Have I picked the right place?
#46
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: Sunny, sunny Eastbourne UK, was Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 77
Re: Have I picked the right place?
Sounds charming, Sally, but I am still partial to Canterbury. If we can hop on a bus to the sea, that should be close enough. We'll be coming over in the next year or so for a good look around. Will set up base in Canterbury but I think hubby would like to head over to Eastbourne for a day or so. Sounds like a plan.
We have visited Eastbourne a few times over the past 3 years as my parents moved there and both really like it ourselves. It's on the sea , lovely double promenade with lots of plantings as well as the immaculately kept carpet gardens. There's Beachy Head - great for country walks on the South Downs, small villages around , frequent trains to London and Gatwick . Sovereign Harbour Marina at the other end of the pier (which is way way better than Brighton's !!), buses to Brighton .
Have a look at www.visiteastbourne.com to see what's going on. Lots of theatres and pubs. The town centre is somewhat drab, though there are plans to extend the Arndale shopping centre but the seafront is lovely.
I, likewise will plan to visit Canterbury after all these great posts !!!
#47
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: Sunny, sunny Eastbourne UK, was Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 77
Re: Have I picked the right place?
I'm not saying it's fabulous, but it's a pleasant enough place with a seaside vibe, it used to be very much a place for retirees but I've seen it get much hipper over the years, I'd be fine about living there myself. Seems friendly with plenty of clubs and activities. My Mum doesn't have a car, there are plenty of buses, you've got a train station and the taxis seem to be very good and plentiful because I think a lot of the older folk use them.
Have a look on Rightmove for rentals. They have a new art gallery which is pretty good (Towner), a lot of the theatres cater to the tourist trade but you will be able to find entertainment, pub music etc.
Have a look on Rightmove for rentals. They have a new art gallery which is pretty good (Towner), a lot of the theatres cater to the tourist trade but you will be able to find entertainment, pub music etc.
Thanks
#48
Re: Have I picked the right place?
We are moving to Eastbourne in 4 weeks time , so perhaps I will be able to offer information as I find out myself ! We are retiring, hubby's 62 and I am 55, so may look for part time work later as well, will see how it goes.
We have visited Eastbourne a few times over the past 3 years as my parents moved there and both really like it ourselves. It's on the sea , lovely double promenade with lots of plantings as well as the immaculately kept carpet gardens. There's Beachy Head - great for country walks on the South Downs, small villages around , frequent trains to London and Gatwick . Sovereign Harbour Marina at the other end of the pier (which is way way better than Brighton's !!), buses to Brighton .
Have a look at www.visiteastbourne.com to see what's going on. Lots of theatres and pubs. The town centre is somewhat drab, though there are plans to extend the Arndale shopping centre but the seafront is lovely.
I, likewise will plan to visit Canterbury after all these great posts !!!
We have visited Eastbourne a few times over the past 3 years as my parents moved there and both really like it ourselves. It's on the sea , lovely double promenade with lots of plantings as well as the immaculately kept carpet gardens. There's Beachy Head - great for country walks on the South Downs, small villages around , frequent trains to London and Gatwick . Sovereign Harbour Marina at the other end of the pier (which is way way better than Brighton's !!), buses to Brighton .
Have a look at www.visiteastbourne.com to see what's going on. Lots of theatres and pubs. The town centre is somewhat drab, though there are plans to extend the Arndale shopping centre but the seafront is lovely.
I, likewise will plan to visit Canterbury after all these great posts !!!
#49
Re: Have I picked the right place?
One other concern...if anyone knows, which of the two is more agreeable for retirees? Understand that both have a younger population, but which is all in all a quieter way of life?
#50
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: Have I picked the right place?
It's hard to get to the actual sea from there but the creek comes right into the town and there is a walkway along it.
Canterbury is dead easy by train, as is Whitstable. It's not the transportation hub that Canterbury is and it definitely does not have the shops, though it does have good food shops and the fish from Oare, plus a regular Tesco.
*Overall, that rather put me off Faversham but otherwise I was tempted
#51
Re: Have I picked the right place?
Worth checking out Oare and the Abbey Street area which is lovely. Also The Brents. I find much of Faversham rather chavvy* for my taste and it seems to have a bit of a reputation that way.
It's hard to get to the actual sea from there but the creek comes right into the town and there is a walkway along it.
Canterbury is dead easy by train, as is Whitstable. It's not the transportation hub that Canterbury is and it definitely does not have the shops, though it does have good food shops and the fish from Oare, plus a regular Tesco.
*Overall, that rather put me off Faversham but otherwise I was tempted
It's hard to get to the actual sea from there but the creek comes right into the town and there is a walkway along it.
Canterbury is dead easy by train, as is Whitstable. It's not the transportation hub that Canterbury is and it definitely does not have the shops, though it does have good food shops and the fish from Oare, plus a regular Tesco.
*Overall, that rather put me off Faversham but otherwise I was tempted
#52
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: Have I picked the right place?
I should defer to others ref that but I was more attracted to the area where St Dunstans and Station Road West is when taking it into account and trying to alleviate the possibilities. It's best to seek out solid residential areas and as has been said, there are others, while Sturry and Hersden are not necessarily favoured.
Remember that a British Expat is not a homogenous product and we all have our individual concerns which others might not have - confrontations regarding race, for example.
Remember also that you can research crime and ASBOs on police.uk, if you insert the required postcode. I use CT2 8SD for Station Road West.
#53
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Have I picked the right place?
I'm afraid I don't know any specifics about that area but it's convenient for everything and it's very nice around the marina. I can try asking my mum if there's something particular you need to know?
#54
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: Have I picked the right place?
You could consider being close to Eastbourne but not actually in the "urban" area by settling somewhere, for example, within the triangle that is:
Polegate - Alfriston - Seaford
Trains at Polegate and Seaford
http://www.alfriston-village.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfriston
You could currently get away without having a car even in Alfriston. Not sure about in five years time.
Polegate - Alfriston - Seaford
Trains at Polegate and Seaford
http://www.alfriston-village.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfriston
You could currently get away without having a car even in Alfriston. Not sure about in five years time.
#55
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Have I picked the right place?
You could consider being close to Eastbourne but not actually in the "urban" area by settling somewhere, for example, within the triangle that is:
Polegate - Alfriston - Seaford
Trains at Polegate and Seaford
http://www.alfriston-village.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfriston
You could currently get away without having a car even in Alfriston. Not sure about in five years time.
Polegate - Alfriston - Seaford
Trains at Polegate and Seaford
http://www.alfriston-village.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfriston
You could currently get away without having a car even in Alfriston. Not sure about in five years time.
#56
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 86
Re: Have I picked the right place?
That is fabulous, but could we do it every day if we were so inclined? (I mean during good weather, of course). Cost and time of return trips? One thing that Eastbourne has going for it, as hubby says, is that we are already there.
One other concern...if anyone knows, which of the two is more agreeable for retirees? Understand that both have a younger population, but which is all in all a quieter way of life?
One other concern...if anyone knows, which of the two is more agreeable for retirees? Understand that both have a younger population, but which is all in all a quieter way of life?
I don't really know anything about Eastbourne but Canterbury has a lot of older people there, I think its good because everything is pretty much walkable. For quick trips around town they have the smaller 'hopper' buses that just work within the city rather than the big double deckers that take you to other towns .. which work better for the older generation.
My Nan is 79 and lives just outside Canterbury in Chartham, a little village .. about 3 miles out? You head out via whincheap going towards Ashford. Nice and quiet, she still drives, but there's a train station right there that takes you to Canterbury West and the top of the high street. There's also buses. My Grandma lives Chartham also, she's 76 and does not drive, gets the bus up to Thanet to play Bingo each week! hah. She gets the bus/train in to town by her self. I'd say it's quite friendly for the older generation.
#57
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 86
Re: Have I picked the right place?
Don't get me wrong, there are a few rough spots, like the estate down behind the brewery and such and there are some less than desirable folks around that way but really.. there is just not a whole lot to do there.
With THAT said tho, I'd not write it off totally as with *anywhere* it has its nice parts and it has its crappy parts.
As mentioned before, with Canterbury, you could not pay me enough, not even lottery money to live up Sturry road way. That way is absolutely heinous. I'd rather live in a bloody box. But then you look up New Dover Road, Old Dover Road, St Dunstans, Even around some of the Whincheap area (heading towards Thannington is still ok, but some roads are a bit dodgy) and there are some wonderful places.
#58
Re: Have I picked the right place?
Yup, you could go every day, buses run every 20 minutes or so from Canterbury bus station, right in the center of town, you also have the option of hopping on the train to get to Herne bay, Canterbury East, switch at Faversham if I remember correctly, about a 25 minute train ride cause of the switch. Cost .. few quid return, not much at all really. Not sure of your age but senior citizens get a reduced rate too.
I don't really know anything about Eastbourne but Canterbury has a lot of older people there, I think its good because everything is pretty much walkable. For quick trips around town they have the smaller 'hopper' buses that just work within the city rather than the big double deckers that take you to other towns .. which work better for the older generation.
My Nan is 79 and lives just outside Canterbury in Chartham, a little village .. about 3 miles out? You head out via whincheap going towards Ashford. Nice and quiet, she still drives, but there's a train station right there that takes you to Canterbury West and the top of the high street. There's also buses. My Grandma lives Chartham also, she's 76 and does not drive, gets the bus up to Thanet to play Bingo each week! hah. She gets the bus/train in to town by her self. I'd say it's quite friendly for the older generation.
I don't really know anything about Eastbourne but Canterbury has a lot of older people there, I think its good because everything is pretty much walkable. For quick trips around town they have the smaller 'hopper' buses that just work within the city rather than the big double deckers that take you to other towns .. which work better for the older generation.
My Nan is 79 and lives just outside Canterbury in Chartham, a little village .. about 3 miles out? You head out via whincheap going towards Ashford. Nice and quiet, she still drives, but there's a train station right there that takes you to Canterbury West and the top of the high street. There's also buses. My Grandma lives Chartham also, she's 76 and does not drive, gets the bus up to Thanet to play Bingo each week! hah. She gets the bus/train in to town by her self. I'd say it's quite friendly for the older generation.
#59
Re: Have I picked the right place?
I lived in Faversham for a little while in my teens. The thing is with Faversham is there's just not a whole lot to do there for the kids so they tend to 'entertain' them selves you know? They have the Army Cadets, Sea Cadets and Air Cadets there and if the kids are lucky enough to find them and get some structure and friendships and get them selves off the streets a couple nights a week, its all good, but other than that you'll find them hanging around a lot. Large gaggles of kids hanging around automatically get the tag of 'chavs'
Don't get me wrong, there are a few rough spots, like the estate down behind the brewery and such and there are some less than desirable folks around that way but really.. there is just not a whole lot to do there.
With THAT said tho, I'd not write it off totally as with *anywhere* it has its nice parts and it has its crappy parts.
As mentioned before, with Canterbury, you could not pay me enough, not even lottery money to live up Sturry road way. That way is absolutely heinous. I'd rather live in a bloody box. But then you look up New Dover Road, Old Dover Road, St Dunstans, Even around some of the Whincheap area (heading towards Thannington is still ok, but some roads are a bit dodgy) and there are some wonderful places.
Don't get me wrong, there are a few rough spots, like the estate down behind the brewery and such and there are some less than desirable folks around that way but really.. there is just not a whole lot to do there.
With THAT said tho, I'd not write it off totally as with *anywhere* it has its nice parts and it has its crappy parts.
As mentioned before, with Canterbury, you could not pay me enough, not even lottery money to live up Sturry road way. That way is absolutely heinous. I'd rather live in a bloody box. But then you look up New Dover Road, Old Dover Road, St Dunstans, Even around some of the Whincheap area (heading towards Thannington is still ok, but some roads are a bit dodgy) and there are some wonderful places.
#60
Re: Have I picked the right place?
Faversham was more known for druggy issues.
I should defer to others ref that but I was more attracted to the area where St Dunstans and Station Road West is when taking it into account and trying to alleviate the possibilities. It's best to seek out solid residential areas and as has been said, there are others, while Sturry and Hersden are not necessarily favoured.
Remember that a British Expat is not a homogenous product and we all have our individual concerns which others might not have - confrontations regarding race, for example.
Remember also that you can research crime and ASBOs on police.uk, if you insert the required postcode. I use CT2 8SD for Station Road West.
I should defer to others ref that but I was more attracted to the area where St Dunstans and Station Road West is when taking it into account and trying to alleviate the possibilities. It's best to seek out solid residential areas and as has been said, there are others, while Sturry and Hersden are not necessarily favoured.
Remember that a British Expat is not a homogenous product and we all have our individual concerns which others might not have - confrontations regarding race, for example.
Remember also that you can research crime and ASBOs on police.uk, if you insert the required postcode. I use CT2 8SD for Station Road West.