Canterbury
– a mix of Georgian houses and converted flats, popular with
students and families commuting to London.
BACKGROUND
Canterbury
is an ancient city in Kent, 68 miles from London and became popular
in the 15th
century. Today, it is still a popular city with good value homes,
great commuter links and a rich history. The schools here are very
well known, which draws many families from London to set up home
here. The cathedral and grounds are still favourite places to visit
for day trips, as is a punt along the river.
There are
few apartments available in Canterbury, beyond student accommodation.
You find mainly semi-detached and detached properties here. It is
thought to be the busiest housing market in the UK.
TRANSPORT
High speed
services are now available from Canterbury West to St Pancras
International, with a trip taking just 50minutes. The city is also
served by Canterbury East and Sturry.
Within the
city, public transport is quite limited, but you can walk just about
everywhere in the centre. A park and ride system exists to minimise
congestion and city parking challenges.
A 25
minute drive will take you to Herne Bay for seaside activities.
AMENITIES
The King’s
Mile, situated within the city walls, offers a diverse collection of
independent cafes, restaurants and shops in a historical setting. The
High Street provide a modern variety with more recognised chains and
a new theatre. The town centre is very pedestrian friendly.
Blean
Woods National Nature Reserve is a great place for dog walking or
picnics and the Kent Downs are within easy reach. Dane John Gardens
is also a small park, great for children to run around in.
There is a
strong choice of primary schools, with St Thomas’ Catholic
Primary School and the Sturry CofE Primary School achieving an
outstanding rating from Ofsted. For secondary schools, the highest
rated include Barton Court Grammar School and the Simon Langton
Grammar School for Boys.
Three
universities also have campuses here – University of Creative
Arts, University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University.
If you are
moving to Canterbury then you should find all the services you need
within the ancient city walls, including national estate agents such
as Winkworth and Sandersons. Nearby Ashford will also provide more
agents and surveyors if required.
St
Dunstan’s
St
Dunstan’s shows a more creative side of Canterbury, described
as being similar to Brighton, and is close to the Canterbury West
station with the High Speed 1 connection. There is a mix independent
shops and art galleries here. 3 bedroom period houses here start from
£350,000 and more modern equivalents are around £400,000.
South
Canterbury
South
Canterbury area is popular with families thanks to its proximity to
the grammar schools. Most of the houses here are Edwardian style and
a 4 bedroom semi would cost around £450,000. A 4 bedroom
detached would be £600,000.
Chilham
The
village of Chilham is situated to the south west of Canterbury and
still maintains a traditional market square and numerous buildings
from the 15th
century. It has two pubs, a handful of small shops, sports centre,
playgrounds and a tea shop. It is popular for those who want easy
access to Canterbury, but in a quieter location.
Property
prices vary considerably here, but a 4 bedroom semi-detached home
averages around £600,000 and a 2 bedroom is just under
£400,000.
