A travel editor who was sent on assignment to a Kent town liked it so much she decided to move there.

Helen Coffey, who writes for the Independent, went to Folkestone for an editorial day-trip in 2019.

Three years later she is settled in the area and says buyer's remorse could not be further from her mind.

In an article published this week she describes being charmed by the "muted teal water" and "vibey places to eat" before "falling for her own sales pitch".

“Why Folkestone?" writes Ms Coffey.

"Well, some places just get under your skin. Like falling in love with a person, they give the feeling of finally coming home; a curious sensation of, 'Wait, haven’t we met before?'"

The journalist says it is not uncommon for her to get swept off her feet by subject locations, but that her adoration for Folkestone was different.

Not only is it less than an hour to London by train, but house prices in the area were also comparatively cheap compared to those in the captial.

This is a common observation made by people from the city who have moved to Kent, known as “Down From Londons” or DFLs.

As the cost of owning a home in the capital and commuter towns has risen out of reach, many have opted for residences further away where the air is cleaner and London salaries go a lot further.

Such locations have changed in response to this in positive and negative ways.

A wave of DFLs can result in an injection of investment into the area - but gentrification can have the undesirable effect of pricing locals out of their own towns.

Over the past three years, the average house price in Folkestone has increased by almost £100,000, with the cost of detached homes rising by more than £150,000.

The town was named by The Sunday Times as one of "the best up-and-coming areas to invest in the UK for 2022".

"I’m painfully aware that I am part of the problem – and yet there’s no way I could afford to buy a property in London, nor even in the commuter town where I grew up," Ms Coffey insists.

Aside from its location and relative affordability, Folkestone is popular for tourists and new homeowners alike for its plethora of public art, restaurants and shops - all beside one of Kent's most cherished beaches.