Leaving London - Herne Bay/Margate/Ramsgate/Deal/Folkestone for 260K?

[leefair20]

Both me and husband can now work from home 4 days a week so we'd like to leave London - fed up of renting a small flat with hellish neighbours for half our wages. Neither of us earn much but we have saved a deposit and want to buy, budget would be 260K. Ideally a 3 bed to factor us both being in the house all the time...garden would be nice too.

Does anyone live in Herne Bay/Margate/Ramsgate/Deal/Folkestone who would recommend any areas in that budget (especially as early 30s couple thinking of starting a family)? My family is in Kent so heading that way makes sense (although sadly not for budget) and I'd love to live by the sea, and husband wants somewhere green he can go on long cycles.

Thank you for any help!

Does it have to be a house? I live in - and love living in - Folkestone and there are some huge period garden flats here. In fact a friend has recently bought a four bed one for similar and it is beautiful...Your budget will definitely get you a house though, just a bit further away from the beach. Cheriton, which is in Folkestone but not right on the seafront is very popular with DFL (down from London) families. I also think the Broadmead area seems very reasonably priced and pleasant. The East End is much more affordable, but nowhere near as pretty as Radnor Park and the West. I have family in Margate and definitely prefer Folkestone to there. Deal is v nice, but demographic seems much older. We looked all over the coastline when moving down and are thrilled we chose here - it’s perfect for us 😁. Good luck!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-93776735.html
This one is in a really good spot for schools and station and is typical of the type of thing you could get in Cheriton...

I second Folkestone over the rest. Deal is nice but as pp pointed out, more of an older population. I really don’t get all the hype around Margate, although some bits have been improved it’s still the dump it was years ago and pretty grotty.
I’d not live in Herne Bay and Ramsgate either if I’m honest. I’m not sure if your budget will stretch to it but I’d look at Broadstairs instead

I wouldn't choose to live in most of those towns. Could you go for somewhere a bit nicer...Sandwich, Hythe, Birchington?

*Disclaimer: grew up in Dover and Folkestone, lived in Thanet for 5 years.

Hi all, thanks for the ideas!
@Letsgethisshowontheroad - Our nightmare neighbours have put us off flats (screaming from morning til night) but I suppose you don't entirely get rid of that possibility with semi/terraced houses. Thanks for the area tips - we did see Cheriton had some options (thanks for the link!) so good to hear lots of families there. What made you choose Folkestone in the end?

@ashtyler @Turnedouttoes I think we would need to accept a much smaller house for those areas. Tbh I was shocked that we're already priced out of a lot of areas in Margate - Cliftonville has obviously changed a lot in the last few years! I think we've learnt from lockdown it's quite intense to both work from home in a smaller space, but a two bed with a conservatory or dining room might work.

Hi @leefair20. It was a combination of things really. We needed a HS2 link and Folkestone’s was under an hour. We also needed good schools and we liked the options in Folkestone the best. When we visited we were staggered by how much it had changed for the better (We had only ever been once before - briefly - in about 2005 and thought it was an absolute dump!) and knew people who lived a few villages away who said it was having huge investment pumped into it so felt that it would also be a good place to get a property as it was clearly improving and one the up’. We wanted both sea AND countryside and thought the beaches and surrounding villages we found around here were prettier than the ones adjacent to Margate, etc. We also like popping to Europe for mini breaks so proximity to the channel tunnel was a big selling point. Oh and the absolute clincher for me was when I discovered the champagne bar on the harbour (though I know Margate has one too, but ours is far nicer!) 🤣

Oh yes the champagne bar at the Harbour Arm is a big favourite here as well! There’s some brilliant restaurants there as well nowadays

I grew up in Birchington but have spent the last 3 years in a flat in London. I have just had an offer accepted on a house in Ramsgate - the main reason for Ramsgate being the train (the quickest from Thanet). Because of the slightly quicker trains from Folkestone (just under an hour versus just over an hour from Ramsgate) I found I would get more for my money in Ramsgate, and could be closer to the station - thereby possibly saving time in the long run!

Folkestone is nice, but parts of Thanet are just as nice and I find that in Thanet you get the joy off all the different towns / villages on the island. Plus it is much easier to get to Canterbury on the train from Ramsgate, which is great for shopping / social activities.

I wouldn't personally go for Herne Bay.

Hi,
My husband & I are looking to move from London to the coast . We work from home so looking for a lifestyle change. We have stressful jobs so looking for a slower pace of life. We are mid 40s, enjoy walking with the dog, usual stuff . What’s it like to live in Herne Bay? Any other recommendations?

Is there any reason you're not looking at Dover?! Slightly tongue in cheek. Born and bred in Folkestone and lived in Dover for a few years. It can be rough but if you pick the right part of the town, there are some great properties within your budget.

For example:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/104381834#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/87540478#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78572382#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85851895#/

These 4 are in OK areas and within a 10, 15 min walk of the station.

I visited Margate/Broadstairs/Ramsgate last summer with a budget of £260K, I couldn't find anything suitable. My friend's daughter recommended Cliftonville, but I didn't like the North End Road.

Sorry I meant Northdown Park Road :)

Outskirts of Faversham are nice, close enough to town or Canterbury but quieter. Recommend highly for dog walks! Blean woods on doorstep, beaches 10mins away or hop fields galore.

This is not far from me, bit more pricey but a good size
www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/90315700

Just don't move to Margate

sorry probably a bit confusing, I seemed to have hi jacked an old thread - sorry! Our budget is around £1m-£1.5M we have a teenager leaving the nest so its just the 2 of us and a dog. We are looking for a chilled place to live when we arent working in London/travelling. Amenities we are looking for is cafes, restaurants, good walks for the dog. If we want some buzz/culture happy to travel into London/other areas it really doesn't have to be on our doorstep