Beautiful seaside commuter town that keeps sneaking onto lists of UK's best places to live
Deal in Kent is an ancient town and regularly tops lists of the best places to live in the UK, filled with pretty buildings and world-class restaurants.
Deal was first mentioned as a village in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared not as we know it today but as Addelam.
By the 13th century, it had transformed into a thriving port town and commercial hub, traces of which can be found today.
Asides from its history, Deal, a coastal town right at the very east of Kent, is often touted as the place to live for a whole range of reasons, not least because it is a geographic stone's throw away from London.
As little as one hour and 30 minutes away by train, it has become a favourite of those working in the city who want to live in an open place with vast skies and clean air.
To sing Deal's praises based solely on its proximity to London, however, would be to do it a disservice.
Picturesque is the word for Deal: bright colours clinging to the walls of buildings both small and large, a seafront promenade that leads on to a number of bustling independent shops and restaurants, and not just one but three ancient castles.
Last year, the Sunday Times named Deal as one of the best places to live in the whole of the UK.
Many wealthier Londoners have made Deal their home, with the average asking price of a house today a whopping £361,630.
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The influx of the wealthy has shifted the sorts of things Deal offers. The Deal Pier Kitchen stands on the former site of a greasy spoon but now offers its clientele top-tier dishes cooked from fresh, organic, local ingredients.
The town centre, too, is charming and quaint, Middle Street full of pastel facades, a pebbly beach, and a pier along the historic beachfront.
Cafes, restaurants, and bars are aplenty, and for those with a finer taste, the Michelin-approved French restaurant Frog and Scot might prove just the place to eat.
But Deal isn't only for high-flyers and those with a bit of money to spend.
While the high street features many boutiques and eateries, it also hosts a smattering of budget-friendly shops. And if you want more bang for your buck with a burger and a beer, you can head to The Sir Norman Wisdom JD Wetherspoon where a pint costs as little as £1.82.
A thriving art scene has also descended the town, with several galleries and exhibitions on show.
Tourist attractions go back in time even further with Deal's royal links through its castle, a fort built by the notorious Henry VIII, as well as Walmer Castle, a Tudor artillery fortress which became a stately home for many, including the Queen Mother. Deal, it seems, has it all.
