While While many "down from Londoners" flock to the shores of Margate, more laid-back and under-radar Deal punches above its weight in both history and independent spirit. Closer to Calais than London (you'll spot France on a clear day) this seaside town enjoys many creative and culinary flavours that have rippled across the Channel. It's a place where arty types thrive - both in terms of visitors and the many who choose to stay for good; Deal has been ranked among the UK's best places to live.

Things weren't always so twee; Deal has seen its fair share of drama since Julius Caesar landed here in 55 BCE. Henry VIII built not one but three castles in the area and Lord Nelson enjoyed a dalliance with a mistress in Deal. One of the Cinque Ports, the town has also played a key role in the south coast's military and trading history, meaning that Deal's drinking dens have nearly always been awash with rowdy sailors and the odd smuggler.

Today, Deal remains true to its roots while appealing to trend-conscious travellers looking for the next hotspot. Its bohemian history manifests in its mish-mash of Georgian houses and pastel-hued cottages speckled with blue plaques. You'll also see it in the small galleries, in the calendar of artist open houses, music performances and festivals, and in the old-meets-new aesthetic that seeps from the concrete-clad pier, through its homewares boutiques and vintage stores, to the idiosyncratic cottages that have opened their doors as B&Bs or self-catered apartments.

High-speed train services from Paddington will have you chugging lungfuls of sea air in about an hour and 20, though Deal is just a two-hour drive from central London, too, making a great pit-stop on a coastal road trip.

The town's motto? "Adjuvate advenas", which translates from Latin to "befriend a stranger". A warm welcome is a given here. Get planning.