Would you move to Tunbridge Wells?

[Spicymum1]

My DH (who is white) and I have been considering moving house - we currently live on the East London/Essex border. We have grown up DCs, one of whom still lives with us. DH is sick of London and wants to move out slightly. We decided on Tunbridge Wells as it’s not too far out for work - I have to travel into central London for work a couple of times a week. We both love the look of the place and the the town is vibrant with lots to do. My only concern is that I’ve not seen many black people there and I’m worried that I’ll hate it when we move. Your thoughts please? 😊

I don't live there at present but have family there and we also plan on moving there. We go often and my husband and I were there just last week. We absolutely love TW. It's pretty, has a vibrant high street with lots of cafes, boutique shops plus the normal high street shops such as Next, M & S etc in the Victoria Shopping Centre etc. The Pantiles in particular is a pretty area with restaurants etc and they have Jazz and Gin festivals in the Summer. Lots to do including parks etc. Train Station in the town centre plus High Brooms train station that have direct trains to London. Wouldn't say really diverse but a friendly town so can't really comment on that as I am not black. However, my best friend is of Indian heritage and she has been there with me and didn't feel uncomfortable or 'out of place' (I just asked her and this was her response).

Hi there. Thanks so much for your reply. I agree, it’s a really lovely town with lots to see and do. Thanks for relaying your friend’s view! Hopefully I’ll get a few more replies to mull over.

I've visited a hand full of times and it's nice. It's regarded as nice by friends who live in Kent.

There can appear to be a lack of diversity when you look around town. But try going to St John's Road and sit in one of the coffee bars (Coata coffee. Fine grind or a window seat at Basils) around school let out time. See the. Children from Skinners, Girls Grammar,Bennet, Boys Grammar and St Gregs. All.come out and mill about and you come to realise there is a wider demographic than it obviously show.

I cant comment as a black woman as I am not one but I would say it ticks your other mentioned boxes.

Thank you Enko for taking the time to reply. You’ve made a very good point about the schools.

Apparently it was the only borough in Kent that voted REMAIN.

Good to know! Thanks very much for replying. Do you live in Tunbridge Wells?

Spicymum1 · Today 08:46
Good to know! Thanks very much for replying. Do you live in Tunbridge Wells?
No I live in Folkestone !

We have just moved to TW and love it. We are a black couple who moved from Bromley. Beautiful area and everyone has been welcoming We also work in London on a hybrid basis and the station is very good. I would highly recommend.

Thank you so much for replying. Are there any areas you would avoid?

High Brooms & Sherwood are considered less desirable. However, I live in another not particularly smart area of Tun Wells and love it. I am not black, but during the last 10 years have seen the area become more ethnically diverse, as someone upthread said, you can see this reflected at school chucking out time. I grew up about 15 miles from TW and after living abroad and in London I am very happy to be here and I can still get my London 'fix' easily and quickly.

There is lovely countryside, like Ashdown Forest, close by and lots of country pubs and we are not far from the seaside towns of Kent and East Sussex.

Hi I haven't seen any areas to avoid and we moved to Camden Park ward. This is central Tunbridge Wells and really lovely. I am happy to speak about the area and if you message me I can then arrange to chat through. I will be deleting my profile this week. I only logged on to answer your question as I was researching the area posts. My son graduated last year and is staying in London so we don't have to worry about schools.

Thank you - are St James and St John’s desirable areas? Also Langton Green, although it’s a bit far from town?

Tunbridge Wells council as a whole is really nice. We live in Goudhurst and love it! Door to desk (near liverpool street), in 1:15.

I have NC to reply. I live in Tunbridge Wells and I would recommend this town if you are black or not white. The grammar schools and the comprehensive schools all have children from very different backgrounds and ethnicity and they all mix really well .Both my sons were at Skinners Grammar School and they both have friends from non white backgrounds from Bennet ,St Gregory’s ,Tunbridge Wells Boys Grammar,Skinners Kent Academy…in fact one is out tonight in TW catching up and can guarantee there will be a general mix .As a Mum I have never worried about my children’s safety when out in TW .

We live in Langton Green and it is a 30 min walk or 5 mins in car . St James and St John’s are both very safe places to live. Tunbridge Wells is generally a safe place for young people to live. Maybe avoid Sherwood, High Brooms .

Thanks so much!

That’s really good to know. Thanks very much for replying!

Hi did you close your account I’m potentially looking to move in the area would like to meet people 😊

How’s it going did you make the move yet?

Hi Only1abiola

No, we haven’t moved yet. We’re looking to move next year as the market isn’t great at the moment.

I have black friends in Tunbridge Wells who seem very happy here. I have lived here on and off all my life (the "off" parts were London and overseas). I live in the village part near The Pantiles and off the High Street. I sort of agree about Sherwood but have many friends in High Brooms who love it there, and you definitely get more for your money.

We moved here 4.5 years ago from SE London (I'm a born n' bred Londoner so this transition felt huge!!),

There are lovely things being here, the green space, proximity to coast etc., but I'm definitely a London girl and not a Kent gal.. I've found some people friendly, but mostly very cliquey.. the mum's are tricky to navigate, haha!

My best friend is black and came down for the weekend and commented on the lack of other black people, to me it's very obvious too.. I think Kent is a very white place to live and I hope this changes.. Too many white people create a sense of entitlement!!

Tunbridge Wells has lots of wealthy, white folk and then lots of old people and mum's/young families.. that's basically the demographic in a nutshell..

That said I have seen slight improvement in the last year.. let's hope it continues!!

Also the pub food and coffee places are shocking in comparison to London!! haha.. be prepared for the quality to take a hit!!

Hi there, I’m very late to the party, but thought I’d tell you about TW! We moved here from NE London - I am a Londoner born ‘ n bred and lived there for almost 40 years and worked across central London for 24 years! We moved here almost 17 years ago, as we were expecting a baby etc. We live in the St James’ area and it’s very nice and walkable to all cafes, bars, parks, train station, shops etc. The schools are excellent here - my DD attends the local grammar school and is happy there. The town is very close to rambling countryside and just under an hour to London - London Bridge; Waterloo East; Charing Cross and Cannon St - lots of towns 30 miles outside of London often only go into one London station. The coast is an hour away. I will say that it took me a while to settle here and the area isn’t diverse, it’s slowly changing, but demographics are predominantly white middle-class. I found lots of the school mums to be very cliquey and not who I would usually befriend! I am told that this is common outside of cities. It’s not something I need to focus on now as my daughter is older, but the transition wasn’t quite what I was expecting. However, we have a dog and I have met lots of lovely people through dog-walking/park life etc. In terms of location and what the town offers its does tick lots of boxes. I still get my London fix as have family in north London. Good luck with your search and move! 😃