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Original poster

Moving to Gillingham Kent

60 replies

Adrinac · 01/12/2020 13:06

Has anyone recently moved ti Gillingham from London (south east). How’s the area Twydall. We have an 18 months old girl so also anything about primary schools would be great.
Thank you

OP posts:
liveitwell · 01/12/2020 13:19

Gillingham is not a nice area. What's your budget and bedroom requirements?

Bearnecessity · 01/12/2020 13:22

Hi Adrinac, I know this area quite well. The Medway towns get bad press but there are really lovely parts. Twydall is ok if a little rough.I would look at primaries in Rainham or Rochester. Near to Twydall is Rainham Mark Grammar (I think it is still there...the years have passed) which is a good school. Rochester is a naice place to be that area is really convenient for a London commute.

Ismellphantoms · 01/12/2020 13:27

Gillingham is awful. Some roads are no go areas for taxis. I worked with deprived children there and saw some shocking examples. Twydall is mostly rough. My DD went to Rainham Mark Grammar and that was ok. If you want to live in that area, look at Rainham which is much better.

HoneyWheeler · 01/12/2020 13:29

The good thing about Gillingham is that it is massive and there is a lot of housing stock, so you have lots of options depending on your needs, whereas you can be a bit more limited in Rochester, although I agree it is 'naicer'.

Twydall is nice, if quiet. A real family area, plenty of schools around there too. Rainham Mark is the closest grammar and it is co-Ed. You will definitely need a car if you move to Gillingham though!

Ismellphantoms · 01/12/2020 13:31

"Rochester is a naice place to be that area is really convenient for a London commute."

It looks ok, but the red light district isn't (High Street area). My husband has been accosted by ladies, even when walking along with me!

HoneyWheeler · 01/12/2020 13:31

Ok so sounds like I'm in the minority with Twydall!

Primary school wise - I'd avoid Rochester as nearly everywhere is oversubscribed unless you want to go to Delce Academy which is huge!

Rainham proper is nicer than Twydall. Upper Gillingham is ok too, although I'd avoid central Gillingham personally. Darland is lovely!

Mollymarvelous70 · 01/12/2020 13:37

Op why do you want to move to gillingham ? Is it for work or something specific that ties you to that area.

I grew up in medway and you couldn’t pay me to move back . Lots of rough areas and council estates. High streets are now none existent and full of gambling and pawn shops . It will be a shock moving from London . There are nicer parts of Kent

Siameasy · 01/12/2020 13:38

It’s not that nice. Why Twydall? Hempstead is nice, so is Parkwood

Pinkflipflop85 · 01/12/2020 13:42

Is there a particular reason why you have chosen Gillingham?!

Ifonly86 · 01/12/2020 13:54

Don’t do it!

Mollymarvelous70 · 02/12/2020 12:05

@Adrinac ? Have we put you off ?

Original poster
Adrinac · 02/12/2020 12:07

Thank you all for replying.
We’re moving to have more space, and in is in out budget, easy commute to London...
the same it was when we moved here, border between Lewisham and Bromley oh is a bad area...but we lived here for 3 years and it’s been great. I think every place in this world has his ups and downs.
When we saw this house in Lower Twydall Lane we saw lots of families around, quite street...

OP posts:
Sexykitten2005 · 02/12/2020 13:40

Most of Kent has been taken over by shitty housing estates to cope with the influx of people moving out of london. My beautiful formerly green village is due to be surrounded by 5000 homes in the next few years. No extra schools doctors dentists or hospitals though. I’m getting out of Kent and looking at Essex or Sussex. Beautiful village areas, good transport links into London and much cheaper. Kent and especially Medway has really gone down hill in the last few years.

Tellmetruth4 · 02/12/2020 13:59

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/29/fear-and-loathing-in-dover-where-brexit-and-covid-meet

Touches on Thanet and Medway. Interesting views...

Original poster
Adrinac · 02/12/2020 15:27

We look in Basildon Laindon Pitsea area but the house are so small, low ceilings, super tiny gardens...obviously in our budget.

OP posts:
liveitwell · 02/12/2020 15:36

@Adrinac

Thank you all for replying. We’re moving to have more space, and in is in out budget, easy commute to London... the same it was when we moved here, border between Lewisham and Bromley oh is a bad area...but we lived here for 3 years and it’s been great. I think every place in this world has his ups and downs. When we saw this house in Lower Twydall Lane we saw lots of families around, quite street...
Without sounding mean, you're being a little naive. Gillingham genuinely is a dive. It's cheap for a reason. If you'd like to give your rough budget and bedrooms needed I can help with suggestions of nicer places.
liveitwell · 02/12/2020 15:37

@Sexykitten2005

Most of Kent has been taken over by shitty housing estates to cope with the influx of people moving out of london. My beautiful formerly green village is due to be surrounded by 5000 homes in the next few years. No extra schools doctors dentists or hospitals though. I’m getting out of Kent and looking at Essex or Sussex. Beautiful village areas, good transport links into London and much cheaper. Kent and especially Medway has really gone down hill in the last few years.
Many garden cities aren't looking like they're going ahead now.
RainRainRainAgain · 02/12/2020 15:51

OP I moved to Medway (Rochester) nearly 20 years ago, still here and love it. I know now isn't the right time for prolonged visits (or indeed any visits as we're Tier 3 so you wouldn't be able to stay even if you wanted to) but the best way to get a feel for the place is to come and spend a few days down here and decide for yourselves. I love the area I live in, but if I had gone just by what I had heard, I would never have considered this part of town.

Mollymarvelous70 · 02/12/2020 15:55

@Adrinac I agree with person that said it really is a dive . It’s not an up and coming area that will be gentrified like places in London or outskirts of cities. In my humble opinion.

Lower twydall lane has the nicest houses in the area tucked away and I could see why you would want to live there, barn conversion styles . Plus opposite the country park etc. I grew up remarkably close by so know it well. As an adult you could avoid the rubbish areas nearby and you’ll drive to social stuff that suits your interested and you’ll find like minded people.

Without sounding snobby, If you have kids I’d be mindful where and with you they socialise with as there won’t be lots of nice middle class kids nearby. More likely kids on street corners drinking and causing trouble. I know because I was one of them ! I would watch them like a hawk!

wink1970 · 02/12/2020 15:58

OP I moved to Medway (Rochester) nearly 20 years ago, still here and love it.

Are you me? Shock

Yes I love it too, also an incomer to Rochester. There are lots of nice areas in the Medway, some surprisingly big parks and green spaces, and it's an easy commute to London, 28 minutes to St Pancras.

Off the top of my head: Frinsbury, Rochester itself, Hempstead, parts of Rainham, Cliffe Woods, Higham are all very nice.

wink1970 · 02/12/2020 15:59

Oh and also Upnor, which is lovely & has 2 of the best pubs!

CuppaZa · 02/12/2020 16:00

You couldn’t pay me to live there @Adrinac
I’d seriously keep looking

Mollymarvelous70 · 02/12/2020 16:02

Rochester maybe ... twydall no.

1Morewineplease · 02/12/2020 16:06

@Sexykitten2005

Most of Kent has been taken over by shitty housing estates to cope with the influx of people moving out of london. My beautiful formerly green village is due to be surrounded by 5000 homes in the next few years. No extra schools doctors dentists or hospitals though. I’m getting out of Kent and looking at Essex or Sussex. Beautiful village areas, good transport links into London and much cheaper. Kent and especially Medway has really gone down hill in the last few years.
I think I know where you mean. We're aiming to move out ASAP.

OP, please try and do some research before you move. I think you might be making a mistake to move to Gillingham.

Bleughbleughbleugh12 · 02/12/2020 16:09

Twydall is OK. Better than Gillingham. Definitely better than Chatham, but worse than most other areas in Kent 😂 there are some beautiful places in Kent, if you can afford Maidstone/Tonbridge/Tunbridge wells etc I’d personally look there.