Tag Archives: moving to Kent

Kent house prices: The neighbourhoods where house prices are rising the fastest

6 November 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Ten places in Kent where prices are rising the fastest

We hear all the time that the housing market is slowing down – but these parts of Kent would beg to differ. The Office for National Statistics released figures last month showing how house prices in each council ward across the country had changed over the past year. Here are the ten places in Kent where prices are rising the fastest – and what we love about them. Prices are for the year to March 2019 and the year to March 2018.

10. Biddenden, Ashford

A pretty Wealden village near Tenterden with an award-winning vineyard, historic centre and church thought to date from the 13th century.

March 2019: £410,000
March 2018: £335,000
Increase: 22 per cent

9. Capel-le-Ferne, Dover

Sitting on top of the White Cliffs overlooking the Channel, Capel is best known for its Battle of Britain Memorial.

March 2019: £352,000
March 2018: £285,000
Increase: 24 per cent

8. Hawkhurst and Sandhurst, Tunbridge Wells

Two pretty, historic villages close to the border with East Sussex in the High Weald area of outstanding natural beauty.

March 2019: £464,995
March 2018: £373,500
Increase: 24 per cent

7. Birchington North, Thanet

A seaside resort whose Blue Flag beach Minnis Bay is secluded and family-friendly, with a play area and a paddling pool.

March 2019: £339,000
March 2018: £267,000
Increase: 27 per cent

6. Little Burton Farm, Ashford

This quiet housing estate has generous family homes and a green space by the river with dragonflies, birds and wetland plants.

March 2019: £343,000
March 2018: £270,000
Increase: 27 per cent

5. Kingsgate, Thanet

Part of lovely Broadstairs, Kingsgate has a quiet sandy beach with impressive caves, overlooked by striking chalk cliffs.

March 2019: £445,000
March 2018: £350,000
Increase: 27 per cent

4. Ringwould, Dover

Just outside the seaside town of Deal, this historic village has a Grade I listed 12th-century church and a 17th-century pub.

March 2019: £433,500
March 2018: £340,000
Increase: 28 per cent

3. Frittenden and Sissinghurst, Tunbridge Wells

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, the former home of MP Harold Nicolson and journalist Vita Sackville-West, is among the south east’s most famous gardens.

March 2019: £565,000
March 2018: £435,000
Increase: 30 per cent

2. Eynsford, Sevenoaks

Eynsford’s attractions include Lullingstone Castle, a Tudor manor house with a garden of plants from around the world, and Lullingstone Roman Villa.

March 2019: £505,000
March 2018: £363,000
Increase: 39 per cent

1. Downs West, Ashford

This delightful expanse of Stour Valley countryside includes several charming and quintessentially English villages and the Eastwell Manor hotel and spa.

March 2019: £443,500
March 2018: £245,000
Difference: 81 per cent (if that wasn’t bad enough, the average price of a house here in 1999 was £98,000).

And finally Kent’s most expensive ward is Sevenoaks Kippington, where the average house cost £1,123,500 in the year to March 2019.

At family-run Kent removal firm Colin Batt Removals, we’ve been helping people settle into their new homes across the county for 40 years – and are very proud of the many lovely towns and villages it offers to those wishing to move here. We’re based in Ashford, but cover all of Kent, particularly Maidstone, Canterbury, Folkestone and Tonbridge, and indeed work further afield. Call 01233 740395 for an informal chat or a free quote.

Get a Free Estimate

Property News

Four property hotspots in Kent

16 October 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Best places to buy a property in Kent

Beautiful countryside, golden beaches, pretty villages and historic attractions … the question isn’t why would you swap London for Kent, but why haven’t you done so already? Not only can people actually afford houses here (yes, really!), transport links from some parts of the county are so good you might even be able to spend less time travelling to and from work than you do now.

These are just four of the best places to buy property in Kent …

Goudhurst

Goudhurst is probably the prettiest village in Kent. The views of the Wealden countryside as you drive down the hill into the main street are delightful, and combined with the period buildings, 14th-century church and tranquil pond, make you feel as if everything stressful has just disappeared from your radar. There are several good pubs here, including the Star and Eagle at the top of the hill, independent shops and a spa – and Bedgebury Forest, Bewl Water and Scotney Castle are all nearby.

Sevenoaks

Featured in the Sunday Times’ list of best places to live this year and last, Sevenoaks is one of the most affluent towns in Kent. It’s fantastically placed for commuting to London – the M25 runs past the edge of the town, or on the train, it’s 25 minutes to London Bridge – yet surrounded by green belt countryside, with the 1,000-acre Knole Park close by. It feels family-friendly and safe yet still lively, with plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants, and an arts centre with a theatre and cinema.

Deal

Deal has become fashionable over the past decade or two, but retains an understated charm. As well as restaurants, cafes, galleries and independent shops, the town has a small theatre, two castles and of course the beach and seafront promenade, which you can follow from the impressive houses on The Marina at the north end all the way into neighbouring Walmer. A stroll to the end of the pier, from where you can look back at the pastel-coloured buildings lining the seafront, will warm anyone’s heart.

Brenchley

Lying in the High Weald area of outstanding natural beauty, and surrounded by orchards and farmland, pretty Brenchley is a prime example of why Kent is still the garden of England. If you love country walks, you’ll be happy here. With timbered houses and a church with an avenue of 400-year-old yew trees, it’s a place where you can step back in time while staying connected to the modern world – the A21 is three miles away, or Tunbridge Wells is around 45 minutes from London Bridge by train.

Persuaded? At family-run Kent removals company Colin Batt Removals, we’ve been helping people settle into their new homes for more than 40 years – and we’re always pleased and proud to welcome people into our beautiful county.

We aim to make the whole process as stress-free as possible for you – we offer a packing and unpacking service, so that’s one big task off your hands, and we also have our own storage facility in Kent if you’re not able to move all your belongings into your new home straightaway.

We’re based in Ashford, but cover the whole county, particularly Maidstone, Canterbury, Folkestone and Tonbridge. Call us on 01233 740395 for an informal chat or a free quote.

House removals

Four of the best up and coming Kent seaside towns

5 June 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Best places to live on the Kent coast

Kent’s gorgeous coastline is one of the County’s greatest assets. But this isn’t just down to the beaches themselves – the beautiful coastal towns behind them offer a fascinating mix of history and culture for visitors to enjoy. Having moved thousands of people over the years all over Kent we have selected four of the best places to live on the Kent coast.

Whitstable

Popular with Londoners, Whitstable is famous for its oysters – and in particular its annual oyster festival. The prettiest part of the town is the seafront, lined with charming houses decorated with seashells, while in the harbour you can watch the fishing boats being unloaded and explore the fish market for an unbeatably fresh snack. The town also has a strong arts scene, with an arts centre, theatre and several galleries, and numerous independent shops. There are plenty of places where you can feast on shellfish or fresh fish and chips – and make sure you visit the Old Neptune on the beach itself for a pint of local ale.

Margate

Margate has risen from its run-down reputation to become a cool, quirky and arty Kentish treasure. The Turner Contemporary, named after the artist himself in honour of the inspiration afforded to him by the town’s sunsets, is an internationally acclaimed modern art gallery. At the other end of the scale, Dreamland offers amusement rides and a roller skating hall. The pretty Old Town has a good mix of vintage shops, cafes and galleries – then there’s the astonishing subterranean Shell Grotto, 21 metres of winding passages decorated with artworks made from 4.6 million shells. But of course Margate’s crowning glory is the golden sanded, Blue Flag winning beach, the perfect place to spend hours building sandcastles or enjoying the promenade, children’s rides and tidal pool.

Deal

Who has not visited Deal and fallen in love with it instantly? This unassuming yet delightful town boasts a beautiful seafront, with grand houses and pretty pastel colours, as well as two Tudor castles – Deal and Walmer – to explore. Take a stroll along the promenade into Walmer (the two towns run into one another), where the memorial bandstand on the green, dedicated to the 11 Royal Marines who died in an IRA bombing in 1989, hosts brass band concerts throughout the summer.

Folkestone

Another seaside resort that has recently undergone significant regeneration, Folkestone is a melting pot of arty trendiness and old fashioned elegance. The west end of town is a stylish expanse of grand Edwardian and Victorian villas, tree lined boulevards and splendid sea views, while the promenade to the harbour arm is home to classy restaurants and bars. The main beach is shingle, but there’s a sandy spot called Sunny Sands next to the harbour, which hosts an annual sandcastle competition.

Award-winning, family-run Kent removals company Colin Batt Removals has been helping people settle into their new homes across the county and around the world for more than 40 years. We’re specialists in piano removals and have moved some of the world’s most treasured instruments, so you know your belongings are in safe hands with us. As well as house removal services, we also offer a packing service for moving house to make the whole experience as stress-free and easy as possible. Call us on 01233 740395 to find out more and get a free quote.

Get a Free Estimate