Talk to me about Kent

[aytheweeun]

Looking for areas to move to. Currently we live in a small flat in SE London & looking to move to Kent.

We have a 3 yo DS and probably will have another. DH needs to commute to London four days out of five but I WFH.

We like Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks. Not completely sure of budget yet but is likely to be in the region of 475-550k. Would like 3 bedrooms with a garden but not fussed on terraced/semi detached etc.

Probably we'll try to sell our flat first and then rent in the area before we commit to buying.

Any suggestions of other places we might have overlooked?

Rochester is on the HS1 and so is Faversham.

Avoid Medway

I think Faversham is a bit far out to be honest. I'll take a look at Rochester.

I have seen Medway and I did not like it!

Rochester is in Medway so just as rough

Stay in SE London, Sevenoaks & T Wells are boring as hell

Biggin hill is nice - bus ride to Bromley south station, then train to Victoria for your husbands commute

no thanks nancy, I hate it here and I want a house with a garden.

Bromley is still London to me to be honest - I can get there in 20 minutes on the bus from where I am now!

Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks etc all good with excellent schools.

Is it a town you’re looking at?

Paddock Wood is on the mainline to London Bridge/Charing Cross as is Marden and Staplehurst.

Is Canterbury too far? You'd get a decent house with your budget and it's an amazing place to bring up children, great schools and lots on

I love Canterbury but the commute on the fast trains is absolutely extortionate...like 6.5k a year. And the slow trains are just too long, we'd be looking at 2 hours door to door I think and that's just not fair on DH

CanI yes I'd prefer a town really - somewhere I can walk to shops!

Kent is a grammar system. Personally I would avoid it for that reason alone!

T/Wells & Sevenoaks closer to London but that is reflected in house prices.

Canterbury is similar but cheaper housing & less crowded but further on HS1 & commute more expensive

Pros and cons

Grammar system a nightmare- over subscription to schools in TWells not so in East Kent

Both DH and I went to grammar schools, I don't have a problem with them.

We can't afford Hertfordshire. I don't like Surrey or Berkshire.

We are also looking at parts of Sussex.

The grammar school system has changed ime and I went as a kid too! Research it 😱

I have, I can't find any issues with it tbh? My sisters are both at one currently.

The system in West Kent is hideous as places at grammars are very limited so tons of kids who "make the grade" still don't get places. I have worked around there and would not want that pressure for my child.

Why don't you like Surrey?

As previous poster said West Kent us highly competitive!
You asked for opinions don't be so defensive!

Rochester is nice - probably the nicest in Medway IME. Im not from there but do have family who live there and like it

Personally I find Surrey very bland and without much character.

I've lived in Surrey, Berkshire and Kent for extended periods of time and much much prefer Berkshire and Surrey. Maybe don't write off whole counties, might make your search easier...

Defo avoid Medway