ARTICLE

Buying in Kent

Twelve of Kent's beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag – an international standard of water quality, safety, services and eco awareness. Whether you're looking for peace and quiet, a laid-back bohemian vibe or an adrenaline rush, you'll find the perfect beach to get it. And should you get tired of the sand, there are plenty of woods, parks and rolling hills, as well as lively towns and cities to explore.

This episode is from series 3.

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Buying in Kent

Buyer's tips

  • If you're looking for that fantasy home, have a wish list but be prepared to be flexible.
  • Spend a couple of weeks in the area you want to move to and really get to know it.
  • Visit the property in and out of season. You may be the only person living there during the winter!
  • A sea view in Whitstable can increase the price by up to £100K.

The buyers: Sarah and Spike
Sarah and Spike work in retail management. They've lived together in Streatham, South London, for 12 years. Now they want children and are hankering after the life by the sea that they had as kids.

They've fallen for the traditional fishing town of Whitstable on the north Kent coast and hope their budget of £300,000 will get them the fantasy home they've been dreaming of.

Why Kent?
Sarah and Spike's dream location, Whitstable, is full of restaurants and galleries, making it a favourite haunt with weekenders from London, 60 miles away.

Kent has got three championship golf courses, all around Sandwich Bay. It joins Lancashire as the only other place in England that has staged the Open Championship.

The Whitstable area is also famous for its beach huts - Tracey Emin turned hers into a work of art and sold it for £75,000 - but artists aside, these huts have rocketed in price from £400 to between £10,000- £20,000 in the last 20 years.

There's a bohemian vibe here and watching the sunset is a local pastime, particularly when you can do it from the pub on the beach. If you want to make it more of an occasion, take a picnic to nearby Tankerton Slopes.

For oyster lovers, Whitstable is the place to be. There are oyster bars aplenty, but for seafood aphrodisiacs with a gourmet touch, try the area's first Michelin-starred restaurant which is a couple of miles along the coast at Seasalter.

The estate agents
Property 1 and 2:
Waterfront Homes
(Contact Ritchie Taylor)
Tel: 01227 470766

Property 3:
Harvey, Richard & West
(Contact Karen)
Tel: 01227 771 196

Property 4:
Your Move
(Contact Clare Turner)
Tel: 01227 367161

For a millionaire moment…
Cluttons Canterbury
(Contact Joanna Castle)
Tel: 01227 475707

Top three details

  • Enjoy a round of golf at The Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course.
  • Go shopping and explore the small boutiques in Whitstable.
  • Enjoy Whitstable's delicious oysters

    Living the dream details
  • Dog walking along The Street beach

    With thanks to
    David Clarke Estate Agents
    The Whitstable Oyster Company

    • Related sections: Fantasy Homes By The Sea

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