What's Maidstone like?

[Molly54]

We're looking to move to the Maidstone area in the next few months. I was wondering what the nice areas are and what are the places to avoid buying a house? At the moment we're looking at the town centre and villages to the west of Maidstone such as Aylesford. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Slightly ... grim. Maybe some Maidstone suburbs are OK. I wouldn't touch any of it.

I briefly lived in aylesford about 20 years ago, parking was awful! Plus it was quite a busy place traffic wise.
West Malling i recall was nice. Was only there on a university placement so don't know it that well

My parents live in Maidstone and I grew up there. Moved on now but go back regularly. I'd say there are someone lovely areas and not so nice areas. Some roads in Tovil aren't nice at all. Courtney Road and surrounding roads are rough. Barming and Allington are nice. Avoid shepway. The town changes each time I return but it is well serviced especially by McDonald's! Be careful that there are lots of new builds but not anything near them, lots seem to be popping up in the west and they are always a drive to a shop, school etc. Busses can be expensive there.

Thanks all. I'll be heading down in a few weeks to check it all out. Hoping we can find some nice areas. Glad Barming is nice as there are a few houses I like the look of there and seems to be near good schools. And West Malling was on my list as well. Does anyone know what the development near Leybourne Lakes is like? Seems to be some nice townhouses round there.

it is well serviced especially by McDonald's!

This made me chuckle. Back in the 1970s my DSis read her first word in Maidstone - Wimpy!

Leybourne lakes have some flooding issues in the houses
They haven't been built amazingly

Make sure there's a proper warranty in place with an external provider...

Leybourne lakes is lovely.

Aylesford village itself is tiny, no parking. Aylesford as per Rightmove is much bigger with supermarkets schools etc. Aylesford, Ditton, larkfield and leybourne all merge into one big area. As with everywhere there's some rougher parts.

It's not the nicest place IMO. But equally it's definitely not the worst place in Kent either.
Would Sevenoaks or Tunbridge Wells be an option?

I live in Kent and visit other areas within it. Maidstone has some lovely areas Bearsted. Penenden Heath, Downswood which have green spaces and good schools and some nice house in places like Allington and Barming.

Town centre seems ok when I've had to go in.

We popped in once on a Saturday when staying in the area, ended up in a one-way traffic jam right through the centre, for almost an hour. And apparently this is normal.

The surrounding area was lovely though. But bisected by the motorway.

Thanks all, that's really helpful. @wineytimey we love those areas. We are looking around there too but tempted by Maidstone as you get more for your money which we like.

Have a friend that lived on the leybourne lakes development and she has had nothing but issues with the house. Mainly flooding issues.

@Youvegotafriendinme ah thanks! 100% ruling that area out now.