LOCATION
HOTspot Broadstairs
5 REASONS WE LOVE… B R O A D S TA I R S
1 Seven sandy beaches – need we say more 2 The quaint local shops and bars 3 A strong sense of community 4 Viking Bay’s cliff-top promenade 5 The fabulous Palace cinema
Move over Ramsgate and Margate! Broadstairs has arrived and has oodles to offer first time buyers with its enviable location, stunning sandy bays and understated seaside charm UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
OUT AND ABOUT
At first glance, Broadstairs is an unassuming seaside town. With a population of around 25,000, the modest town located on the Isle of Thanet, Kent, and shouldered by Ramsgate and Margate, has been effortlessly overlooked. However, there is good reason it is nicknamed “the jewel in Thanet’s crown”, and with many of us looking to improve our work-life balance and rediscovering a love of the outdoors, the town’s coveted location, around 80 miles east of London, is seriously appealing. The coastal town dates back to the 14th century when a shipping settlement developed around the shrine at what was then known as Bradstowe. The area soon came to be known as Broadstairs, with reference to a flight of stairs made in the cliff to allow access to the shrine from the bay. The town became of considerable importance to the fishing trade, and also to the smuggling trade, with an impressive network of tunnels and caves in the chalk strata used for hiding contraband! By 1824, the growing popularity of steamboats brought prosperity to the area and by the middle of the 19th century the professional classes began to populate the town. It soon gained traction as a holiday town, and remains a popular staycation destination. Broadstairs centres around the wide sandy cove of Viking Bay, with miles of beaches –
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complete with beach huts! – stretching out in each direction. Its central position in Thanet means residents are only ever a short drive or bus journey away from everything, and also benefit from some of the best transport links in Kent. High-speed services built for the Channel Tunnel mean London is only an hour and 20 minutes away. There are hourly services to Ashford International (45 minutes), and the A299 will have you on the M25 in an hour. The accessibility of the town, combined with our shifting working patterns, has made the Kent coast particularly appealing to those keen to move out of the capital; affectionately known as the "down from Londoners". Young professional families particularly are typically enjoying more flexible work set-ups and are now able to reap the benefits of the beautiful Kent countryside and popular grammar schools. Kent offers great value for money and is home to an impressive stock of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian housing, alongside some impressive high-spec new developments.
Broadstairs was Charles Dickens’ favourite holiday spot and it is easy to see why. The spectacular coastline is hard to beat and offers something for everyone, be it a simple stroll along the promenade, family fun on Viking Bay beach, photographing beautiful Botany Bay’s chalk stacks, learning to surf in Joss Bay or taking a hike around the tip of the coastline to Margate. In the summer, the bandstand comes to life with live performances and there are street entertainers on every corner. In the town itself, you’ll find independent shops lining the streets, including delightful cafes, secondhand book shops and gift shops. In contrast to many seaside towns, Broadstairs has managed to retain its traditional aesthetic and associated seaside charm. Broadstairs’ less attractive, but hugely popular, shopping outlet Westwood Cross is located just out of town and features 40 high street fashion and lifestyle stores, a range of convenient eateries, plus a cinema, casino and bingo hall. Broadstairs is a magnet for foodies with an eclectic range of restaurants, pubs and cafes, and boasting Thanet’s only Michelinstarred restaurant. Book well in advance though – Stark, tucked away on a side street, has space for just 10 diners at
First Time Buyer April/May 2022
FTB 32-35 Hotspot-Broadstairs April-May.indd 32
08/03/2022 14:53
