Is Maidstone a nice place to live?

Sofia109 · 2022-07-25T18:40:50+00:00

I moved to Reading area for IT work and everyone said it was a great place, but it's actually not very nice at all.. there are pockets of nice areas, but its generally really ugly and not aesthetically pleasing at all. Is Maidstone also going to be a disappointment? I wish i'd known about Reading before i moved here. I did visit but its hard to get a feel for a place until you live there. Would appreciate some sound advice about Maidstone - on the one had i read its a middle class town, on the other people are laughing at the suggestion anything about Maidstone could be middle class....?

stressingmum · 25/07/2022 19:56

I think what you need to ask yourself is what it is you need from a place you are living.

Parts of Maidstone could be considered middle class but parts are very rough. Have you looked round it been too view houses areas etc?

Original poster

Sofia109 · 25/07/2022 21:13

Yes i have, but i did that for Reading also but now im here, its really not that nice at all. I find in general people are quite nicely spoken, but it's just so ugly - everyone says it. In fact people were in disbelief i actually wanted to move here, but they were too polite to say!

I just don't want the same happening with Maidstone. I know there are lovely villages surrounding, as there are in Reading, but i would be living in Maidstone itself, and doing activities in the Maidstone area. I'm young so am not ready for a village life yet. The things include going out to bars, fitness, shopping, sport, just all the usual things i guess. I went to the Morrisons in Maidstone when i passed through and honestly it seemed really deprived in there, on a scale i haven't seen before. I've also spoken to a number of people who have the most awful accent, and i don't know if everyone speaks like that or it was just a handful of people i met. I really dont mind accents btw, i really like them - but these voices were like fog horns, it was awful! Aside from that, i just really dont want to live in a working class area where people behave in a crude manner and dont seem to have an social etiquette - please understand, this is nothing to do with snobbery. But i think there are basics most people adhere to, even if they dont realise they are doing it. This is all im asking for really. Manners and people who dont think revving their engine round the town centre in a car with a souped up motor, is a cool way to spend the evening 😬

OP posts:

Delectable · 03/08/2022 22:37

How about Tunbridge Wells? It's close by.

KentishMama · 03/08/2022 22:42

Maidstone is quite rough, to be honest. There are some areas that are nicer, but the town is completely lacking in charme. If village life isn't you, then you could consider Canterbury (two universities - good night life!).

AKnitterofThings · 03/08/2022 22:48

I am from Kent and your post is very rude. I only hope you can find a lovely middle class area to live in and don’t have to associate with the likes of my working class family. I would avoid T. Wells too then as there are a few deprived areas away from the Common and Rusthall and the locals come into town a couple of times a week. Their accents may not be to your liking.

OppsUpsSide · 03/08/2022 22:50

Oh get over yourself, she doesn’t like it because she thinks it’s ugly, that is allowed.

MrsU2022 · 11/08/2022 18:25

I'm going to be brutally honest because I'm sensing that's what you're after...I'm trying to be helpful but appreciate this might cause offence to some...but simply my opinion :)

I am from Tunbridge Wells and grew up there. Regularly visited Maidstone for shopping as they have better shops (in my opinion).

I personally don't like tunbridge wells but lots of people do. I think its snobby and overrated. The pantiles is pretty, but it's rubbish for high street shopping, the nightlife is not up to much.

If you don't like reading, then you won't like Maidstone. The town centre itself has good shops but it by no means feels 'middle class'.

Depends what you're looking for!

I hope that's somewhat helpful :)

(Opinion of a 29yr old 'middle class' female who now lives in Sussex) x

Samara26 · 11/08/2022 22:36

MrsU2022 · 11/08/2022 18:25

I'm going to be brutally honest because I'm sensing that's what you're after...I'm trying to be helpful but appreciate this might cause offence to some...but simply my opinion :)

I am from Tunbridge Wells and grew up there. Regularly visited Maidstone for shopping as they have better shops (in my opinion).

I personally don't like tunbridge wells but lots of people do. I think its snobby and overrated. The pantiles is pretty, but it's rubbish for high street shopping, the nightlife is not up to much.

If you don't like reading, then you won't like Maidstone. The town centre itself has good shops but it by no means feels 'middle class'.

Depends what you're looking for!

I hope that's somewhat helpful :)

(Opinion of a 29yr old 'middle class' female who now lives in Sussex) x

Yes it is helpful. I've been to T Wells a few times and 100% agree with everything u wrote. Actually I used to live in crawley which is far from classy but it was greener I guess - more suburbian. There's plenty of chavs there but also plenty of normal people- I was hoping maidstone was an upgrade, but likewise I'd hate to live in a snobby area like Reigate or Surbiton too!!

Whereabouts in Sussex did u move to?x

MrsU2022 · 12/08/2022 08:25

I'm in Eastbourne now :)

I hope you find the right place for you, not an easy decision!

Cervinia · 12/08/2022 08:34

If you’re young and in iT I don’t understand why you wouldn’t look to live and work in one of the many great cities we have. All cities have great parts to live in (as well as shit ugly parts).

Samara26 · 13/08/2022 06:42

Cervinia · 12/08/2022 08:34

If you’re young and in iT I don’t understand why you wouldn’t look to live and work in one of the many great cities we have. All cities have great parts to live in (as well as shit ugly parts).

I'm looking for living space of 1100 square foot. In general an apartment is not a great investment compared to a house and can be very expensive as you have to pay ground rent and service charges.

London, Brighton and Birmingham are not cities I care for and I would definitely not feel safe in London.

To move up north is too far from friends and family and would be a big culture shock. So there are not so many options as it first seems. I considered Cambridge but apparently it's a small quiet city and not as lively as I'd thought. Also very expensive and I have and will always have a car.

Oxford is also crazy expensive but comes down to the same issue of square footage and fees for an apartment

Samara26 · 13/08/2022 06:45

Cervinia · 12/08/2022 08:34

If you’re young and in iT I don’t understand why you wouldn’t look to live and work in one of the many great cities we have. All cities have great parts to live in (as well as shit ugly parts).

And all the horror stories I've heard of living in flats with noisy neighbours, I'm not keen to be honest. I know they're not all like that, but u don't know till you've moved in.

Orangesare · 13/08/2022 06:53

Definitely don’t move up north if you think Maidstone is rough. Maidstone is fine

there aren’t any truly middle class areas of the north as there as locals everywhere
with loud accents and everyone puts their two pennerth in without being invited
and the supermarkets, well I just would stick to online shopping in the north

neshtastic · 13/08/2022 07:04

Orangesare · 13/08/2022 06:53

Definitely don’t move up north if you think Maidstone is rough. Maidstone is fine

there aren’t any truly middle class areas of the north as there as locals everywhere
with loud accents and everyone puts their two pennerth in without being invited
and the supermarkets, well I just would stick to online shopping in the north

I come from Maidstone and now live in York. I know which is rougher.

I imagine you have no idea about 'up north'

Orangesare · 13/08/2022 07:07

neshtastic · 13/08/2022 07:04

I come from Maidstone and now live in York. I know which is rougher.

I imagine you have no idea about 'up north'

Show quote history

I live in the north and have done for many years and in many different areas
I also know Maidstone very very well.

Orangesare · 13/08/2022 07:09

it was also a bit tongue in cheek. I love the north including the rougher parts.

catinboots123 · 13/08/2022 07:19

I've lived in several villages around Kent and I much prefer Maidstone to T Wells! Just outside Maidstone currently

T Wells has posher shops and brasseries etc but it is full of junkies. Seriously. And arseholes who have moved down from London thinking it's the height of middle classness.

Yes Maidstone has it's problems with street drinkers and homelessness, but it's not threatening or dangerous. There's a brilliant selection of shops. Nothing high end but you've got your House of Fraser, Zara type shops up one end of town, then your Wilkos etc in the shopping centre.

Loads of places to eat.

Also just on the edge of town all the big shops like TK Maxx, Dunelm etc

I love it. And I'm a born and bred Londoner. Oh yeah and train links to London from Maidstone are brilliant.

Depends how much of a crashing snob you are 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

Original poster

Sofia109 · 29/08/2022 01:32

This really made me chuckle! I've lived up North too, and people are quite opinionated but i find a lot of people down South can be too., perhaps in a different way. There are some upmarket areas in the North though and i wouldn't say everywhere is rough, but i know the places that definitely are. I would definitely live there again, but i'd need a reason to. Trying to find an affordable, semi-rural, safe place to live in the South though is no mean feat!

OP posts:

Original poster

Sofia109 · 29/08/2022 01:39

Having said that, i've spent some more time in Maidstone now and i have seen some sights and some rough areas

OP posts:

Original poster

Sofia109 · 29/08/2022 01:41

I'm not sure what a 'crashing snob' is lol but the train links are an hour minimum to London and i heard its not on a main line. Are things set to improve, as one hour - 1 hr 15 is quite a long commute, when you think you have to get on the tube after that to get to where u need to go?

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teablanket · 29/08/2022 01:46

Maidstone is rough, and that's coming from someone who grew up in a deprived part of the North East.

I live near Maidstone now, have done for years, and the foghorn-like grating accent is widespread and I've never managed to get used to it. Sounds snobby but they judge me for the way I speak, too, so it's all swings and roundabouts.

Samara26 · 29/08/2022 01:54

teablanket · 29/08/2022 01:46

Maidstone is rough, and that's coming from someone who grew up in a deprived part of the North East.

I live near Maidstone now, have done for years, and the foghorn-like grating accent is widespread and I've never managed to get used to it. Sounds snobby but they judge me for the way I speak, too, so it's all swings and roundabouts.

I'm curious- is it considered a Kent accent or just maidstone? I hear what u refer to but I also hear people with more of just a Kent twang that's so not strong?