Why I’m ditching Margate for the new coolest seaside town in the UK

LAST year, I made the decision to leave London and head to Margate, often named "Shoreditch on Sea".

Yet I'm now ditching the seaside resort for a new one - and it was recently named one of the best places to live in the UK.

Like many others did during Covid, I fled the capital for greeer pastures, being able to afford my own flat for half the price of my tiny box room in the south of London.

I opted for Margate - not only does it have direct trains to London, but it is often said to being just as trendy, thanks to the DFLers (that's Down From Londoners).

Since then, it's been named as having one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, courtesy of Time Out, and been likened to Ibiza by Tatler.

Banksy recently chose the town for one of their paintings, while artist Tracy Emin has opened her new gallery in Margate.

It was even used as a film location for the blockbuster Sam Mendes film Empire of Light, featuring Olivia Coleman.

But just over a year later, I'm ditching the "trendy" seaside town - and heading down the road to Folkestone.

Everyone I tell seems surprised by the moving - "But Margate is so cool, it's up-and-coming, why would you leave now?"

The sensible reasons come thick and fast - it has much better trains to London, taking around 50 minutes to St Pancras rather than Margate's fastest train of 1hr30.

As a travel writer, it also has great routes to Europe thanks to the Eurotunnel.

Not only that, but it's much more affordable - Margate house prices have soared in recent years, meaning I can get so much more for my money in Folkestone.