sad to go, there is much here I love about London. Also scared that the family will have new life there whilst i trundle to London everyday to pay the bills and just become a weekender
DH feels it has a lot to offer, Creative Quarter, fantastic countryside and seaside, lively town etc and we should get in at the bottom.

Any thoughts, comments - have you done this, do you rate it, or do you yearn to come 'home'?

I was looking yesterday at a photo of DD on the terrace at Rocksalt three years ago, and the view behind her has changed so much - no pilot tower, no ferry terminal, and the concertina railway bridge was demolished last week. The harbour arm is amazing now - have you been along to it Penguin? If not you should go. They have a regularly updated Facebook page with all the events and bands that are on. It's called "Folkestone Seafront - the harbour arm" or something like that.

I lived in SW London Clapham for 15 years and we bought behind the Leas less than 2 years ago. I can confirm it was the best move ever. In 2 years Folkestone has changed a lot. The regeneration is taking place slowly but surely thanks to billionaire Roger de Haan and few locals or ex Londoners who appreciate and believe in the future of their town. I live on the West side and I have to confess the East side of Folkestone can be pretty rough but after years in London...we are used to it. I enjoy seeing more and more people coming down. Many new visitors are really surprised how understated is Folkestone, the architecture and the fact that the town is directly connected to the sea with so much green and no traffic at all so kids can play, cycle etc. I know two more families and friends who have just bought a place around the Bayle and Earls Avenue where you can fin grand flat with Edwardian details for a fraction of a London price. Anyway nothing can bit the view of the sea from the Leas, no cars, a walk down the beach to Sandgate, come back through the Lower Leas, drinks and food at the Harbour Arm, walk back through the high street which is slowly changing, the peaceful bayle with a beautiful church (and the Pullman which is a great gastro pub -again new owners who believe in the town). I understand that a 44 room 4 star boutique hotel is due to open on the Leas and I am sure that more is due to come. In London today and with such a nice weather I can t wait to be back for a walk on the beach. ;-)

Hi there, not sure if this will be of any use - experience of someone who moved to Folkestone in 2016.

www.sentientroom.com/blog/2018/2/27/movingfromlondontofolkestone

Hello! I hope nobody minds if I bump this up, but there is such a wealth of information contained within this thread that it would be a shame to lose it in favour of a new one.

We are considering buying an enormous five-bedroom property in Folkestone to house our many, many children (we have totally outgrown our 3-bed in London!) and would love to hear how you are finding things in Folkestone a few years on. Any experiences - positive and negative - would be massively appreciated.