Property, Houses and Flats for Sale in Kent, England

The county of Kent

For many generations the county of Kent has been referred to as 'The Garden of England'. Kent is one of the most attractive counties in the UK, and is the southern most easterly point of the country, to the south east of London. The main county town is Maidstone, where Kent County Council's headquarters are based. The county borders onto East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London. The total population of Kent is in the region of 1.6million people, with the main towns including Ashford, Bromley, Canterbury, Gillingham, Dover, Maidstone and Rochester. With its close proximity to the south east corner of London a large part of the north west of the county forms part of London's commuter belt. Kent has 13 districts, including the areas of Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford and Medway. Kent is famous for its white cliffs and extensive coastal boundaries, with the southern parts of the county on the English Channel and the straits of Dover. Kent has one main river - the Medway - which eventually feeds into the River Thames.

A brief history

Kent has the distinction of being the oldest recorded county name in Britain still in use. Greek and Roman writers referred to Kention, its Celtic root "canto" means an edge or rim. Kent became the first of the dominant Anglo-Saxon England kingdoms, and its county motto is 'Invicta' (unconquered). William the Conqueror and Napoleon passed through Kent too, and it was in the Kent skies that the Battle of Britain was waged; the Kent shores also witnessed the arrival of St Augustine in 597AD to reclaim England for Christianity. Canterbury, the seat of Christianity, draws up to 1.5m visitors to its Cathedral every year.

Living in Kent

Properties for sale in Kent vary greatly across the county, and include imposing Regency Villas, brand new detached houses, Victorian family houses, barn conversions, oast houses, character cottages and new developments of modern housing. People who are searching for houses for sale in Kent will find that employment prospects are good in this county, which has a workforce of over 780,000 and is home to many world class companies, such as Pfizer, Kimberley-Clark, BAE Systems and Glaxo Smith Kline. Families searching for property for sale in Kent will discover the county has a lot to offer. There is a good selection of schools, including primary, secondary, public and private schools, colleges and three universities in Canterbury. If your child is attending one of the universities in Canterbury, they may prefer to move out of the family home to live with friends, in the event that happens, you will find there are plenty of properties to rent in Canterbury.

There are a huge number of estate agents in Kent so, prior to making any decisions about where you want to live, make sure you use a Primelocation agent to investigate the towns and types of properties for sale and rent in Kent. Kent has some remarkable houses and stately homes, from the Roman villa of Lullingston near Eynsford to Chartwell in Westerham - the retreat of Sir Winston Churchill. People touring round and looking to purchase a property in Kent should pay a visit to one of the many historic castles. Dover Castle is set high above the famous port and commands a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Leeds Castle is one of the most beautiful of our English castles, set in 500 acres and hosting a year-round programme of events, including open air concerts, hot air balloon events, and a spectacular fireworks display in November. Both Leeds Castle and Hever Castle have strong links with King Henry VIII. When the evening comes, there are lots of restaurants, bistros and pubs in the many villages of Kent. Enjoy seafood at fish restaurants in Deal and Whitstable or try Romney lamb in one of Kent's many rural pubs. If you're going in search of entertainment, Kent has a number of theatres in the county, and, interestingly, a couple of them are converted oasthouses. Families can relax with an ice cream and enjoy the Kent coast, or sit back and enjoy a ride on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway - the world's smallest public railway. There are a number of zoos and wildlife parks in Kent including: Howletts Wild Animal Park, the South of England Rare Breeds Centre, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and Eagle Heights. Many towns hold annual events, such as the Dickensian Festival in Rochester, the annual cider and apple fair and there's the annual county fair at Detling. For horse racing fans there's Folkestone Racecourse, which is the only racecourse in Kent. If you're interested in wine, you could visit one of the many vineyards in Kent, one of the more well known of which is Lamberhurst Vineyard. Other family attractions in Kent include Chislehurst Caves, Fort Amherst in Chatham and the Hop Farm Country Park in Paddock Wood.

People searching for property in Kent who enjoy shopping won't be disappointed. Kent is a shoppers' paradise, full of bargains and treats for the dedicated shopper. From traditional high street shopping to specialty shops in cobbled streets and markets, to state-of-the-art shopping malls, Kent has it all. You could start by trying 'Bluewater' near Dartford, Europe's largest shopping mall, for branches of top London stores, including John Lewis, and all the best British high street names. Label and bargain hunters will enjoy 'De Bradelei Wharf' and 'Dover and Mcarthur Glen', two designer outlets near Ashford. For antiques and specialist shops, explore the Pantiles at Royal Tunbridge Wells, or the picturesque village of Tenterden and the fishing ports of Whitstable and Hythe.

Travel and transport links in the county of Kent

People choose to move to the county of Kent for many reasons, one of which is due to the excellent transport links. People searching for property for sale in Kent who work in London will find that commuting is easy, as South Eastern Trains run efficient and regular services in and out of central London. Alternatively, you can commute into London by coach. If you enjoy holidays abroad, it is easy to travel to the continent from Kent, you can take the ferry from Dover across to France, or travel by Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes; Eurostar from the terminal at Ashford International station arrives in to the centre of Paris in just under two hours.