The UK seaside town 1.5 hours from London branded ‘Shoreditch-on-the-Sea’

Dubbed “Shoreditch-on-the-Sea,” this charming Kent getaway, just one and a half hours from London, has become a beloved seaside retreat.

The area’s affordable housing and relaxed pace of life have even inspired many to stick completely. Kent Live reported that since 2020, 37,861 Londoners have relocated to Kent for a sense of community and relaxation.

On golden summer evenings, people gather around Margate Harbour Arm to drink, eat and chat at the food vendors and bars, where uplifting music is played until the sun goes down over the stunning backdrop.

City slickers can take their foot off the pedal to relax on the sandy shores of Margate Main Sands or the quieter Cliftonville beach. 

The Old Town’s cobbled streets are lined with independent boutiques, cafes, and galleries. When you hit the seafront, one of the most loved stops is Peter’s Fish Factory for salty fish and chips – when you see the snaking line, you’ll be at the right place. 

Businessman Keith Marsh from Sunset Rock Shop said: “Every shop in Market Place was for sale or derelict. Now you’ve got your hipsters coming down and every shop is occupied.” 

Of course, what UK seaside trip would be complete without an obligatory trip to the arcades and Dreamland delivers? It also hosts events, concerts and vintage fairs throughout the year.

Creatives are drawn to Turner Contemporary, an acclaimed art gallery with a rotating exhibition schedule. The Sunday market is reminiscent of London, minus the chaos, where you can find local produce, crafts, and vintage treasures.

One Londoner, Stuart Smith, told MyLondon after moving to Margate prior to the pandemic: “I was skint for 17 years. London is really colourful and fun but I just felt like I had had enough of the rat race.

“Everything was so expensive but it just became the norm – I was working to survive.”

It takes around two hours to drive from London, but there are frequent direct trains, which take around one hour and 30 minutes, from either St Pancras International, London Victoria or Charing Cross.

The wider Thanet area drew more than 4.6 million visitors each year before the pandemic, tourism brought £352m into the Thanet economy and supported 8,664 jobs in 2019 alone, reported the Mirror.