Honest views on Staplehurst?

[AndysLeftEyebrow]

Hi all! I wrote a post about schools in the area but didn't get any replies because it might have been too niche.

We've seen some houses in staplehurst that are amazing for our budget, but I'd really like some honest opinions on staplehurst from people that know the area. I've read some things about antisocial behaviour and wondered if it was really a problem or just an exaggeration!

Thanks 😊

It's a lovely village but there's nothing here!
Maidstone is the nearest town but traffic is bloody awful to get there during school/ rush hour. Tonbridge is 18 mins by train.
The local primary where my daughter goes is ok but I preferred her old school. There are a few bratty kids that attend who seem to get away with it.
Not really much trouble here, teens go elsewhere as to be honest it's pretty boring.
Oh, and when it comes to secondary school there is not much choice. Most over 10 miles away and the one that is closest never seems to take kids from Staplehurst. I'm looking at moving for this reason.

@Fortherightreason thank you for the insight! We did get the impression that there's not much there, and we're coming from London so it might be a shock! I'm also not sure about the school situation. We're also looking at Wadhurst which I prefer because there's a primary AND secondary within walking distance. Do you know the village at all?

Wadhurst is lovely, I'd live there. Still a village but has more. Also Tunbridge Wells I think is really nice.
I think coming from London you'd struggle here.

I live here and it's a nice village, there are clubs for kids like brownies and cubs. I can't comment on the primary school as it's over a decade ago my son left. The secondary school he went to is now for children with special needs. So the secondary most of them go to is in paddock wood two stops up the line. Unless they pass the 11+ and go to grammar.
There's a coffee shop, a pub and a nice steak restaurant.
The journey into Maidstone is right sometimes you can be in and parked in 20 minutes, sometimes it's an hour. But Tunbridge Wells can be the same.
Wadhurst is also lovely.

@Pinksmyfavoritecolour thank you, this is helpful! I find the education system in Kent quite confusing. I'd prefer not to live in a grammar county really but it seems to tick a lot of our other boxes so we're trying to do as much research as we can!

I grew up in the village, moved away for a few years, then moved back and brought my son up here, and yes it's lots bigger than it was when I was small, but most places are in Home Counties, it's still a lovely place to live. Lots on the doorstep to do, bedgebury pinetum is great for families, a few national trust places, tenterden steam railway, the park in the centre of the village is a decent size. And the neighbouring villages, small towns are nice. And only an hour into Charing Cross. And an hour and you can be by the sea.

Thanks! We saw some lovely places today but just not sure on the school situation! We'd really love a secondary school in walking distance but that seems quite unlikely round those parts. Did you find it a good place to raise a family, and how did you find the school system?

Paddock wood has both primary and secondary schools you can walk to. Mascalls in paddock wood is the secondary that alot of Staplehurst children go to.
My son was happy in the primary here. And did secondary at a school in cranbrook, both he enjoyed. But the secondary is now special needs.
There's a good football club. A good cricket club. Tennis courts. For the kids and adults. A running club for adults. Pretty sure there's still beavers cubs and scouts. Rainbows brownies guides. 2 or 3 churches that do things. A lovely couple of farm shops. And Sainsbury's been here a couple of years now.
I love it, been back here 25 years, great place to live.
Look at paddock wood if you really want both schools walking distance. It's a small town, got more shops, cafes etc, I have family there, and it's also really nice.

I've got a friend who lives in Wadhurst and on chatting with her it does seem that there is a bit of antisocial behaviour there, this is echoed by someone my husband knows who is out there. If you were on Facebook, these villages usually have village Facebook groups.. I'd probably join the village group of anywhere you are interested in.. (make out you live there) say nowt, and just sit and watch. You can pick a hell of a lot up about these places by just sitting and watching.

Oooh thanks for the info! Interesting there's antisocial behaviour in Wadhurst too. I guess you get it everywhere! We're still trying to decide where to go. I'll join the Facebook sites, good idea 😊