thinking of moving to Tunbridge Wells..

[sallybash]

Hi there,

We have a DS 2.5 years and one on the way next march and are trying to work out where to move from East London (something that has been on the agenda since DS was born!)

We have looked a littlearound Tunbridge Wells as it seems to offer a lot but it would be great to get that extra reassurance and insight from people who are there or have made the move from London/from out of the area recently like we hope to.

Any advice (pros and cons) on living there in general, areas to live, the commute to London, nurseries, schools, things to do with little ones and settling in in general would be great to learn! (sorry for such a list!)

It feels like such a big decision where to make the move and without close friends or family in the equation, as they are up North or in London, it seems that bit harder!

Looking forward to hearing from anyone who can help!

Cheers

Sally

Have a search on my name - I have posted LOADS on moving here!!

I moved here two years ago when pregnant with my first (second due in January). It is a great place to have a family - we moved from Putney so it was a big change. There are loads of toddler groups and things to do, an active NCT group if you want to be involved, classes coming out of your ears plus nice shops and restaurants. The only downside would be the huge cost of commuting to London as my hubby works for the underground we get free travel but think season ticket is close to £4k

There are lots of education choice here from private to state, small village schools to larger town schools. Nursery are plentiful from chain to independant, my own two went to a small village nursery Well Place Day Nursery in Penshurst a small village near T.W. It has very caring family friendly staff and the most fantstic outside space, which is what I was looking for.

Thanks very much for helping everyone! Really good to hear positive things, the commute and cost is probably the main consideration at the moment.. Thanks again for taking the time to post!

Hi London Lottie

Indeed the terrified and excited is a pain isnt it! Sometimes just want that crystal ball. I am worried about the "commuter Lifestyle" and if we will find the distance to London where work is and clients a real drag on family life or if we will be able to manage it? The whole "moving out" of London and where to locate a family feels such a big question whereas moves we have made before seemed sooooo simple! One thing for sure I am getting fed up of stalking rightmove and looking at commuter guide sites!!

Where abouts in TW are you thinking and will you/partner be doing "the commute"?

Cheers

Sal

Hi Both, hope your plans/decisions are progressing.

We'll be moving over to TW in December from East London - the decision is made, rental sorted, house on the market! So hard making the decision, but now its made its good getting things moving and making plans.

Hi, we moved here a couple of years ago from London and are so glad we did. The people are friendly, loads to do with the kids and close to the countryside. Great schools and nurseries too.

We found a website called www.thetunbridgewellsmum.com very helpful.

Hi

Congrats Maggie75 on taking the decision! Hope all progressing well! Where were you in East London?

Thanks so much for the site sjp22 will have a look

LondonLottie we are still very much at the stage of sitting on the bloody fence not knowijg which way to jump! We wont be doing anything until Jan 2012 as DH neeeds to get confirmation on his job. I am interested in Montessori too so do let me know anything you find out, the more I look into TW and the competition for school catchments the more daunting and far too grown up! How are things progressing for you?

The property market looks a bit quiet at the moment and still trying to get a handle on the "good places" to live and pros and cons, reckon we need to take another trip down soon to scout out some more.

Great to have friendly folk to share this with!

Cheers for now

Sal x

Hi there -

Lottie - yep - rentals a nightmare. we really struggled to fund something near enough to the school we want to apply to - and even though its pretty close - no guarantees ...

We are heading to Culverden Down area. DD is 4 and the deadline for applications is mid january - so we were very restricted in where we could go to. Would be lovely to live in the 'Village' but just doesnt work for us - want a bigger house, garage, bigger garden, good school. The village tends to be Georgian houses, lovely, but no garage, courtyard garden etc. Once we are there and we've sold our place in London, hope to be in a good position to pounce on the right house when it comes up.

Friends rented for a year though and were outbid on several houses before they bought - so might be a bit of a slog to get there. Market seems v slow (I think its the fact that people stay - much less transient than London) that makes it like that though, which is I guess a good thing as it means people must be happy there!

sally - we're in walthamstow - where are you? Got lots of people from stokie and hackney looking at our house at the moment, so am currently extolling the many virtues of walthamstow village! (not quite like TW village though yet!).

Hi Guys

Maggie75 we are in Walthamstow too! Love the village and rave about it to those who have never heard of e17. Still waiting for the big "coming up" to hit wider Walthamstow :) Will miss eat 17 as love it there - when we finally do up sticks!

LondonLottie hope that you are having luck with the houses!

Sal x

Hi sally! How uncanny - both from the 'stow and considering the same move! Its such a wrench isnt it - love E17, we are happy there and love the vibe, but need to think about the future. Dont really want DD being a teenager there tbh and if we stay for primary school, before you know it, we'll be 50 and she'll be 15!

Friends of ours did the same move - e17 village - TW about 2 years ago and have settled well. They've now got 3 kids (!!!!) so def the right thing for them - as they've got a big family house. They would have struggled in their terrace here i think. Also say that its v friendly - lots of London ex pats. I met a few of them in the park and they seemed nice and normal!

They did say it was hard at first - leaving everything and everyone, i feel lucky that I have them there, so at least ill have someone to hang out with whilst Im finding my feet.

Will also miss Eat17! My friend did say she hasnt found anywhere she lieks as much, and misses Springfield Park cafe! I bet we'd recognise each other from around and about in RL!

Lottie - so understand what you mean about a period house - we are hoping to get a biggish 30s type place (well, big compared to where we live now), which would soften the blow as they can be spacious, without feeling souless iykwim.

We did choose Culverden Down for the school, location and housing stock - its the one place that had them all for us, is also walkable to town. And our friends live there and we are stalking them !

We've just had a good offer on our house, so fingers crossed!

Thats fast Lottie! Tbh though - prob better than faffing around forever and a day deciding like us! Just go for it! Keep us updated. Is that a village?

I cant even drive, so am def in rural/provincial denial - first job when we get to TW - learn to drive!

good luck!

Wow fast mover Lottie! Hope you get it!

Where are you in the Stow Maggie? We are on Barclay road. We probably will recognise each other how funny! Good luck with the offer.

Lucky you having some good friends there already - that makes all the difference. We will be right billy no mates where ever we move as all close friends in London, abroad or up north! was at the toy library yesterday and there were so many people I had got to know over the years there I did think wow it will take me a while to create this again! We are just the same in that we love the vibe here and luckily are in the catchment for henry maynard but small 2 bed terrace with 1 very lively DS and new baby in March it is just too small! Also same as you in that dont want DS going to secondary school here and its best to make the move sooner rather than later I guess!

Keep me posted on your news guys, it is inspiring me to actually take the plunge!

Sal x

Hello again on this thread! We are still going ahead with our move to the TW area, although now moving (albeit very slowly) towards target of the house we looked at first in Matfield. Offer accepted, solicitors doing their thing, mortgage underway, hoping for valuation this week. Yikes. Matfield = 6 miles from TW though so my first thoughts of moving to TW proper have gone by the wayside. Had lots of thoughts having spent the weekend there, namely that it seemed very busy and I wasn't sure that's what we wanted.

Had a great meal out at the Black Pig though

Why so many deleted posts on the thread? I had to delete all of mine as someone was snooping through my account....

How's everyone else getting on?

Hi Lottie
Great news that everything is going through. Our house in London is also doing the 'going though v slowly' thing. We are moving over permantly tomorrow to TW though! We ve already moved furniture etc over and have just been waiting to finish nusery/work in London. All v scary, but exicitng too I guess.

Me and Sally have tried to meet up but keep getting gazumped by illness etc. Sally - Im sorry, but I doubt Ill see you now we are off tomorrow afternoon so time has ran out. However, if you are in TW taking another look etc then do get in touch and I promise to make it this time!

The messages are deleted because I realised that Id posted too many personal details on such an open forum.

I saw the Black Pig - glas it was nice!

Lots of luck all. Ill post again and let you know how we are getting on. Keep us posted Lottie.