Folkestone or Ramsgate?

rusty_f

Hi everyone. I am hoping some of you can provide me with some local guidance/knowledge on the above areas. We currently rent in London but want to buy and would rather own a 3 bedroom house than a studio in London! We have spent a lot of time exploring the Kent coast over the last year, having spent time in Broadstairs, Margate, Ramsgate and Folkestone. I love being by the sea and the slower pace of life. We started to look at places to buy in the areas which are commutable to London, and have narrowed our search down to Ramsgate and Folkestone.

Our budget is up to £220k, and are looking for a minimum 3 bedroom with garden - not bothered about it being terraced or semi-detached. Schools are unimportant as we will never have children. But we would like to be relatively close to decent bars, pubs and restaurants.

We ideally want a commute on HS1 that takes approximately 1 hour. I know Ramsgate is approximate 1hr 15 but we did fall in love with the town and I've read that there are rail improvements over the next few years which should shorten the journey by 10 minutes so I could live with the extra commute for the medium term.

As my partner doesn't drive, we have to be within walking distance to a station served by the High Speed service. This would mean focusing on roughly a 0.7 mile radius from Ramsgate station, or Folkestone Central and Folkestone West.

From what I have read, there are areas north of Ramsgate station we should avoid. I've also read that Folkestone West (towards Sandgate area) is the more desirable part of Folkestone, but for our budget I can see that the centre and east of Folkestone tend to offer 'more house for your money' (but there could be very valid reasons for it).

Are there any streets or areas within each town that you would recommend given the above criteria? Or do you have anything for or against either Ramsgate or Folkestone that I should take into account? Right now, Folkestone is appealing for its 55 minute train ride and the M20, but Ramsgate for its marina, beaches, and proximity to places like Broadstairs.

Any help, suggestions, food for thought, would be most welcome!

vanilla_twist

I have been in Folkestone 15 years so if you want any advice on area feel free to send me a pm.
Personally I wouldn't move as far out as Ramsgate to commute. Lots of nice homes there but also a place where not many are working so you will not get the nice bars ect type feel whereas Folkestone has an artistic quarter and a very nice area in Harbour which is to be developed further.
I think for £220k in Folkestone I would look for a really nice 2 bed rather than a not so nice 3 bed. Don't be put off by some of the garden flats either as much more space for your money and many right on sea front.

V x

Thanetia

I used to live in Ramsgate. Great place, on the up, but choose carefully. Best drinking (but also the most expensive) is closer to the harbour. West Cliff and East Cliff nice but furthest from the station, although probably not as far as it looks. Either way, it is best to live down from the station towards town rather than further out, although the Loop bus service is very good and gets you around very easily at low cost. Plenty of housing in your budget to choose from. A lot of changes potentially coming around the Harbour - work is supposed to get underway on the Pleasurama development - they are supposedly reinforcing the cliff wall as we speak , new Hornby visitor centre going in, Wetherspoon's opening up a mega-pub. Harbour has a pretty good vibe and even on a Sat night rarely gets too tricky.

Re the commute, I'm not sure I'm convinvved on the potential for much time saving - notwithstanding the planned improvement works between Ashford and Ramsgate, the saving is pretty marginal and any time saved might be burnt up if they add in the proposed Manston Parkway station. Folkestone is always going to be a shorter commute.

Folkestone is also supposedly on the up, and almost moved there a couple of years ago. Check out the long term plans for development on the front. Could be good but some way from actually seeing anything concrete. Creative quarter is interesting, pubs around there and the Bayle are nice. Town Centre is better than you might expect. Sandgate is a bit of a drag uphill to the station if you go there.

I'd choose Ramsgate, altthough longer commute, access to Broadstairs and Margate either by bus or train, makes it like 'three towns in one', and all different. Down side is the lengthy door to door commute, and costs £6K for an annual high speed ticket without the tube. But there's a good feeling stepping off the train on a Friday night as every weekend is like a holiday )

Dhrucku

I would not go that far out.

You have some up and coming areas closer around the Medway Towns with the much quicker commute into London (52 minutes). Gillingham, Rainham to name two but you'd need to pick in the "right" areas as some areas are worse than others.

CKhalvashi

vanilla_twist wrote: »

I think for £220k in Folkestone I would look for a really nice 2 bed rather than a not so nice 3 bed. Don't be put off by some of the garden flats either as much more space for your money and many right on sea front.

V x

My advice is to always go for the smaller house in the nicer area.

Jendita

Hi,

How often are you commuting to London?

We currently live in Ramsgate and I have been commuting twice a week to London. It's not that bad - the Good thing about Ramsgate and Broadstairs is that you can use two high speed routes up into London so there are options if a line is down.

Ramsgate is very underrated, it can be beautiful in certain areas. We're currently a 15 minute walk south of the station and the area is mostly quiet with a 10 min walk to the sea.