What's gravesend like to live in?

[AuntSally1]

DH has been offered a job in Kent and we have found a couple of lovely houses in our budget in Gravesend.

It's not an area we know well and wondered if anyone could tell us a bit more about it before we start making serious decisions.

The houses seem very well priced, there are a couple of ok Grammar schools and Bluewater is just down the road but what's it actually like?

Apart from my uni years in Manchester & a stint in Mile End, I'm a Gravesend girl born & bred!! Currently living in the Northfleet bit of Gravesend.

As you don't say where you're from, its difficult to say what its like to live in, because its relative, & you don't say which part you're looking to move to. Some areas are pretty poor, others are lovely, it all depends. It's less friendly than 'oop north' but I don't feel worried I'll get stabbed by the nearest person.

The buses & trains are good & as a location for travel, its a good place to get away from; Dover isn't far, nor is the M25. And now with Ebsfleet, central London is wonderfully close/quick.

None of the shops are particularly fancy, but I think the town centre suffers from proximity to Bluewater in this economic climate. M&S is still there, along with BHS, Boots, Superdrug etc. but there are also lots of pound shops and so on.

I've made lots of local lovely Mum friends since having my DD & can't say I ever knew my neighbours in Manchester or London, but do now. Again, like anywhere though, its all relative & it depends what you're after.

I walk around the area a lot pushing my buggy & love the fact that there are lots of parks & leisure centres all around, so there's always something to do.

Oh and if you have a girl, Northfleet School for Girls is pretty good if grammar isn't an option.

Hth

Thanks that's helpful. Am originally from Kent but have lived Cambridge way for years now and although I remember Gravesend a little from my childhood, a lot has changed since then.

Haven't really looked at Northfleet so will have to have a look there too. It's a big move for us and I just need to make sure we don't end up in a horrible area. We will be leaving lots of lovely friends here and it's reassuring to hear the mums are a friendly lot.

It's true, the area has changed hugely. Again, one road can be fine but back on to a bit of a dodgy area, but that's the same all over I think.

There are LOADS of houses for sale in the Whitehill Road area which are reasonably priced and quite big (we're on the market at the mo, so keeping a v close eye on the property sites!!) but more so for secondary school-age kids - I don't rate the primary school myself...

Northfleet isn't bad, but depends what you're after & where specifically you're looking at living. It's fantastic for Ebsfleet & rail links to London.

I had lots of work friends & friends in Medway, but none with babies when DD arrived, so was really glad to be able to use some of the network websites to make friends or find good groups, & find people in the same boat.

Anyone got any recent info on Northfleet as an area? Crime seems high? Good areas bad areas? Gainsborough drive painters ash ward in particular? Thanks

I'm there now, but town center area. To be honest it's fine, typical provincial town, no more issues than anywhere else (don't hang around the McDonalds late at night). Can't comment on the areas you are specifically looking at.

Hi! Gravesend girl now living in Cambridge!

If you can afford it, the outer villages such as Shorne, Chalk, Higham, Vigo etc are beautiful.

Grammar school is excellent for secondary education.
The town is declining, and Bluewater isn't as good as it use to be, but Lakeside is excellent. Great links to London aswell.

Thanks ladies but can I ask what you mean by decline? And does Northfleet have a town centre? Thought that was Gravesend? Thanks again

Mostly the shops shutting down, so lots of empty properties etc, but that's pretty standard for most town centres nowadays.
There are some grotty areas, but no more than other towns I would say.

Northfleet doesn't have a town centre as such, there's Perry Street with shops, barbers, flowershops etc.
It does have the leisure centre, swimming pool, gym etc.

There are plenty of schools, hospitals, leisure facilities in the area.

Bare in mind the new Lower Thames Crossing that will be happening just East of Chalk, which should make access to Essex a lot easier too (or so we have been promised)

Other areas to look at - Southfleet, Bean, Greenhithe, Swanscombe?

I agree with the shops, we've lost M&S and BHS. There is still a Debenhams, but I'd say the local restaurant options have improved in the last few years.

You are close to Bluewater as others have said, and also Westfield in Stratford is 15 minutes on the high speed train (although the train isn't cheap).

Other than that, there seems to be a number of community events including the Riverside festival in the summer and the Sikh New Year Parade. All depends on what you are looking for, there are nicer towns in the UK to live, but add a couple of extra 100k to the price of the house. I don't think it's a bad trade off personally.

Meant to say Debenhams is here at the moment, but I'm not sure how much longer.