Please tell me about living in Tunbridge Wells

[SweetDCofMine]

We're thinking of moving there with DS who is in Year 2 and DD who is in nursery (currently living in NW London). We would like a period 4 bed house near good schools (both primary and secondary). Budget around £675K. What areas should I start looking into? Thanks so much.

Bump

I've given loads of advice on T Wells over the last few months - have a search and if you have any more questions, shout!

I am pants at links, but this is a fantastic property, in the catchment for Bishops Down school, and on the doorstep of Bennet (outstanding CofE secondary, and is also in the grammar catchments). If you are going private, then Rose Hill is very convenient too.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33220070.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-18545793.html This one should be in the catchment for St James' school which is an excellent primary, not sure where you go if you don't get that one as we're closer to the first house...

Basically, secondary schooling is great if you have a potential grammar school child or if you are religious, but if not, then the only other choice is the failing high school which has been rebranded as an Academy. It will probably be fantastic in a few years time but it's a bit early to say at the moment.

We moved here almost 4 years ago and it's been a fantastic move. Only downside is the traffic and the heinously expensive train travel - we subsidise the High Speed Link through our ticket prices but get a really poor service.

HTH a bit.

Thank you so much PanicMode. What do you think of this one? www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29629285.html

Lovely house! However, that is a very busy road, although you may be alright with that house as it looks as though it is set back. I have a few friends who live on it and the houses are gorgeous, and more importantly have gardens of a good size - which is rare in T Wells, even with your budget.

The only other fly in the ointment is catchments for schools - you are outside the St John's School catchment there, and I think you would be offered St Barnabas or Sherwood, neither of which are particularly sought after. However, the access to town is fantastic, there is a great park on the opposite side of the road (over the railway bridge) from there, and the walk to the station (High Brooms) is easy.

Wow PanicMode, thank so much! May I PM you or is that pushing it?

TW is commuter belt on the whole. Most people live in Tonbridge. Good shopswithJohn Lewis . But the local NHS hospital does not receive many good reports. Not particularly good for older children- it dies at night and there is no cinema left in the centre but nice theatre. Ideal commuting area

They have a ninja. He warns people when they're going to get parking fines.

SweetDCofMine - feel free to PM me, that's absolutely fine. I got masses of help from here and another forum I used when we moved here!