S ea, sand (or pebbles) and occasional solar are all on supply inside 90 minutes of London. And for the reason that pandemic has given many Londoners the choice to work at the least some days from residence, the stretch of shoreline that has lengthy been standard with artists and different creatives has opened as much as the workplace crowd too.

However the place ought to these yuppies with an edge begin their seek for a house?

If you happen to dream of the style of salt within the air, early morning walks alongside the promenade, and the possibility to spend your weekends paddleboarding or crusing, however don’t need to quit on the house comforts of London life, there are some superb choices.

These 5 cities, all inside an honest commute of London for the workplace certain, are the place you need to be searching for sea with a aspect order of tradition and occasional retailers.

Ramsgate, Kent

Ramsgate is the proper place to trawl classic retailers / Joanna Bongard

How a lot? You would want to pay approaching £1 million for one of many beautiful Regency homes overlooking the ocean on The Paragon or Royal Parade, and round £700,000 for a two-bedroom flat.

Away from the seafront costs drop dramatically — round £425,000 to £475,000 would purchase a Victorian townhouse east of the city centre, whereas a two-bedroom flat would price round £200,000.

The commute: Trains to St Pancras Worldwide take round an hour and a half.

What’s to like? Not as smug as Broadstairs, this handsome city is the proper place to sit back out on the seaside, choose up classic finds at its excellent assortment of vintage retailers (you’ll be exhausting pressed to go to the Petticoat Lane Emporium with out discovering one thing it’s a must to purchase), or cycle the Viking Coastal Path.

Emma and Josh / Joanna Bongard

Emma Jane Palin, 31, an interiors stylist and blogger, purchased in Ramsgate virtually a 12 months in the past, along with her husband Josh, 34, a musician who additionally works at Forts in Margate. Earlier than that the couple had rented in Margate, having moved to the coast from London.

“We moved to Ramsgate as a result of we might afford to purchase right here,” she says. “Margate obtained much more costly up to now few years. Ramsgate’s nonetheless quiet and it’s obtained that neighborhood really feel.”

Palin recommends a stroll on Addington Avenue. She loves Potters for interiors procuring, Optimistic Retail for pre-loved luxurious vogue and Vinyl Head for information. For espresso head to Union, a yoga store and cafe.

Folkestone, Kent

Vacation House’ by Richard Woods, a part of Folkestone’s public artwork scene / Alamy Inventory Picture

How a lot? Folkestone’s alpha deal with has lengthy been its West Finish, with its streets of beautiful Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian homes.

A two-bedroom flat round right here will price about £300,000, says Claire Reene, department supervisor of Bairstow Eves, when you might choose up a four-bedroom home for round £600,000.

Reene recommends trying east, across the Harbour Arm, which has develop into trendier as the realm has been regenerated with bars and eating places. A two-bedroom flat right here would price at the least £200,000 whereas a four-bedroom home would are available in at about £400,000.

The commute: Trains to St Pancras Worldwide take slightly below an hour. London Bridge providers take an hour and a half.

Catherine and Gary Good pictured of their Folkestone residence / Daniel Hambury/Stella Photos Ltd

What’s to like? Catherine Good moved to Folkestone in 2015, along with her husband Gary, and their two kids, Jude, 11, and Ruby, eight.

Good, 41, is a print designer along with her personal homewares model, Kitty McCall, and he or she and Gary, 44, who’s within the means of establishing a bespoke recruitment company, had lived throughout south and south-east London, most just lately in West Dulwich.

In 2014, Good felt a must be near her dad and mom, so the household moved to Leighton Buzzard. She appreciated the city effectively sufficient, nevertheless it didn’t actually click on.

Then her dad and mom introduced they had been going to maneuver all the way down to Folkestone. “We got here down to take a look and I used to be blown away with the ocean, and the sensation of neighborhood, and what they had been making an attempt to do with the regeneration,” she stated.

Drinks on the harbour arm / Alamy Inventory Picture

A 12 months later the household was dwelling by the south coast. “After we first got here down there have been perhaps one or two eating places. Now you’ve got The Folkestone Wine Firm, which I really like, a little bit tapas place known as Choose Up Pintxos, and the Harbour Arm is superb in summer time as a result of it has dwell music and many avenue meals stalls.”

A brand new inventive quarter was established by Roger De Haan, who invested hundreds of thousands in his hometown, which is now stuffed with public artwork, by the likes of Antony Gormley and Tracey Emin, and hosts the Folkestone Triennial.

Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

Georgie Perkins / Adrian Lourie

How a lot will it price? Mark Newman, director of Winkworth property brokers, says patrons after a house in Leigh-on-Sea ought to finances round £350,000 for a two-bed flat, or £550,000 to £600,000 for a three-bed terrace.

Consumers on smaller budgets might think about adjoining Westcliff-on-Sea which is attracting extra curiosity due to its worth for cash — though it’s certainly not as hip as Leigh. You would choose up three-bed home for round £500,000.

The commute: Trains to Fenchurch Avenue or Liverpool Avenue take about an hour.

What’s to like? Georgie Perkins moved to Leigh-on-Sea in 2004, from Hertfordshire.

Leigh-on-Sea / Adrian Lourie

“You’ve obtained a extremely lovely outdated city with cobbled streets and pubs with seating out on the ocean wall so you possibly can sit and have a drink and watch the estuary and the fishing boats, after which you’ve got a extremely vibrant, thriving excessive avenue, stuffed with bars, boutiques and vegan eating places,” she says.

Georgie, 43, runs a local people centre whereas her husband, Lee, 45, is an electrician.

The couple have a six-year-old son, Evan, and a canine, Buddy, and the household loves to hang around on the seaside. “It is among the longest traces of seaside within the nation, one simply leads on to the following, so it’s nice for walks,” she says.

Eastbourne, East Sussex

The Towner Gallery in Eastbourne / Alamy Inventory Picture

How a lot? The luxurious a part of city is Meads, west of the city centre, near the South Downs and the seafront. Stephen Rodgers, senior department supervisor at Fox & Sons property brokers, estimates that you’d pay round £280,000 to £300,000 for a two-bedroom flat, or round £500,000 for a three-bedroom terrace.

For extra bang in your buck look east in the direction of Redoubt, the place you could possibly choose up a two-bedroom flat for £180,000 to £200,000, or a two-bedroom Victorian cottage for £250,000 to £280,000. “Funding is coming in from the London and Brighton market and you may get some very nice, conventional brick or flint constructed homes,” says Rodgers.

The commute: Trains to Victoria take round 90 minutes.

What’s to like? Ranges Wine provides wines on faucet together with native choices, there’s craft beer at Bottle Grove, small plates at Cru, and resort Port’s restaurant is one other high hang-out for native produce. In Little Chelsea you’ll discover file retailers, cafes, delis and boutiques.

The jewel in Eastbourne’s crown is Towner, a gallery designed by American architect Rick Mather. It holds a implausible assortment of up to date artwork, has its personal cinema, and levels inspiring exhibitions and workshops.

Mersea Island, Essex

Mersea Island in Essex / Alamy Inventory Picture

How a lot? Rambling indifferent homes in peaceable East Mersea include large gardens and £1 million-plus worth tags. You would choose up a brand new, indifferent three-bedroom property home for round £525,000 to £600,000 otherwise you would possibly discover one of many island’s weatherboarded cottages for £450,000.

There aren’t many flats on the island however there are a number of small purpose-built blocks, priced at circa £250,000 for 2 bedrooms.

The commute: You could go to Colchester, by automobile or bus, the trains to Liverpool Avenue are slightly below an hour.

What’s to like? You’d by no means consider you’re solely 10 miles from Colchester. However the second you step throughout the traditional causeway that separates island from mainland you’ll really feel like you’re on a distinct planet. Island life is quiet — all lengthy walks, crusing, and messing about on the seaside — however that doesn’t imply there’s nothing to do.

The Firm Shed is a superb seafood restaurant, Mersea Barns is the place for a Sunday roast, and there are three pubs.

Every now and then the causeway floods throughout excessive tide and you’re marooned romantically on the island — sadly this splendid isolation solely lasts about 90 minutes.

Whereas quiet in winter, Mersea does get very busy through the summer time holidays. Since many of the homes had been constructed post-Sixties this isn’t the place to seek for a cutesy thatched cottage.

Suggestions for Londoners shifting to the seaside

Be a part of native Fb teams. It’s how we discovered our first rental residence they usually’re often very energetic with neighborhood information and occasions.

Go to in all seasons. Individuals transfer on a whim after a enjoyable weekend of seaside events in the summertime. In mid-winter the seaside’s a distinct place.

Go to native occasions, by yourself if attainable. Retailers will typically put issues on and it’s a great way to fulfill folks.

Be open to creating associates on social media. I’ve typically gone for espresso with somebody I’ve obtained to know on Instagram.

Don’t promote how a lot cash you’ve obtained to spend. A London finances will go a lot additional down right here — renters will say they’ve obtained £1,300 for a two-bed when that ought to pay for a five-bedroom home.

Don’t ask the place the “good” areas are. Coastal cities are nonetheless very blended communities, so get to know your neighbours, whoever they’re.

by Emma Jane Palin