Maidstone

[Vanda189]

Posting here for traffic.
OH has job opportunity in Maidstone- this is far from where we are currently and Ive not yet been to anywhere in Kent.

What is it like for a family with primary aged kids? Any tips on good/ bad areas to live?

I wouldn't choose to live there, but some of the villages are nice. i is of course part of the Kent 11+ area, so that's in it's favour - if your offspring are likely to pass.

Some of the surrounding villages are lovely. You are not too far from Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and their villages which are in a nice part of Kent.

The 11 plus would be a huge turnoff for me. I spent a year or so commuting to Maidstone from Surey but it's quite a trek.

Surrounding villages are lovely but pricey - you don't say where you are for comparison but say 3 bed semi probably £400k +

Mote Park is lovely, fairly decent shops, cinema, bowling alley last time l checked. One way system is a pain. River Medway sometimes floods town centre. Leeds Castle in outskirts, not top far from NT places there either. Lots of lovely walks. Coast probably 40 minute drive to Whitstable. Schools vary as all areas really.

Bearsted, Sutton Valence, Hollingbourne, Leeds are all lovely. Kent is a great mix of beautiful countryside and coast. Plenty for the kids to do.

West Malling and Kings Hill are near Maidstone and absolutely lovely!

Maidstone and the surrounding villages is a good place to live - there’s lots of nice countryside, but with the added advantage of Maidstone, Bluewater, Lakeside, London not too far away, for shopping etc.

There’s a good choice of primary schools. Kent is a grammar school is a grammar school stronghold and MAidstone has two good girls grammars and two good boys grammars. The non-grammars are a mixed bunch (like in any area).

There’s three train stations if you need to get to London.

Maidstone is also good if you want to get to the coast - lots of different Sandy beaches within an hour or so if travelling.

Yes, there are some not so good areas, but all towns have their good and bad areas.

Areas to consider include Bearsted, Boughton monchelsea, Loose, Coxheath, Staplehurst, East Farleigh, etc.

I wouldn't live in Maidstone itself. Getting into town by car is pretty bad at start/end of business hours and agreed that the one-way system is irritating. Some decent grammars and primary schools but some truly dreadful residential areas within the town. Advice to us was to stay rural. There are some beautiful villages around.

Thanks, it’s great to have some ideas to researching. I’m not too sure about the grammar system, there aren’t any where we are at the moment but will factor that into our thought processes. Being fairly close to countryside and coast sounds perfect!