Is Canterbury a good place to live?
Canterbury is one of the most attractive cities in the South of England, it is especially popular with people deciding to move outside of London. It’s a city steeped in culture and history combined with excellent, modern amenities, a world class university and great transport links. Canterbury is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Canterbury Cathedral, St. Augustine’s Abbey and the Church of St. Martin, the oldest church in the English speaking world. This just scratches the surface of the history and culture on offer in Canterbury and in contrast to this there is still a fantastic selection of up-to-date amenities including restaurants, bars and shops.
Is Canterbury UK an expensive place to live?
Canterbury is a relatively wealthy place to live, and there’s plenty here to spend your money on. Living in Canterbury can be quite expensive - but there are more affordable places to live - particularly in more student areas of the city. Compared with London, Canterbury is a much cheaper place to live and it’s within commuting distance of the capital.
Is Canterbury a good place to buy?
Canterbury is a great place to buy whether you are looking to move there yourself or if you are a prospective landlord looking to invest in the area. Canterbury is a lot more reasonably priced compared to other areas in the South of England, especially London. This is one of the reasons it is such a popular place with people looking to move from the capital or from other expensive areas. It is also a great place to invest as there is a large rental market made up of renters seeking affordable housing. The average house price sits at £346,724* with the majority of housing sold being terraced housing and semi-detached homes.
What part of Canterbury is best to live in?
There’s a range of areas in Canterbury that are really desirable and highly sought after. Here are our top picks of places to live in Canterbury:
1. Whitstable
An affluent, picturesque seaside town with lovely coastal walks, handy independent shops and easy transport links. There’s a reason Whitstable is so popular amongst tourists, it’s a beautiful little town with loads of independent businesses each of which provide great food, drink and so much more. The transport links are simple as well, Canterbury can be reached easily by bus and you can be in the heart of London in a little over an hour via Whitstable Train Station.
The area has seen a lot of new houses popping up in recent years. The average house price in Whitstable currently sits at £459,088* with the majority of these properties being detached houses. This area tends to attract an older audience or professionals who are looking to buy in an up-market rural area.
2. Blean
Blean is an area that sits conveniently between Whitstable and Canterbury so you’ve got easy access to the busy city with all the sights and amenities whilst also having the lovely coastal towns on your doorstep if you are after a quieter, scenic day out. You’d also have the Blean Woods National Nature Reserve at your disposal if you want to trade in the sea air for the woodlands. The schools in the area are highly rated also so it is a popular area with families and detached properties are the most common in the area.
3. Faversham
A traditional old town with modern developments and amenities, Faversham is a town with lots to offer thanks to its attractive countryside location, transport links to London and Canterbury and house prices that are less than most of the other parts of Kent. It’s a great area for young professionals who want to reside in a quieter area and have an easy commute into the busy cities of London or Canterbury. The highly rated schools in the area give Faversham lots of appeal for families. Some of the best school options are Ethelbert Road Primary School, St Mary Charity CofE Primary School and Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School.
Compared to some of the areas in Kent, Faversham is very reasonably priced so for buyers on a smaller budget, this is one of the best options. The average house prices sits at £336,258* and there is a variety of new homes and classic old homes on offer.
4. Chilham
Chilham is a tiny and historic village filled with classic Tudor architecture and on the doorstep of Canterbury and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In 2021, Chilham was ranked among the prettiest villages in the whole of the UK. In Chilham you have Chilham Castle, endless miles of countryside to stroll and explore and the city of Canterbury just down the road for when you feel like trading in the peace of the village for the excitement of the city. Chilham has lots of appeal for families who are looking for somewhere tranquil to settle down in the long term. Houses are reasonably priced in Chilham as well, selling at an average of £357,500.
5. Herne Bay
Lying 8 miles from Canterbury, Herne Bay is a vibrant and colourful seaside town that is popular with water sports enthusiasts and anyone who loves beautiful beaches. The colourful August festival lights up the town for most of the Summer and has a wide variety of free events that anyone can enjoy and if you fancy a culture trip then the Herne Bay Museum and Gallery is ready and waiting. When you feel like escaping the coast, Herne Bay train station makes getting to London easy, making the area very popular for young professionals commuting to the area. The average house price for Herne Bay currently sits at £373,978 with the majority of housing being detached and semi-detached.
