I left London for a popular seaside town - I love it but there's one major drawback
I moved to a picturesque seaside town just 90 minutes outside of London. The pretty little coastal town has consistently been named one of the best places to live in the UK which has meant it has become increasingly popular.
It's easy to see why the pretty little town of Deal in Kent was named one of the best places to live in the UK by The Sunday Times.
The idyllic town looks like it's been plucked from the pages of a magazine with picturesque pastel-coloured houses lining the seafront, a bustling promenade, quirky independent shops, an array of restaurants and two castles.
For this reason, the town has become somewhat of a holiday hotspot with tourists flocking from far and wide to visit the Saturday Market, explore the town's culinary delights and relax on the beach.
Recently, the town has been praised as one of the UK's "hidden" foodie hotspots with the likes of food critics Grace Dent and Jay Rayner gracing tables at The Blue Pelican and The Rose respectively.
The Guardian also recently dubbed Deal as being one of the country's top five "lesser-known spots" for foodies.
I personally love 81 Beach Street, a bistro which serves great steak and seafood dishes at reasonable prices, as well as Taphouse Beer Cafe which serves the crispiest pizzas and a fantastic selection of craft beer.
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For a spot of breakfast, I always recommend Goose on the Green in Walmer, The Bean & Welly and The Lane.
All three offer something slightly different but have friendly, attentive staff and good quality produce at affordable prices.
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My favourite places for a cup of coffee are Hope and Lane and the recently opened Middle Street Coffee. Both are independent coffee shops that offer delicious freshly baked goods and sweet treats.
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And if you do fancy heading to the West End or you need to commute into London for work, the high-speed route takes you from the seaside into the heart of London St Pancras in around 80 minutes.
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Having left the bustle of London for life by the sea three years ago, I was expecting peace and quiet and perhaps the odd seagull waking me up in the morning. But what I wasn't prepared for was just how busy seaside towns can get.
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