Kent makes an ideal choice for some pre-Christmas new homes hunting

There are plenty of new homes in Kent to choose from this Christmas, with prices, styles and locations to suit almost everyone. Kent can offer proximity to London or a distinctly rural lifestyle, boasting award-winning beaches, good connections to the Capital and the Continent, a well-respected grammar school system and two airports.

The Quays, Chatham, is a stunning development of apartments by Byrne Estates, located on the River Medway. Prices start at £140,000 for a one-bedroom ground floor apartment to £241,650 for an 11th floor, two-bedroom apartment with fantastic views across the River Medway, its marina, and the surrounding areas from the private, timber-decked balcony. The development is conveniently located with excellent rail connections to London and only minutes from the M2. A contemporary, fully fitted kitchen, elegant bathroom, built-in wardrobes and basement car parking are included in the specification and the apartment has a ‘Very Good' EcoHomes rating.

Sutton Woods offers new homes in the county town of Maidstone, by award-winning developer, Redrow, the newly crowned What House? Best Large Housebuilder of 2011. The development has a range of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses for sale, priced from £158,950. Maidstone lies close to the M20 motorway and is just 47 minutes from central London by train. The ‘Claygate' style house offers three bedrooms set over two floors. The open-plan living area has a generous sized lounge and dining area linked to a fully fitted kitchen. There is also a downstairs cloakroom and plenty of storage. Upstairs, three good-sized bedrooms (with fitted wardrobes to the master bedroom) are complemented with a contemporary bathroom, airing cupboard and a further storage cupboard.

Whitstable is one of the most fashionable of Kent's seaside towns. Swale Park, by Weston Homes, is a modern development offering a range of high-quality new houses and new apartments on the outskirts of the town. Two-bedroom apartments are priced from £148,000, and a three-bedroom townhouse with integral garage costs £216,000. On offer for £188,500 is plot 47, a two-bedroom terraced house, ideal for a first-time buy. A downstairs cloakroom and fully fitted kitchen are set off the entrance hall, with a large living and dining area to the rear of the property. Upstairs, two generous bedrooms with cupboard space are set either side of a well-appointed family bathroom.

New Meridian Village, Ramsgate, is in an up-and-coming coastal area in Kent, with high-quality new houses for those looking for a home near to the sea. Available plots range from £119,995 for a one-bedroom apartment, to £269,995 for a four-bedroom townhouse with allocated parking. New Meridian Village is a development of 156 new homes from Explore Living. Nearby amenities include the Westwood Cross shopping centre and retail park, and there's good access to cross-Channel ferry routes, the historic city of Canterbury and High Speed trains taking just 76 minutes to London St Pancras. Plot 67 is a three-bedroom end terrace, priced at £187,995. This beautifully crafted new house benefits from a large lounge/diner complete with patio doors leading to a private rear garden.

In Ramsgate, New Meridian Village from Explore Living offers a choice of new home styles close to local amenities and served by a High Speed rail link to London, with prices starting at £119,995