Let's move to … Deal, Kent

What's going for it? My friend Polly has the hots for Deal . And who wouldn't? It's quite the looker. Rugged, salty-seadog fisherman's cottages, Georgian bow-fronted town houses for retired admirals, a sweet Dickensian, higgledy-piggledy seafront and two Tudor castles on the beach. If Deal were a person, it'd be Nicholas Parsons : old, a bit posh, quite the smoothie. Polly's been looking to cast off the old fella, London, and she may have found quite the chap. Me? I love piers; I love postwar architecture: put the two together and what've you got? Tom nirvana. Plus the old Royal cinema's for sale , and there's only one thing I like more than a postwar pier… The case against The wife hates it: "It's just so dreary. It feels like the 50s, in a bad, ration-book way." She may just have been in a mood that day, though you can sort of see her point. Plus the high street is v glum: could do with new blood, more independents, etc. Double plus: it's miles from anything – transport's a pain. Well connected? Stuck out on a bulge all alone, it's not even much helped by the new high-speed rail: a slowww one hour 40 to London St Pancras; locally, 15 minutes hourly to Dover, 30 to Folkestone, 18 to Ramsgate and, though it's only 15 miles away, a lifetime to Canterbury. Road: again, on a limb – the A2 is eight miles south at Dover; Canterbury is 30 minutes off. Schools You'll love 'em. Primaries: the Downs CofE , Sholden CofE and Hornbeam all "good", says Ofsted; Sandown "good and improving" with some "outstanding features". Secondaries: Castle Community "outstanding", Walmer Science College "good" with "outstanding" features. Hang out at... The cafe at the end of the pier, of course, in its award-winning pavilion. Where to buy Glorious line in period town houses and lovely Georgian cottages in the conservation area, a knot of lanes between seafront and high street; and in the immediate hinterland, and north, too, on and behind the marina; and in villagey Upper Deal. Walmer, south, is poshest, all lush leafy avenues. Market values Huuuuuge detacheds, plus plum Georgian town houses, £500,000-£800,000. Detacheds and town houses, £240,000-£500,000 (some modern ones from £180,000). Semis, £130,000-£380,000. Terraces, £120,000-£350,000 (two- or three-bed conservation area cottages from £200,000). Flats, £80,000-£300,000. Bargain of the week Four-bed Georgian town house in the old town, near the seafront, with a courtyard. Needs updating, £325,000, Bright & Bright . From the streets Cindy & Alan Deeks "It's great – the prom and the pier, the independent shops on the high street and the conservation areas. We don't like the wind, though – it seldom lets up." Jo Bourne "We love to spend Saturday afternoon at the Black Douglas , eating homemade soup while reading the papers. There is a also a traditional fishmonger, Italian patisserie, cheese shop, bakery and health food shop – no need to visit Sainsbury's around the corner." Stephanie Hayman "Deal can seem a bit old-fashioned and ordinary, but under the surface it's a thriving community with a wonderful mix of people and lifestyles. There's a great music and arts scene ,too." • Live in Deal? Join the debate below Do you live in Stirling? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, please write, by Tuesday June 15, to [email protected]