Coastal Kent gives commuters best of both worlds

The Kent coast is increasingly becoming attractive to families and downsizers looking for a change of lifestyle and affordable homes that are within easy reach of the capital as high speed commuter rail services reach London in just over an hour and road links are fast. 

Many of the towns such as Gravesend, Folkestone, Dover and Margate are in the midst of extensive regeneration programmes. Employment in the region covers construction, retail and health and many residents commute to London or Canterbury to work. New developments have proved popular selling out quickly.

Gravesend is just minutes from Eurostar trains from nearby Ebbsfleet International Station that reach Paris in just over two hours.  Gravesend has services to Stratford International in 16 minutes.

Further along the coast Whitstable has a bohemian air with its bustling seafood eateries, delis, artisan bakeries, boutique shops and art galleries. It’s a popular town for second home owners and downsizers. A few miles away, Herne Bay has been a hit with visitors since the Victorian era, still reminiscent in the bandstand, seafront gardens and distinctive 80ft clock tower.  

Stunning sea and skyscapes famously drew artist JMW Turner to Margate, and now the Turner Contemporary gallery has put the town on the map with many Londoners discovering its attractive period architecture.

Broadstairs is said to be the jewel in the Isle of Thanet’s crown with the highest property prices in the region. Dickens is associated with the town having drawn inspiration for many of his books while living there in the mid-1800s. Ramsgate is a wonderful blend of maritime heritage with its architectural finery, Georgian and Regency squares and cosmopolitan pizzazz.

The Westwood Cross town centre serves the Isle of Thanet combining retail, leisure and dining in one place incorporating a state of the art shopping complex, 10 screen multiplex cinema and major names from the restaurant world.

Folkestone has quaint streets meeting cutting-edge art in the Creative Quarter where 100 artistic enterprises fill the cobbled, historic heart of town, along with pastel-painted studio-galleries, quirky stores and chic eateries such as Rocksalt restaurant with superb harbour views. Eurotunnel  also brings France closer too with Folkestone just 35 minutes away from Calais.

Dover is a major port for ferries across the Channel to Calais. Medieval Dover Castle overlooks the town and houses the extensive Secret Wartime Tunnels.

Kent has some of the best state and private schools in the country retaining the grammar system including Dartford Grammar, Gravesend Grammar School for Girls, Dane Court in Broadstairs, Clarendon House in Ramsgate and Dover Grammar schools for boys and girls. Private schools include Dover College and Kent College Canterbury.

A monthly season ticket to London St Pancras costs £319.50 from Gravesend (£3,328 annually) with the fastest journey time of 24 minutes. Trains to London Cannon Street from Whitstable take 1hr 27 minutes (£450.50 monthly, £4,692 annually); fastest trains from Ramsgate to St Pancras takes 1hr 18 minutes (£561.50 monthly, £5,848 annually); fastest trains to London St Pancras take 55 minutes from Folkestone (£499.20 monthly, £5,200 annually).

The Kent coast has a connecting network of motorways including the M20 and M2 giving access to London and around Kent. Gatwick airport is 81 miles and around 1hr 25 minutes from Ramsgate; Gravesend to Gatwick is around 40 minutes via to M25, Stansted is 47 miles and takes 55 mins.

If one question you are left with is if commuting from kent to London makes financial sense, click here to read on.