With many people moving away from London and flocking to the country, Kent is an area that has become very popular with Londoners, but why so? Winkworth investigates.
That the past 18 months have seen people moving out of the capital is news to nobody. City dwellers have left small urban flats for spacious homes surrounded by greenery, or uprooted their families to live by the sea, or simply gone back to where they grew up. But a lot of the movers seem to have gone to one place: Kent. What do they know that we don’t?
For Donna Pearson of Winkworth Canterbury, the interest in Kent came as no surprise. She says: “the Garden of England that is Kent has always been a lovely spot to settle and moving to a greener, more spacious destination had its appeal well before lockdown. Kent has plenty of coastal spots such as Whitstable and Margate, plus great connections across the channel.” The county is also eminently commutable, with the high speed rail link making ever better connections to the capital. “Recently, even the slightly harder-to-reach areas have gained in popularity, as a long commute is more bearable if it’s only a couple of times a week,” notes Donna.
And the property’s good too, of course. This dreamy 18th century cottage in Patrixbourne, just outside Canterbury, has an idyllic rural feel that’s likely to appeal to jaded Londoners. It recently sold through Winkworth Canterbury.
Riverside Cottages, Patrixbourne, £275,000
Please contact Winkworth Canterbury on 01227 456645 for further information and similar properties.
Canterbury itself has always been a destination of choice for people looking to move away from London. According to Donna: “It has a mini London vibe, plenty of history and an abundance of restaurants and shops. We are finding more and more people are looking to settle within the city.”
This three bedroom house in the centre of Canterbury could be yours for just over half a million, with its spacious rooms and courtyard garden.
Heritage Court, Stour Street, Canterbury CT1, £515,000
Please contact Winkworth Canterbury on 01227 456645 for further information.
Fifty miles west of Canterbury is Tunbridge Wells, which is also attracting urban escapees. For Natasha Firman of Winkworth’s local branch, “Tunbridge Wells is London without London. It has streets of Victorian terraced houses, lots of shops, restaurants, bars and hotels plus a 260 acre common at its centre and several beautifully kept parks.” She cites the area’s excellent grammar and independent schools as one of the major draws to Kent, along with the region being perfectly placed for the commute into town in under an hour. “It’s easy to see why many people have been flocking to Kent for a better work/life balance over the last year,” she says.
Currently on the market is this this mid-terraced three bedroom house, located in the much sought-after "Village" area of Tunbridge Wells, with a large two tiered terrace, communal garden and recently refurbished interior, that would make a wonderful home for a London family.
Eden Walk, Tunbridge Wells, TN1, £625,000
Please contact Winkworth Tunbridge Wells on 01892 519600 for further information.
With many people heading out of London and flocking to the country, these areas described as ‘mini London’s’ with green spaces, great amenities and transport links are ever popular. If you’re looking for your own urban escape or are after a change of scenery, please contact your local Winkworth office today.