Moving House in Folkestone: A Complete Guide

Folkestone has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade. Once declining, the coastal town in the CT19 and CT20 postcodes has been reinvented as one of Kent's most creative and culturally interesting places to live, driven primarily by the work of the Folkestone Triennial art festival and the Creative Quarter development that has transformed the old town into a destination for artists, makers, independent retailers and a growing community of Londoners seeking coastal living at accessible prices.

Folkestone neighbourhoods

The Creative Quarter and Old Town

The area below the Leas clifftop in the CT19 and CT20 postcodes, particularly the network of streets around the Old High Street and the Creative Quarter, is Folkestone at its most distinctive. Independent galleries, studios, cafes, restaurants and makers' workshops occupy the former fishing town buildings. Properties here range from Victorian fishermen's cottages to period conversion apartments. This is Folkestone's most sought-after and most characterful address.

The Leas and Sandgate

The clifftop Leas promenade area has some of Folkestone's grandest Victorian properties, large terraces and detached villas with clifftop gardens and sea views. Sandgate, to the west of Folkestone, is a distinct small town on the seafront with a strong independent character, excellent restaurants and a loyal community of long-term residents who prize the village feel.

Cheriton and Newington

To the north of the town centre, Cheriton and Newington are more affordable residential areas popular with families. Good primary schools and easy access to the M20 motorway and Channel Tunnel rail terminal at Cheriton.

Hawkinge

To the north of Folkestone on the North Downs, Hawkinge is a growing village community popular with families seeking more space and a semi-rural setting while remaining within easy reach of Folkestone's amenities and the M20. The Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge is one of the area's significant heritage attractions.

Property in Folkestone

Folkestone offers outstanding value, particularly in the Creative Quarter and Old Town areas where equivalent properties in Brighton or Whitstable would cost significantly more. The average property price in CT19 and CT20 is approximately £240,000 to £310,000. A Victorian two-bedroom cottage in the Creative Quarter costs between £220,000 and £320,000. Larger properties on the Leas with sea views cost between £400,000 and £700,000. Hawkinge and Cheriton offer family homes at £280,000 to £450,000.

Commuting from Folkestone

Folkestone Central station offers Southeastern services to London St Pancras via the high-speed line taking approximately 57 minutes, one of the fastest Kent coast commutes to London. Standard services to London Victoria take around 90 minutes. Annual season tickets on the high-speed service cost approximately £5,200 to £5,700. The M20 motorway provides fast road access to the M25, Dartford Crossing and London. The Channel Tunnel terminal at Cheriton provides international connections to France and Belgium.

Schools in Folkestone

The Folkestone Academy and Pent Valley Technology College are the main comprehensive secondary schools in the town. Grammar school access from Folkestone, to schools in Ashford and Canterbury, requires travel on the A20. Primary school provision includes several Good and Outstanding rated schools across the CT19 and CT20 postcodes.

Moving day in Folkestone

Folkestone's topography creates genuine access challenges for removal vehicles. The town sits on steeply rising ground from the seafront, the Creative Quarter and Old Town are at the bottom of steep streets and narrow lanes that require careful vehicle selection. The Leas properties at the top of the cliff have their own access challenges with some properties only accessible via steep private roads or shared drives. Medway and Kent Removals plans all Folkestone access carefully and uses appropriately sized vehicles for each property type.