Nice south coast towns - Kent/East Sussex

[SarfEasticated]

Hot on the heels of my idea of moving further out to Norwood etc, I have gone one step further and am now thinking of leaving London altogether.

Am thinking of Eastbourne/Hastings/Folkestone and any of the towns in between. I would ideally like a sandy beach rather than a pebble beach, and would like to be able to a decent 3 bed house for under £275k. Journey time to London wouldn't be a deal breaker as we would look for jobs locally. Would like to get to London in under 1hr 45 mins though.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

forgot to say fast train to London 55 mins from Dover but extra services for Deal in Jan!!

Really Triplets? That sounds good - I will look into it.

crikey this is nice

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/33082217#s6x0gb7BhDCi2ZOP.97

NO! Connaught Park is notorious for druggies, etc, trust me I know! Dover I am sorry to say is very run down, we live 6 miles from there and never ever go!

Ah! I was thinking it would be like Gosford Park! That's where a lack of local knowledge can be disastrous! Thanks triplets.

Lots of nice properties in Deal, you will love it!

So pro-Fo'ers what are the nice bits of Folkestone?
I like these houses but not sure if they are in good areas or not. could you have a look at them and let me know?
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/33915471#8oiu0DlYuPjIePtU.97
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/34580688#u35ERf1MU6kIsr2F.97
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/34457924#eHyrXpSxjFJQSWuJ.97

Thank you everyone

Sorry Sarf, but Cheriton is a shithole (excuse language!) -avoid!

The third one is OK ish but not "West End"

I have lived in Folkestone and visited Eastborne and Hastings and would not be keen to live in any of those!

I'm a Fo'er. (not necessarily Pro though). From experience, I would choose Surrenden Road and Ashley Avenue in Cheriton over Bournemouth Road which is nearer central Folkestone. This is ok but not an especially nice place to live. All of them suffer a bit with parking.

Spoil sports!

Ok. If I were to consider moving to a 4-bed property in this area I would consider

Downs Road

Saltwood

Hmmm SarfE I reckon we may possibly have gone to the same school. If fawn knee socks give you the same feeling of dread we definitely did. Anyway we've just moved from Crystal Palace to Whitstable, that's as near to Thanet as I could bear. And it's really great. Can highly recommend.

Yes zgaze that sounds familiar. . I do love Whitstabubble, but would rather go somewhere a bit bigger and less familiar. There seem to be a lot of us leaving London for a more affordable life by the sea.

Thanks for your suggestions Juniper. I wanted to live in the town really rather than being too villagey, and I'd like to be able to walk places rather than drive. A kind of city-living by the coast. Brighton's like that, and so is Hastings Old Town, I hoped the same might exist in Folkestone.

Pleased to have your candid opinion abut Cheriton homes - I really don't expect 'gracious' living - I live in Lewisham fgs, just somewhere, safe.

Oddly enough in Zoopla there is a new function 'about my neighbours' have you see it? I want to live near garden-loving Guardian readers .

The problem you have there is that central Folkestone just isn't like that in the main. There is an odd pocket of Guardian readers but generally the closer you get to the town centre and the beachfront, the more deprived the area.

Deal is very popular with DFL`s...........have you not looked at properties, it has everything and its good old British seaside at its best!

I'm an Eastbourne girl of over 12 years and I still love it! We bought our 4 bed semi detached for under £180k 2 years ago. In Hampden park though!

It's on my list Triplets!

It's depressing that there seems to be so many run-down towns on the south coast.

I agree Mintyy. It really is a shame.

It is a shame, but surely that can be changed? if you can get to London in an hour that's actually a very reasonable commute. I think there has to be loads of people like my family who are after a nice affordable life somewhere with parks and year round fresh air! I know Margate struggles because the commute is 1h50 and there are not many employers down there since Pfizer moved, but Folkestone could be different. Come with me! but only if you are nice :)

I would have thought the concentration if Guardian readers would be higher in Hythe!

Fawn socks and beige shirts! But there are plenty of nice places in Thanet. I am still here!