Moving To Folkestone

I moved to Folkestone, from London, in April 2021. Moving out of London was on my wish-list for a few years.  As each of my children grew up and left school, the need to stay in London grew less and less, until, with the last one heading off to University, I decided now was the time. It also coincided with the government’s suspension of stamp duty so it felt like the planets were aligned for the move.

I decided on Folkestone for many reasons:

• Great rail-links to both Stratford international and Kings Cross St Pancras – both under an hour from Folkestone
• One of my best friends already lived here, and I also knew a smattering of other people so I wouldn’t be starting a network from scratch
• I fell in love with Folkestone itself. There’s a nice creative vibe here, not to mention how great it is to live by the sea
• Many walks
• I believe it has huge investment potential and think I was lucky to get in on it at the right time
• It’s close enough for my kids to still visit

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. What has been interesting is how life has changed since I moved here.

Setting up my therapy practice in Hythe

With little knowledge of the local area, it’s been a bit of a journey to find the right location for my counselling clinic. I originally thought that it would be within the heart of Folkestone, but in fact I now see clients from my counselling clinic in Hythe, a village outside Folkestone. Why?

The first reason is that I discovered that I like Hythe. When I was house-hunting I had discounted it all together, somehow it just didn’t feel the right place to live, for me. I wanted to be near a sandy beach, and Folkestone felt buzzier. However, since getting to know the places around Folkestone, I realised Hythe suits myself, and the psychotherapy practice, perfectly. I then found great rooms in a beautiful Victorian building on the High Street. There’s parking for clients at the nearby Waitrose, and lovely cafes for my lunch and coffee. There’s even a great gym and pool nearby where I can chill between clients.

It’s also quite nice to have that little commute for work, and makes the home/work boundary a bit more pronounced.

I’ve slowed down (a bit)

When I first arrived in Folkestone, things like waiting for a coffee seemed interminable. Folkestone is a place where popping out for a coffee is more about relaxing than getting your caffeine hit. People chat at the till when you’re desperate to just get your stuff and get back to whatever it was you’ve just left.  Many of the shops are closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and the banks shut mid-afternoon. The pharmacists at Boots even take an hour’s lunch-break. Can you imagine that in a busy city?

Moving out of London has been a lesson in patience as everything moves at a much slower pace. It’s done me good, and I am less stressed for it. This may be what you want when you move away from the city, but it can still feel odd and uncomfortable for a while.

Everyone knows your name

Well, not quite, but there certainly isn’t the same anonymity as there is in London. Within weeks you start to recognise people on the street, which also means that they can recognise you. Slipping out incognito is not an option, especially as a therapist! So, if being seen to dress a certain way is important for your image, then you are going to have to keep it up ALL THE TIME. Or just decide to relax your standards a bit.

It reminds me very much of being on a university campus, where a face you know could just be around the corner. You are no longer just another individual , you are part of a community, whether you want it or not.

You have to plan travel time

Long gone are the days when I could jump on the Tube or a bus. While the rail links are good, there is still only one high speed train per hour and if I miss that it has a huge knock-on effect on my day. This hasn’t had a massive impact as I am a planner by nature, but it does mean that I have to arrange meetings in London for late morning to give myself time to get there. I also have to be continously aware of the times of the evening trains, so that I don’t travel in rush hour with all the commuters, or leave it so late that it exhausts me for the next day. It’s a small thing, but an added element to think about.

You will also spend extra time jiggling around train times and tickets to get the best fares, but there is a huge satisfaction in bagging a deal that is hard to describe. Trainline.com will become your best friend. Additionally, signing up for a railcard of some kind will help you access cheaper fares.

Anxiety around moving out of London

It’s weird, but when you live in London, it feels like everything revolves around the capital. The events, the meetings, the conferences, the London vibe. Leaving is bound to induce a little anxiety. I think it would have felt worse if there wasn’t a pandemic on when I made my own move. However, I had to admit I did worry about it being the end of my career. Would I be holed up in some backwater and be one of those people who disappeared from the scene? Now that I am here, I realise it is nothing like a backwater, and there’s just as much of a scene here. If you want it, that is.

I have had to build a new network, and that is daunting. Nevertheless, I have done it once so I can do it again. It’s a good lesson for me too. Many of my clients are coping with change, and this is a reminder of how that can feel.  I have no regrets, and it’s a priviledge to be able start over somewhere new, especially when it’s Folkestone.

My therapy clinic is minutes away from Folkestone, in lovely Hythe. Drop me a line if you’d like to chat about whether therapy might be right for you.