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Original poster

Where is better to live....Whitstable, Canterbury or Margate

76 replies

Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 17:46

Hi All,

Which do you think is the best for a person who wishes to have a 'Mediterranean Vibe' in UK: cafe culture (artisan coffee shops), health food, sunlight and warmer weather. And safe, crime free, of course. With a good commute to London. And the best neighbourhoods in a place of your choice.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 20:50

Thank you. I guess around 300K. Someone told me Whitstable was 'bleak' in winters.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 20:51

Thank you.

OP posts:
Edinburghmusing · 08/01/2023 20:52

For that budget I’d say folkestone tbh

justtryingtogeton · 08/01/2023 20:54

Edinburghmusing · 08/01/2023 17:48

I don’t think there’s a health food shop in margate yet 😂

There's plenty.

Original poster
Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 20:54

Thank you so much! Will do when it's closer to decision time.🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 20:58

Thank you. I am afraid Brighton is way too expensive. Although I think property prices will go down a bit now.

OP posts:
DaVariance · 08/01/2023 20:59

Definitely not Margate

Original poster
Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 21:01

I heard there is still crime/drug problem in Hastings, despite the gentrification.

OP posts:
FLOWER1982 · 08/01/2023 21:05

Whitstable. Definitely not Canterbury or Folkestone.

Original poster
Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 21:06

Thank you so much for your insights. Very informative.🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 21:10

Thank you. I understand that in Canterbury St. Stephens and St. Dunstans are considered good locations. Is it correct? I mean the area around the West Station.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 21:19

Will wait and see. I think prices will go down a bit soon. I don't mind a 'project' as long as location is good.

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earsup · 08/01/2023 21:32

I think Folketone would be a good choice....friends moved there 5 years ago and are very happy, prices shot up a lot since then...Margate I find very depressing...its meant to be changing but when...??...Hastings also depressing...has the highest amount of registered sex offenders and lots of drug issues...Brighton too crowded and full of pissed students etc and also a dark side with drugs and deprivation outside the trendy centre...

Original poster
Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 21:38

Thank you.

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SongforWhoever · 08/01/2023 21:56

Apart from so much of it being run down still, Margate is cold and the commute is very long.

Runnerduck34 · 08/01/2023 22:10

Whitstable is very popular especially in the summer, when it can be overcrowded- good high street lots of restaurants and bars but house prices are high.
Canterbury is bigger, lots of restaurants and shops, good theatre and cinema, better transport links.
Margate is great in places but very run down in others. Probably higher percentage of deprivation than there is art! But wonderful beach, amazing skies.
You need to visit , spend a night or two.in each place and decide.
Deal is also worth looking at.

smileladiesplease · 08/01/2023 22:11

None of the above! Smile

Runnerduck34 · 08/01/2023 22:12

And yes St stephens and St dunstan area are popular .

Crikeyalmighty · 08/01/2023 22:35

We lived around canterbury west station area at one time- nice area, very handy for town too, a flat walk in and it had the wonderful Goods shed. St Stephen's area also nice- avoid wincheap - tons of HMOs and students

Original poster
Bastet11 · 09/01/2023 07:27

Thank you. Will do.

OP posts:
weknowfrogsgotralalalala · 09/01/2023 07:40

KentishMama · 08/01/2023 17:59

I'm in Canterbury. Within walking distance to the town centre, which means plenty of weekend brunch/lunch outings, and the occasional weekday lunch, too (I mostly work from home, commute 1-2 days a week). Decent enough shopping, a couple of good theatres, multiple cinemas. There's a bit of a student buzz most of the year, and then tourists in the summer. Plenty of outdoor cafes, and it's quite international (for Kent, anyway). The commute from Canterbury is just about doable. For me, it's about 90 minutes door to door, with the train alone taking 55 minutes to London St Pancras.

Whitstable, while lovely for a weekend visit, is a much trickier commute and there's a lot less going on outside of the busy, touristy summer months. It's not on the high-speed rail line. We often go on a weekend though, it's very close to Canterbury.

And while Margate is up and coming, it's still quite rough in many parts, schools are not amazing, and the commute is very long.

Happy to chat more if you need any local advice!

It is on the high speed time, it’s an hour and 10 mins to St Pancras.

LunaDeet · 09/01/2023 07:44

I'd go Canterbury West or Faversham

FuckabethFuckor · 09/01/2023 07:51

I wouldn’t associate any of those places with a Mediterranean vibe. Various iterations of British seaside, yes. But I don’t think you get Mediterranean outside the Mediterranean really.

MissTakenForAnother · 09/01/2023 08:08

Bastet11 · 08/01/2023 21:01

I heard there is still crime/drug problem in Hastings, despite the gentrification.

I think that's everywhere!

A friend moved from London to Hastings and loves it. It's apparently very arty!

jujudoll64 · 03/01/2024 07:55

Which city would you rate as a matter of fact? We are in Edinburg looking to move South , love the sea and some culture plus access to London … thx