Tell me about Margate please

[Almondmilk]

We are both creative, europeans, no kids yet. I don't want to live in London anymore to avoid pollution and stress. But we wish to be able to commute there once a week. Budget K260-280 cash. I would love to hear your thoughts about Margate. Thanks

[YelloDraw]

There have been several newspaper articles calling margate the new shoreditch - as far as I can see they seem to be written by someone who works for the ES who wants his mates to go move to margate with him ;-)

I just moved out of shoreditch. Margate is nothing like shoreditch.

Even if it is attracting some ex-shoreditch creative types who have sold their 1bed and bought a mansion so can sit at home and make nice pottery mortgage free - I think there is going to be a big social divide and not enough critical mass now for gentrification.

Of course - this is how places gentrify... but the poor transport connections and lack of jobs/opportunities would seriously worry me as a hinderence to any real gentrification.

[TalkinPeace]

Kent has Grammar schools
if your kid misses the cut they are at places like the "Marsh Academy"

I liven in East Kent before I had kids
wild horses would not drag me back

and as I say
BREXIT BREXIT BREXIT

I worked in Dover Docks before the customs boundaries came down
people have wilfully forgotten

if there is a hard Brexit, the Touquet agreement is dust and then East Kent will be a land of fences
and the clearance queues will be like they were in the late 80's

East Kent voted for Brexit
they know what what they have wrought

[Almondmilk]

Woaw, thanks all for all your answers.
Will look into Faversham, Ramsgate and Whitstable. I def want to avoid UKIP areas. We couldn't really live in Leeds or Manchester as we would like to keep the 'London vibe' as near as possible. It's that mix of people that we like and that we miss.
Someone mentioned that the traffic is awful in Whitstable, so I will research on that information as we hate cars and want to avoid pollution.

[mm81]

Brighton
Hove
Good places

[Almondmilk]

TalkinPeace East Kent land of fences! What do you suggest? Where the fences will start and stop, I wanna avoid these areas. Oh dear, I'm not joking!
YelloDraw I have read the same articles about Margate being Shoreditch on Sea...That's why I am curious. I am not after living with hypsters but creative types. Or maybe it's the same kind of people ;)

[Almondmilk]

I like Brighton! I didn't like the traffic...nice streets ruined by people who drive madly. And it's expensive.
So maybe Faversham...

[Almondmilk]

Communting from Faversham seems really expensive though.

[derxa]

I used to live in Thanet. There is an artistic community there. I used to be friends with a real live artist. I miss the sea.

[Almondmilk]

*Commuting

[conserveisposhforjam]

If you want the 'London vibe" you're going to be very disappointed in Kent! Or just about anywhere other than maybe Brighton which I don't think you can afford. ..

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

I would be looking at areas that voted Remain if I were you.

Well of course all remain areas are wonderful, full of lovely people and have no issues at all..... oh wait.

[Almondmilk]

conserveisposhforjam You are probably right! Maybe there is a train stop before Brighton, or maybe if I look further away from the rocky beach.

[Almondmilk]

PigletWasPoohsFriend ;)We are just trying to limit damage...

[Artandco]

Faversham is far closer than margate though, so costs to commute will be even higher from margate. It's about 2+ hrs from Margate so daily commute horrible.

The further out you go the cheaper houses but more expensive travel costs will naturally be as well there longer. No where in Kent has a 'London vibe', that's why you have London or Kent, not one place

[flissfloss65]

Whitstable has a good artistic scene, is by the sea, close to Canterbury, Blean woods and the North Downs.

It does get busy during the summer but is vibrant and a lovely place to live. But house prices are high and for your budget the choice won't be that great.

[Artandco]

What size property do you want for that budget?
You could just about get a small 1- 2 bed terrace in Reading for that if it needs some work.
TBH that's the Same size in Whitstable also

[Floralnomad]

You won't get a 'London vibe' in Faversham .

[KatherinaMinola]

Of course not Piglet, but a newly-arrived European couple might be wise to move to a Remain-voting area (Norwich is nice, OP!) rather than a UKIP/Leave stronghold.

Thanet is beautiful and has had a strong artistic contingent for decades - but it also has a history of anti-European feeling.

[Almondmilk]

How about Shoreham by Sea? It's near Brighton but cheaper.
KatherinaMinola we lived almost 10 years in the UK.

[Almondmilk]

Shoreham by Sea commuting is expensive...why more than Brighton!?

[OhTheRoses]

There's a big London vibe in Fannit. The 70+s moved out of the East End in the 60s/70s. Good innit. It has enormous rafts of poverty. When I was a girl there plenty of local people who had never been to Canterbury, let alone London!

The fences will be around Folkestone/Dover I imagine. I don't wholly agree with the anti European vibe.

[Almondmilk]

Fannit?

Ok, maybe it's ok to not get the 'London vibe' as long as I am surrounded by open minded people. It's actually an odd thing to ask to get this London vibe! I'd put first safety, village feel...

[Almondmilk]

KatherinaMinola I'll check Norwich! thanks!

[Almondmilk]

Norwich is too far from London ;)

[conserveisposhforjam]

If your brief is 'open minded' you want to steer well clear of Kent. Especially East Kent. Especially margate...