One lesser-known village is home to a Henry VIII castle. Pretty as a picture, it’s a bit pricey to live there
There is so much to be said about this relatively unknown village in Kent, it’s hard to know where to start. It might be small, but it packs a punch when it comes to house prices, historical anecdotes and the stories it can tell.
The coastal village of Sandgate is full of quirky, brightly painted properties. From lilac to green, turquoise to the faded terracotta, every colour under the sun can be found here. The buildings are eccentric, that’s for sure, coming in all shapes and sizes.
Packed full of unusual features, this village is perfect for an afternoon stroll, admiring the gorgeous homes and gardens along the way.
According to Rightmove, the average property prices in Sandgate over the last year were £643,325 for detached houses, £387,000 for terraced houses, £271,528 for flats, and £308,333 for properties on Sandgate High Street.
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Some of the dreamiest properties in the area lie on a hillside overlooking the English Channel. Properties also stretch along the Esplanade and reach inland. And it’s a lively place with Sandgate’s high street lined with restaurants, cafés, bars, and pubs.
Sandgate is buzzing with activity with the high street being a hub of culinary delights and lively pubs. The charming coastal village may be small but has a lot of personality.
The High Street is crammed with independently run shops selling gifts, furniture and antiques alongside a number of quality cafes, restaurants and pubs. The long beach has views over the Channel and is popular with dog walkers, cyclists and joggers – but despite its popularity, it still manages to maintain a very relaxed atmosphere.
“The rolling seafront hosts a variety of independently run artisan shops,” said John Page, who is Miles and Barr’s branch director in Folkestone. “The quirky nature of the area means that no two homes are the same.”
And he’s quite right. Wherever you look, there’s another colourful building or unique-looking house. The beautiful properties are all of different colours, shapes and sizes.
The village has a rich history dating back to Henry VIII. You can take guided walking tours around where you will discover some of the fascinating buildings and learn about the lives and achievements of its most celebrated people.
It is also home to five Martello towers – one of which is Sandgate Castle.
It doesn’t take long before a walk along the High Street reveals a very unique looking blue building with a blue plaque dedicated to Hattie Jacques birthplace, the much-loved English comedy actress known for her role in the classic Carry On films.
When it comes to restaurants, you really are spoilt for choice, whether it is a lite bite, pub grub, or an upmarket evening meal, there is something for everyone’s tastes.
Along the seafront, you will find the popular Boat House café overlooking the beach. It’s never had a single bad Tripadvisor review and you’d be hard-pushed to find a nicer place for breakfast or lunch.
Then there’s The Ship Inn, which is a traditional pub with a restaurant and first-floor sun terrace giving spectacular views across the channel. The cosy atmosphere of the pub makes for the perfect hideaway in bad weather too.
The highly rated Sandgate Vaults is situated in an old bank building and is described as a ‘modern restaurant with a contemporary menu’. There is all time favourites such as The Little Fish Shop which has been pleasing its customers for decades, and cafes on the High Street such as Loaf, and Orchard Lane Coffee House.
‘A wonderful place to be year round’
Orchard Lane has been open for more than five years and is run by husband and wife team Jon and Joanna Lane. Jon said: “We focus on serving speciality coffee from the best coffee roasters in the UK.
“We also offer a 100 per cent plant-based selection of cakes and pastries made by the team in-house, and the famous Kanelbullar (Swedish buns) from Swedish baker Malin, in neighbouring Deal. We have lived in Sandgate for more than 10 years and were keen to share our passion for good coffee and friendly service with the local community.
“The village is a wonderful place to be year round, the locals are great, really friendly people and we enjoy sharing the street with other independent businesses. There’s a definite sense of community here in Sandgate and we’re pleased to be a part of it.”
‘It feels very safe’
We also spoke to local business owner Toni Millen, who owns lifestyle and vintage clothing shop Workshop Number 29 on Sandgate High Street. She said: “I love the human part of being a shopkeeper, remembering people’s names and buying things that I know some of my customers will like.
“That is what it is like in Sandgate, everyone knows each other and looks after each other. It feels very safe, I know that my kids can go over to Orchard Lane, the coffee house across the road and they know my kids by name.”
Most of the business owners and local people we spoke to remarked on the sense of community that Sandgate has that seems to be diminishing in other villages, towns and cities. One resident when asked what he enjoyed most about living in Sandgate simply pointed at the sea and said “that”.
John Page added: “Sandgate is a beautiful coastal village in the Folkestone and Hythe area. With a wide breadth of excellent schools at both junior and grammar levels, the village has become extremely popular with families.
“With Folkestone railway station nearby, where travel time to London sits at just under an hour, Sandgate is also attractive to those looking to commute too.”
