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Meet-ups

When meeting up take sensible precautions. Meet in a public place and let others know where you are going.

Original poster

Maidstone meet up

55 replies

Turquoise · 24/01/2006 18:35

Relocated from the Faversham thread, we're trying to organise something on a term-time tuesday in Maidstone in a few week's time.
Potentially:
Cadbury
Turquoise
Freckle
Rickman
and possibly Fio2.

Anyone else fancy it? There seem to be quite a lot of Maidstone mners now.

OP posts:
Cadbury · 06/02/2006 17:39

Hi, sorry, haven't been ignoring this, just busy.

Can you tell me where Castle whotsit is Turq?

I know it would take me all day to get to Leybourne Lakes on public transport and several changes of vehicle, so I think that might be out of me. However, if that is good for the rest of you, go for it and I'll catch you all next time (maybe when ds is completely dry and I can learn to drive while he is at preschool!)

Dingle · 06/02/2006 18:06

Hi cadders, it was just so great to see you last week! Thank you.

Here is the details of castle Lake
HTH

Cadbury · 07/02/2006 16:07

Thanks Dingle - Yes, I've heard of it but wouldn't be able to get there with out a car.

Great to see you too the other day. I'm always around for a coffee or a brunch

emmawill · 07/02/2006 20:01

HI ya, I'm afraid thanks miles away from me as I would be coming from Ashford and I looked on the map and i think that's the opposite side of maidstone to me, I do drive but I'm a pretty crap driver and get would get lost in a paper bag if anytime you met up my side of maidstone or central maidstone let us know.

MrsWood · 08/02/2006 16:14

I'd be up for it, my dd is 2.6 - any good? LOL

few thoughts:

There is Wear'M'Out play centre which is obviously suitable for all ages.

Also, someone's mentioned Mote Park which should be easy to get to for everyone involved as it's accessible by car, bus and on foot from town centre. Not to mwention that the new outdoor play area is fantastic.

There is a small indoor play centre in Maidstone Leisure centre (pretty much next door ro main Mote Park entereance).

Millennium Park in Maidstone is pretty good too, although older children play area and younger one is separated by 2-3 mins. walk - so not ideal.

Freckle · 08/02/2006 17:53

Where is the Wear'm'Out place? I thought that was in Tonbridge.

FioFio · 08/02/2006 17:55

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MrsWood · 08/02/2006 18:35

Wear'M'Out is in parkwood Ind Estate - off Sutton Road...

emmawill · 09/02/2006 04:41

I'll try and get were ever especially if its on the 7th March that gives me plenty of time to sort out where I'm going. Anywhere sounds good to me.

JustBonnie · 09/02/2006 07:15

sorry to interrupt but we are relocating to kent in the coming year (as soon as our house sells) and are looking at Maidstone, Sittingbourne, Chatham as potential areas. We've only got a budget of about £160k so not much for a 3 bed house but would really appreciate any tips on which areas are nice/to be avoided etc. Don't know anyone who lives there and it's so hard trying to decide where to go!

Thanks

MrsWood · 09/02/2006 11:02

I'm in Maidstone and like it although it's not as nice as Canterbury for example - but with all the new things they're building and planning to built, it's certainly promising. it gets very busy at rush hour as most of the town is one way system... Sittingbourne is also OK - I'd probably avoid Chatham and Gillingham (no offence anyone!). Rochester is also quite nice if you want to be near Chatham area - it's a historic town and like Canterbury, has lovely old buildings and streets. Ashford is getting built up but town centre always seemed so small to me. I felt I'd get bored quite quickly with what's on offer.

But, that's just my opinion - I'm sure others will think differently.
It's best to come for a browse whenever you can - that way you can see what you prefer. We came from Surrey and liked Maidstone instantly. It also helped that the only house we truly fell in love with was here.

Cadbury · 09/02/2006 17:50

JustBonnie

I live in Chatham, and agree that Maidstone and Rochester would be much nicer, but you'll struggle to get a nice 3 bed house in a nice road for your money. There are some nicer parts to Chatham where the prices are still not to extortionate. If you start looking round at places, let me know and I'll give you the lowdown as far as I know.

Good luck with the house hunting.

emmawill · 10/02/2006 10:19

justbonnie - If your looking for value for money Ashford has got lots of new houses being built everywhere its having a built shopping being built so the town will get bigger, not the most friendest town but where is these days, but you do get some very good deals on the new houses especially. Maidstone is more expensive as its that much nearer to London as is the county town with much more amenties but 160k might not get you such a nice house there. Canterbury is indeed lovely I would love to live their but again very expensive, Faversham is better priced and a nice market town with a nice in and outdoor swimming pool. Personally I'm not a fan on the medway towns but Rochester is certainly the prettest and therefore most expensive. Chatham has a very good hospital and special baby care unit my sister in law lives there and she finding it very friendly is however where the nickname chav comes from!!!!!

JustBonnie · 10/02/2006 12:24

Oh dear, don't really want to be a Chav from Chatham! Funny thing is we are orignally from Croydon (also a chav capital!) but moved to Blackpool seven years ago to be near dhs family. We've got quite a nice house here but have never been really happy so are looking to move back South. The problem is we've got no chance of Croydon as it's so expensive now and on research Kent is much more affordable whilst being not too far from where we want to be. We know we'll not get a brilliant house for our budget but hopefully we'll get something okayish and as dh will be earning more we can maybe move up the property ladder in the years to come.

We've seen loads of houses in 'strood' does anyone know if this is some sort of estate? We will be spending a long weekend down there in a couple of weeks and are going to have a good look round I just wanted a rough idea of where to avoid but it looks as though it will either be Maidstone or Rochester. Anyone got any thoughts on Sittingbourne as this was another area we were interested in.

Once again, I'm so sorry for gatecrashing your thread, thanks for all the advice and hopefully in the months to come I can join one of your meet ups as you all sound really friendly

Noidea · 10/02/2006 14:22

Hi Just bonnie,
Strood would be another one to avoid if you can - pretty much like Chatham. There's a village nearby called Wainscott which is reasonably nice and very friendly, but it depends on whether you want town or village. I used to live on the 'Hoo Peninsular' which is north of Strood and some of the villages there are very nice and, I don't think, too expensive.

emmawill · 10/02/2006 22:45

Yes I know the feeling, but the problem of moving away from the south east is that its very diffcuilt moving back i moved from the south east to Bangor, North Wales and back and its much more expensive down here just the cost of living. However, there's so many new homes being built in Kent that especially if you don't mind new houses then you can get some really good deals on them that's why I mentioned Ashford as that's set to double in the next 10 years and is going to have a high speed rail link to London you would get a reasonable 3 bed house for 160k, the nearer you go back towards London the more expensive. Anyway best of luck house hunting.

meggmoo · 11/02/2006 21:59

Hi Justbonnie.

Chtham does have some nice areas and IMO some decent shops.

Sittingbourne is fine as in all towns you get your nice and not so nice areas. I think you could probably get something quite decent for the cash. We're thinking about moving to be nearer to relatives but it's just very handy being near to everything m20/m2/m25 IYKWIM.

Feel free to e mail if you like bongobumm (at) Hot (mail) dot (com) and I could go into detail.

Freckle · 11/02/2006 23:01

I can claim to have experience of most areas near here, having gone to school in Chatham, living near Sittingbourne, and now living in Maidstone. So, Chatham is OK in parts, but mainly fairly dreary. There are certain parts which are "up and coming", but that doesn't translate to the whole town. Rochester is nice, but more pricey. It also has its drearier parts. Sittingbourne does not have a lot going for it, other than more affordable housing. Maidstone is the best of the bunch, but housing is not cheap. Nothing under £100K, even studio flats.

Ashford, although I have no direct experience of it, is up and coming, with the International station, plus a lot of new affordable housing. However, the shopping is not very attractive and it is a fairly soulless place.

You may like to check local schools and their Ofsted reports, etc. Remember that Kent and Medway still have a grammar school system so that might influence your choice.

rickman · 11/02/2006 23:08

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mummymojo · 11/02/2006 23:09

LOL Oh I love it - it's really hard to comment without offending someone. I live in Wainscott - which is nice - there are parts of Medway which I'd avoid but there are equally some good parts. You might want to check out this website which gives recent house sales Uk wide to find an area that suits your budget nethouseprices.com

JustBonnie · 12/02/2006 07:58

Please keep all the comments (good or bad) coming. We are going to have a look but you can't beat getting advice from people who actually live there. I've got a 17 year old (who is at college at the moment but is contemplating looking for employment when we move) a 2 and a half year old and a baby so would love something with decent schools nearby.

We are definately considering Ashford as a possibility but I think Maidstone is probably the strongest contender at the moment. Just a bit pricey!

JustBonnie · 11/03/2006 10:48

Thanks for all the advice so far. We've had a look round and have def decided maidstone is the place for us. Loved the town centre and it just seems like a nice area. We're putting our house on the market on Monday so are starting to seriously look at houses. Please can anyone tell me if there are any areas of Maidstone to avoid just to make our search a bit easier. We've seen some houses we can afford in Tovil, Barming, Parkwood but obviously haven't a clue if these are nice areas. thanks Smile

Freckle · 11/03/2006 11:17

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Aero · 11/03/2006 12:09

Wow - Chatham has had a bit of a slating here and if I'm honest, it's not the nicest town in the world, but, the town has everything you need on your doorstep. On the whole, people are friendly and I live in a lovely road just where the neighbours are second to none (which is paramount to us after living below some really bad ones in London). My children are very happily settled in a decent school and I have no intention of shifting. We live under five minutes walkng distance from the station and you could probably bag yourself a decent three bed house with a biggish garden in our road (with a bit of haggling) for your budget. And not everyone who lives in Chatham is a 'chav' (and I hate that derogatory term) I can assure you. I think that every area has it's good and bad points.
Anyhow - me and Cadders live locally - what more could one want! lol

Now, little rant over, I must re-read and get back to the point of the thread!

Aero · 11/03/2006 12:11

Oh, and Chatham is about to get a big overhaul! (which will mean roadworks will be a PITA over the next few months , but hopefully worth it in the end).