Thinking of moving to Sevenoaks - advice on areas etc

[MummyofIsabelle]

Hi Ladies,

We are in the process of moving out of London for the usual reasons of wanting a safer place for our LO to grow up, a garden etc etc!

We are looking at Sevenoaks and the surrounding areas including Tunbridge Wells and wondered if these were toddler friendly places and are there lots of groups / mums to meet up with? I don't know anyone in Kent / Sussex so I'm a little nervous about being lonely! I think we would only be able to afford a house in the Riverhead area of Sevenoaks, rather than central - does anyone know if this is a good area / good schools? Anywhere to avoid?
DH will be commuting to London Bridge so the commute time is important to us, thinking of Sevenoaks only being 25 mins or so.

Thanks in advance for your help :) xx

There's a lot going on in Sevenoaks for toddlers, when you come down to look at properties, see if you can pick up a copy of the Family Grapevine (free magazine, available to pick up in the libraries, leisure centre, some shops and the train station), it has listings of everything going on. there's pretty much a church run (but not religious) toddler group every day of the week at a different church, there's a toddler gym on Thursday mornings at the leisure centre, various sign language/toddler french/swimming lessons on daily and every restaurant has high chairs. 'Tis a very family friendly place!

Thanks so much for your reply Lydia.
It's so daunting making such a big move - London has been our life for so long! xx

We moved out from London too - most people round here have done the same thing!

re Riverhead, Riverhead Infants and Amherst Junior (across the road from each other) are both really good schools, but v over subscribed, you might want to find out what the catchment is this year and move in that area. (would be most annoying to be a street or so out). That said, Sevenoaks Primary has also done well in it's last Ofsted.

Schools are great around here and local mums are quite friendly.

We moved to Sevenoaks when I was pregnant, but we are moving back to London as soon as we are able! The train journey may only be half an hour, but bear in mind that, unlike in London, you only have the one option - the train. if they are cancelled or delayed you are stuck.