Sevenoaks Estate Agents
15 Bank Street
Sevenoaks
TN13 1UW
East Kent boasts a beautiful, varied landscape containing spectacular green spaces and countryside, as well as stunning coastlines.
Canterbury Estate Agents
2 St. Margaret's Street
Canterbury
CT1 2SL
Welcome to the East Kent area guide where we’ll be extracting key information on the key towns, types of property and transport, as well as activities, leisure and education facilities in the area.
The East Kent area is a beautiful and varying landscape with many different identities contributing to an intriguing and attractive whole. The area makes up the land most closely neighbouring the coast, this has birthed the presence of charming seaside towns such as Margate, Whistable and Ramsgate. Elsewhere in East Kent, you’ll find the beautiful city of Canterbury which is brimming with history and a vibrant culture as well as the Kent Downs which is littered with towns in amongst sprawling and picturesque surroundings.
These fantastic spaces are equipped with many excellent transport opportunities by road and rail; the ease of access to these links has made the area particularly attractive for those working in London which has earned the area’s reputation as a desirable commuter’s spot. The area is furthermore desirable with its vast style of housing and property available – from sporting and country estates, barn conversions as well as flats, townhouses and seafront properties.
Things To Do In East Kent
The varying landscapes which snakes through East Kent is an excellent base for a plethora of activity and culture. The seafront holds many nautical activities, whereas the area’s green heart is ideal for walking, cycling and adventure activity (and pub walks of course!).
The Beautiful Kent Downs
It’s not hard to see why Kent Downs earned its Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty title – rolling green hills, quaint pubs and charming woodland grace the spot which stretches throughout the wider county of Kent right down to the coast. The most Southerly part of the downs spills over into the iconic white cliffs of Dover which is witness to a stunning coastal view. This is the ideal environment for various types of walks, cycling and nature spotting.
History Lessons in Canterbury
Canterbury is a fantastic spot for those who love historical and old-fashioned architecture. Visitors can feast their eyes on the remains of Canterbury Castle, the awe-inspiring Canterbury Cathedral as well as the medieval and Tudor architecture which binds the bustling city streets together. Canterbury is one of the most visited places in the country for its inspiring historical links, many of which date back to the middle ages and have been popularised by novels such as The Canterbury Tales stories by Chaucer which helped birth the modern way of storytelling.
Why We Love East Kent
- The stunning coastlines – Broadstairs’ beaches welcomes many seeking a bit of sunshine.
- The bustle of the seaside towns – Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, otherwise known as the Isle of Thanet, is a great hubbub of energy and culture.
- The traditional architecture of Canterbury
- The Food and Drink – there’s a huge selection of bars and restaurants in the East Kent area, ranging from traditional pubs and inns to Michelin Star dining. East Kent is also prone to hosting many festivals celebrating food and drink including the Whistable Oyster Festival and The Canterbury Festival.
- The variety of properties available – the city and town areas are populated by a number of modern flats, Victorian houses whereas the more rural areas are home to huge estates and barn conversions.
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Key villages & towns in East Kent
Canterbury
Canterbury is the historical and cultural heart of East Kent, testament to its position as one of the most visited places in the country. As well as being historical, the presence of the university in the town gives the city a youthful feel which comes alive in the variation of events, bars and pubs littered across the city. The River Stour also runs through the city which ties in a different type of beauty altogether, many take out rowboats to explore the city from the stunning waterways.
Folkestone
Folkestone is a beautiful coastal town which is also referred to as the ‘Garden Coast’. Many travel to Folkestone as a quick coastal getaway, mainly due to the variety of leisure activities including beach walks along the promenade, shopping centres and entertainment around the city centre. The Lower Leas Coastal Park also finds a huge number of people flocking to its adventure trails, play areas and amphitheatre. Folkestone is a highly desirable commuter spot offering residents a beachside lifestyle with a mere hour-long commute to London via the town’s high-speed rail link.
Dover
Everybody is familiar with the view of Dover’s famous White Cliffs which represented an image of hope in the war time. Sitting atop the cliffs is a charming English town full of country parks, gardens and countryside populated by independent shops, bars and restaurants. As well as all the beauty and natural space, there’s also a fix for the adrenaline junkies such as the array of outdoor and coastal adventures provided by the Dover Sea Sports Centre.
Ashford
Ashford is comprised of two different identities – one part is modern, full of bustling shopping districts such as the Ashford Designer Outlet , the other takes on a more traditional identity in its preserved streets and architecture of Georgian and Jacobean influence. There are also many natural breaks in this bustling part of East Kent, Godinton House and Gardens is a beautiful historical spot which is preserved along with its stunning natural surroundings.
Margate
Margate is world famous for its image as the epitome of an English seaside town, this image is commonly associated with the past, however its culture and people have become more progressive in recent years. As well as holding those traditional seaside features such as the rides, stands and fish and chips shops, it also incorporates an array of fantastic modern bars, restaurants and pubs.
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is another one of East Kent’s charming seaside towns - the views of the coast is fantastically illustrated by a busy harbour full of boats and yachts which is testament to its historical identity as a fishing and shipbuilding port.
Broadstairs
Broadstairs is a beautiful beach resort neighbouring Ramsgate and Margate. It's lined with stunning sandy beaches and is a huge hubbub of entertainment and culture, especially in the summertime where many flock to its beautiful shores to catch a little sunshine and breathe in the essence of its seaside charms. The town and city streets are just as beautiful with a huge number of stunning and historic buildings adding to the enticing environment.
Schools in the area
East Kent is considered to be an important part of England’s education being home to the country’s first seat of learning in the city of Canterbury. The educational heart of Canterbury is still prevalent today being the home to Canterbury Christ Church University as well as a number of other educational establishments. The East Kent area is littered with many educational facilities ranging from primary school to secondary school education.
Among the best primary schools are Hoath Primary School in Canterbury which chooses to educate in the spirit of their motto ‘aim high – achievement for all’. Elsewhere, Rodmersham School which is situated just outside of Sittingbourne has achieved high positions in league tables for pupil’s results as well as Selling Church of England Primary School which is located in the beautiful surroundings of the Kent Downs.
The same goes for secondary and further education, the likes of Ashford School always features at the top end of league tables as well as Kent College in Canterbury. The area is also home to a number of grammar schools such as The Folkestone School for Girls, Highsted Grammar School and Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar. As previously mentioned, East Kent also has its very own University establishment at Canterbury Christ Church which is popular nationwide. Head to the Good Schools Guide for a full and comprehensive list.
Transport links
By train
East Kent has incredibly well-connected transport links to the UK, especially to the city of London, which has helped make the area a desirable commuter spot. The areas of Canterbury, Dover and Folkestone are all around a 60 minute commute to the city center. With London nearby, the rest of the country is easily accessible by rail, as is France which sits just across the East Kent coast; Ashford is a stop-off destination for the Eurostar route from London's Kings Cross.
By train
The South of East Kent is accessible via at the M20 through the West side of the county and London, whereas the North can be reached via the M2. The rest of the county is accessible by a web of A roads. East Kent is also a great space for international travel by car, the channel crossing is available from Dover to the North of France.