Moving to Canterbury

[Bouham]

Hello
We are a family with 3 kids (1 secondary school, 2 primary). We have lived in south east for over 20 years and now decided to move to Canterbury as our daughter got a place in Canterbury Girls Grammar School. We are really struggling to decide which area we should buy/rent as we are not familiar with Canterbury and surroundings. Would anyone please be able to give us some honest advice of which places we should look at and which we should avoid.
Some point to take into consideration:

• we are family oriented and we want a family friendly are
• looking for a safe place as we travel a lot and obviously you want your mind at rest when not around
• good schools (primary)
• feasible commute to Simon Langtons GGS is a must
• I need to commute to central London for work (may be one/twice a week)

we have these places in mind:
canterbury central, wincheap, chartham and herne bay...

we really need to honest advice pleeeease

thanks a million

[askingneverhurt]

Hello Timmydoes

How did you find the move from Essex to Kent. I live in London and looking to move to Canterbury because of the schools (heard they are better than London)
thank you

[askingneverhurt]

Hi
I am thinking of trying to get my son into a grammar school in Canterbury. We also live in London at the moment. How easy was it for you to get a place, where did your application sit on the application criteria? Do we really have a chance of getting a place if he passes the Kent test?

finally, how was the move to Kent and a new school? Hope it went well.

thank you

[Butterfly333]

Just wondering if Aylesham has improved and if anyone has bought any of the new builds there.

[Tommydoes]

Rent for one year. My son got into Dartford Grammar school and we moved from Essex to Kent. It took us two years to decide where we wanted to live!

[Rubyupbeat]

Chilham not Chilean....

[Rubyupbeat]

I would love to know how you got Langton, seeing as you was in south east London. My cousins went to Langton boys and 6 nephews and nieces in and went to the boys and girls, but they live Chilean, Whitstable and Sturry.

[Sofia109]

Sorry old thread i know, but did the OP ever buy the house in Aylesham? How did you find it?

[reddevilchris2018]

Hello Kittyhawke80

What are your thoughts on ramsgate

My mum and I were looking at hitching and west gate but prices have gone crazy that side of Kent whitstable more so.

I keep hearing ramsgate is on the up and getting better … is it ??

Any advice from anyone would be much appreciated especially kitty she Emma to know Thanet Kent very well.

Thank you in advance we have been looking
Completely the other way too Dorset Cornwall are we making a mistake coming to Kent, Rather Than Cornwall ???

[Bouham]

@LeoGoul
Not sure who you are addressing but from our end we are happy with the move and would never regret moving out of London
It does depend on what you like in life as well- city vs countryside, busy lifestyle vs calm and peaceful :-)

[LeoGoul]

Hello, please could you share how you got on? DId you find a good location in the area? I am interested in relocating too?

Many thanks

Leona

[Bouham]

@Twistiesandshout
You won’t regret moving out of London esp now with the pandemic and lockdown!!
Good luck and keep me posted :-)

[Twistiesandshout]

@Bouham

Thanks so much :) So pleased to hear you love it!

Who knows we may end up with kids in the same schools! We are also moving from London and I am hoping this is our forever move. :)

Offer day is coming up soon so we will know if we got Langton!

[Bouham]

@Twistiesandshout
We moved to Canterbury this summer and so far we love it. We are in the outskirts of Wincheap towards the countryside. My daughter goes to Simon Langton Girls year 7. She loves it (well when she was at school, no remote of course). They have a brand new building, the girls haven’t been there yet as it only been finished in January.
My boy is year 4 at Wincheap school and he loves it so far...and I also have a pre-schooler girl
I have no experience of Sir Roger Manwood I am afraid :-( as we moved from South East London.

Hope this helps :-)

[Twistiesandshout]

Hi all,

Jumping on this old thread in the hopes of some responses :)

Moving in the next couple weeks to Canterbury, DH grew up there and ALL his family are in the area. We are finally making the move and have a rental near Simon Langton Girls but there is a house we would love to buy near Sir Roger Manwood.

Does anyone have any information/preference for the langtons vs SRM? I have a yr 6 girl, year 4 boy and little pre school girl. DD passed the test and Langtons was down as our first choice but although DH and entire family seem to have been Langton students I have never seen either school due to Covid.

Any and all advice appreciated!

Thanks :)

[MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously]

When I was a student I rented a room in a converted barn in Harbledown. It was the sort of village where people put a vase of flowers and a rug in the phone box. It's a bit of a trek to the centre though. I used to work in Talisman gift shop - I think it's a wine shop now. Like most places it was a bit run down last time I went (about a year ago), but it's still a nice city - not to big and scary for parents of teens but still has plenty to do and lots of life about it. I like student cities though. Hope you find something nice OP.

[Bouham]

@maboue
Happy to help. I will msg you!

[Maboue]

Hi there... I am seeking advices and any guidance would be most welcome! :)
As a family, we have decided to move to Canterbury. My daughter is soon to be 7 and my son is 4. We have found a nice house in the Wincheap area. Coming from South East London (hither green), I am hoping that it won't make a massive different to us as I have noticed the area being a bit rough and under estimated. What is your general feeling about Wincheap? Are there family with young kids living there? and would you say that there is a good sense of community? Can I also ask how open minded is Wincheap as an area and canterbury as a city overall? I am french and have lived in London for the past 18 years, with Brexit happening and the very uncertain world we live in, I am obviously a little worry about it all. Many thanks for your advices/Shared experiences

[EyyyupButtercup]

Just jumping on, as I’m also moving to Canterbury (renting) in the autumn. Does anyone know what the black griffin road area is like?

[mamaoffourdc]

I've just moved from stodmarsh, a tiny hamlet outside fordwich - I love it there x

[YouDirtyMare]

Has anyone suggested Folkestone or Hythe
They are on the bus route and there's loads to do in the area. Fast train to London etc

[googledontknow]

@Bouham is being very coy about their budget, not sure why? It's helpful to know a budget as some places mentioned on here are fairly pricey and no point recommending them if they are out of reach.

[Cupidity]

What's your budget? What are your minimum requirements for a house (bedrooms, parking, garden size, garage, detatched/terraced). I'm from Canterbury so happy to recommend which areas to avoid, which areas to go for

[Purpleknickers]

Whitstable born and bred and my son went to Simon Langton boys just 30 mins on the bus, many years ago I went to Barton Court from Whitstable. If you don’t have your heart set on SLGS then Queen Elizabeth’s in Faversham is a good grammar and house prices cheaper than Whitstable too , easy commute to London from either Whitstable or Faversham PM me if you need specific area/road info

[Racheyg]

@IndecentFeminist I loved Churchill's too. Didn't it turn into a budget supermarket?