what's the Rochester Chatham area like for empty-nesters?

[lunarlandscape]

Just wondered what it's like to live there. We want to move somewhere affordable that is within reach of London but has its own life. I really like the look of the area with its castles and islands and estuary.

We're not looking for schools as DC are grown. The kinds of things I'd love are:
good bootcamps/swimming pools/dance classes
a bit of woo - meditation and yoga, 5 rhythms dance - that sort of thing
a bit of culture you can get involved in (good am dram, literary festivals)
book shops and cafe culture
lots of good and varied local walks (massively important to DH)

If anyone knows the area, especially if they are at this stage of life and enjoy living there, I'd love to hear your opinions and tips on good places to look for a house, a walk, a fitness class etc.

I’d steer clear of Chatham but Rochester is lovely. It is rather woo and only a few steps away from burning a wicker man. There is a brilliant second hand book shop ( I think the UK’s largest), plenty of independent cafes, concerts at the castle and cathedral, the Dickens fairs, yoga, river and countryside walks on your doorstep. I’d stick to areas near the castle and cathedral where you can find beautiful period homes for a fraction of London prices.

Definitely steer clear of Chatham!

Rochester has some lovely areas, but avoid Chatham like the plague.

The North Downs way and Saxon Shore Way can be picked up close to Rochester, and a drive or train ride will get you to other rural or coastal areas to walk. I don't know about organised walking groups in Rochester, but I know there are some in other towns nearby.

Rochester is on HS1, so you have fast trains to St Pancras, and also a good service to Victoria. Also easy reach of Canterbury by road or rail.

Rochester yes, Chatham hard no.

Thank you so much for the replies. This is really interesting. What is so awful about Chatham? I found a nice looking house there and St Mary's Island looked pretty. It also has a Waterstones which Rochester doesn't. so that appealed as I love browsing bookshops.

I agree that Rochester is gorgeous.

Chatham does have a high crime rate much of it drug related.
St Mary’s island is nice but is a bit Trueman Showish.
Baggins Books in Rochester is way better than Waterstones, but I admit I’m biased.

My SIL is single, and lives in Strood; which is only a short walk from Rochester. She loves it, and it's only a short train ride into London. There's a lot of good walks and country parks around too.

Chatham no way. There's a reason it's affordable!

Parts of Chatham are OK. White Road/Magpie Hall Road used to be the areas to avoid, not sure about now. St Mary's Island is a bit out of the way, you really need a car to go anywhere.

Chatham is easily walkable from Rochester, if you're not too far out of the centre, so it's possible to live in Rochester and patronise Waterstones.

Oh, and parts of Rochester and Chatham are on quite steep hills, so you might want to explore on foot before you decide on an area.

St Mary Island isn't really Chatham. It's new, modern quite buzzy. There's a cinema and a lot going on at the Dockyard. Rochester is great, loads going on although it gets a bit lairy on the High St late at night.

Rochester is lovely, how about Canterbury?

@Chippymunks

Rochester is lovely, how about Canterbury?

I wondered about Canterbury but DH says it's too touristy. the lovely thing about Rochester is it's not that well known.

We went to Rochester this summer and DH and I loved it, would definitely consider it sans kids. We went London for a day trip in less than half an hour. There were lots of lovely bookshops there I seem to recall, possibly secondhand but independent too.

Never really been to Kent before but really liked it and definitely going back again