Deal is a town by the sea, not a resort, but it has a beach, promenade, fishing boats, pier, bandstand and places to buy seafood or ice creams. Minutes from the sea, there is a proper High Street with butchers, bakers, fishmongers, W H Smith and Marks and Spencer, plus delicatessens, antique shops, clothing stores, health food and organics also feature. There is a Saturday Market and a Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays, and supermarkets within walking distance of the sea

The Conservation Area is one of the first created in Kent and dominates the centre of the town. The streets packed full of large and small, pretty, quirky, elegant and interesting buildings and a seafront that hasn’t really changed for 200 years. Deal’s adjacent sister, Walmer, also has its Conservation Area, a huge green fronting the sea and an elegant row of Victorian town houses and square with tennis and croquet club and the previous home of the Royal Marines School of Music and their spacious Barracks, now elegant residential complexes. When officers and their spouses lived nearby, the term ‘Ladies of Walmer and Women of Deal’ was used!

Both Deal and Walmer have concentric seaside castles built by Henry VIII to fend off the French, now run by English Heritage – Walmer being the official home of Lord Warden of Cinque Ports.

There are railway stations giving direct trains to London, plus easy access to the motorway system and the Continent via Dover Port and the Channel Tunnel or Eurostar, with the agreed high speed rail link due to reduce the commute significantly. The general area is renowned for its sporting, leisure and recreational opportunities with golf courses of national and international status.

Culturally there is an eclectic mix with the Annual Deal Festival of Music and The Arts attracting world-class classical musicians for a 2-week concert programme, plus exhibitions at open studios throughout the town. There is a charming Maritime Museum, Deal and Walmer Regatta with a host of events including a visit by a fun fair, a Carnival Parade and fireworks.

The restaurant scene is varied, offering fish and chips at the end of the Pier, outdoor dining and a selection of restaurants and cafes on the seafront, plus pubs with good grub, Indian, Italian and Chinese restaurants, takeaways and a Dining Club