This Kent town is set to see an influx of Londoners as it becomes the ‘next big thing’, according to observers – but not everyone is happy about it
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One Kent town is set to be “flooded” with Londoners as it emerges as the “next big thing”, according to predictions. Gravesend, despite being dubbed “miserable” by some, has a rich history as a crucial trading hub due to its strategic location on the River Thames leading to the North Sea.
The Kent town also boasts a notable link to Native American princess Pocahontas, who died there in 1617 and is buried at St George’s Church. The industrial revolution brought significant changes, but like many parts of Britain, traditional industries saw a decline throughout the 20th century.
As a result, Gravesend evolved into a typical commuter town. Now, experts suggest it could see an influx of Londoners moving there, driven out of the capital by skyrocketing property prices.
According to RightMove, the average house price in Gravesend over the past year stands at £347,179, compared to £660,975 in London. Most properties sold in Gravesend during the last year were terraced houses, fetching an average price of £326,428.
Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £395,615, while flats went for £163,623.
A Reddit user noted that north west Kent has changed significantly over the past two decades. They added: “‘Affordable housing ‘ being built for the locals when in reality it’s encouraged thousands of people from London and overseas to move into the area.”, as reported by the Express.
Another commenter observed: “Indeed you’re right, I can already see Gravesend becoming the next big thing once trendy Londoners are priced out of South East London areas of Peckham, Dulwich, Greenwich, Blackheath and Hither Green.
“Gravesend will be given the Margate and Folkestone treatment and it’s a single Guardian/The Times article away from being dubbed “Peckham on Thames” as it takes twenty minutes to reach Kings Cross St. Pancras via HS1.
“Similar to how Margate was nicknamed ‘Shoreditch on Sea’ since the early 2010s. Kent is booming and I think will become a major region in its own right in the coming years.”
In total, historical property prices in Gravesend over the past year rose by 6% compared to the previous year and matched the 2022 peak of £350,539.
Gravesend isn’t the only location in the county experiencing regeneration. Business magnate Sir Roger De Haan has poured significant investment into Folkestone to breathe new life into the town.
When asked about any additional improvement schemes, Sir Roger admitted to The Express that he’s “knackered”, but feels confident he’s left the town in good shape.
“I think more people will move down from London, because the people bidding for the new franchise on the high speed train [line] are talking about increasing the frequency of trains from Folkestone,” he said.
Another Reddit contributor highlighted the transformation in Canterbury, characterising it as “basically one big university because of its proximity to London compared to its affordability”. They added: “Having been historically one of the poorest counties in the South-East country in terms of GDP per head (comparable to Hampshire and IoW), it will be intriguing to see how legacy locals manage to survive in a gentrified Kent. Most people my age who lived in Canterbury have already relocated to other parts of the country..”
This pattern isn’t exclusive to Kent.
A business owner in the Somerset market town of Frome expressed last year: “We like it as it is. When new people come in they want to change everything.”
She further remarked that newcomers are eager to turn Frome into “cafe central” with outdoor dining and more pedestrian-friendly streets. A local man joined the conversation, declaring: “We don’t want any more Londoners. We’ve fulfilled our quota, now we’re feeding them to the pigs.”
