Moving to Canterbury

[SofaSnoozer]

We're planning on making the time honoured move out of SE London (East Dulwich) to Kent and having read loads of messages on mumsnet we are particularly interested in Canterbury but know nothing about it! Can anyone tell me anything about good places to live in/near to Canterbury please? I found an old review on the Guardian website that said "Within the walls are lanes with brooks and medieval houses, where you can still imagine monks tending duck ponds. There are nice villagey inner areas, such as St Dunstan's. The best suburban streets are south of the centre on the hills around the Old Dover Road and towards the university in the north-east. The countryside is much in demand, especially those lovely villages, such as Chartham and Wye". This was written 5 years ago so don't know if it's still relevant?

We have 3 little girls (aged 3,5 and 7) so schools will be very important but more than anything at this point we want to get a feel for the different parts of Canterbury in particularly that are family friendly. Any thoughts very gratefully received!

[takeaway2]

How did I miss this post? I was abroad I think at a work thing when you posted!

My child goes to Blean. We love it. My younger will go there in a couple of years. We moved here for the school (from another part of Canterbury). Yes there are studenty houses near the uni but interestingly enough there's a huge difference just streets away! St Stephens school is v mixed. They have 4bed double garage detached houses and also council. So it caters to everyone in between. St Stephens has a 3 form entry. We have lots of friends there. St. Peter's is one form. Blean is 2 form. Other schools include st Thomas (catholic, one form); Bridge (2 form - just had v nasty ofsted).

Canterbury is grammar school area. Three grammar schools in the immediate vicinity. Simon Langton Boys, Simon Langton girls and Barton court.

Also have public schools. St edmunds, kent college, kings - the juniors is in Sturry which is 3 miles out.

[takeaway2]

Margu - your kids being 16 and 13... Have you spoken to the schools? As you would know it's a grammar area so I imagine they'll have to pass or have passed an 11+? I don't much anything about this stage as mine are only v young.

If you want to live in the city centre, within easy reach would be Canterbury High which is a sports academy - they have many sports and their 6th form combines with Simon Langton boys - a grammar school. Simon Langton boys and girls are reachable by public bus quite easily. St Anselms is the catholic high school which is next door to SL girls.

The areas just near or in the city centre really are wincheap (not many large houses and I wouldn't really live there); south Canterbury (nearer to the Langtons) which has all sizes houses, near the hospital and quite expensive; Sturry road and beyond (wouldn't really live there - I did for quite a few years and it was fine - but then I had children and we decided we had to move) - if you want to the development at the start of Sturry road is quite nice - kingsbrook and it's quite big homes and looks quite pretty); st Stephens - nice big homes there as well as smaller ones. Near to Canterbury west station. Lots of friends who commute to London live near there; Blean - nice smaller village. Great primary. Probably v
Middle class; st dunstans - lots of commuters to London as its near Canterbury west station too.

[curlew]

Just to warn you, there are very rarely any spaces in grammar schools in either Canterbury or Faversham apart from in year 7 and year 12.

[Rosetti]

Just don't live in Chestfield - don't think I've ever lived in such a strange place!! I prefer Whitstable - Canterbury gets very gridlocked esp at weekends and can be a nightmare to go through. I would look at South Canterbury if you do want to live there - St Augustines Road area.

[Utterbutter]

Hi, I was thrilled to find this thread. We are considering moving to canterbury this year, but have heard and read some areas are prone to flooding, in fact as I write, I have seen in the news that some areas are under water. We obvioulsy want to avoid buying in these areas. Please can anyone tell me where we should and shouldn't look at buying? I have two primary children so also want a good school catchment. Thanks

[Erin2010]

Hi utterbutter we are looking around the area too. I really like whitstable but also Canterbury. Moving from Crystal a palace in London so want to enjoy country life but with a bit of a vibe! Have you made a decision yet? We are going to do a lot of trips and drives there over the next few months to research.

[Mamamarmalade1]

Hi there, I can see that this thread has been running for a while now,but any information would be helpful.
I'm a single parent with two children (aged 1 and 8). I'm looking to move to Canterbury as I'll shortly be studying at Uni there as a mature student. I currently live in another part of Kent.
My top priority is that my older son moves to a good junior school and that we live in a nice area. I will be renting, but traditional student areas are probably not going to be suitable for families. Any tips or information would be appreciated. Thanks. P.S having never moved with children before, does anyone know how you go about getting a school place? I'm assuming that you can't apply for a place until you live in the area, in which case we could be left without a school...

[Mascara33]

Hello. Was delighted to find this. Am 54 year old divorcee, mother of 23 year old daughter. Am looking to relocate from Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire although originally from Essex. Not quite ready for beige bngalow yet. Visited canterbury this week and loved it but housing stock is low. Would like to be able to walk to town, station, pubs, restaurants etc. Have max 250000 to spend. Would like to not be overlooked in garden and near good transport links. Any suggestion?

[juliascurr]

Faversham is good. 'Grammar' school areas are actually secondary modern areas for the vast majority - comprehensives with the top stream syphoned off; Kent secondary schools are among the worst in the country and it's not a deprived area. Something to bear in mind

[MaBunting]

Hi needing advice on moving to Canterbury please

[coocachoo]

I live in herne bay not far from canterbury. canterburys a nice area with a good college and lots of shops would reccomend.

[Katiemason122]

I'm a bit late to this discussion but I moved to South Canterbury last spring. I've got two boys in primary school and they've settled well. I came from South East London and although I'm finding it a bit tough to make new friends I'm enjoying the extra space and the city is great for shopping and a drink. There are a few lovely independent restaurants too. Whitstable is so close and great for a visit. My boys are loving the bigger garden we now have. I do miss aspects of my old life but I'm sure when I manage to meet some people who like a few jars I'll be much more content !!! Happy to answer any more questions about living here!

[ekp81]

Hi Katiemason122 I'm actually from south east London too and currently seriously thinking about moving to Canterbury but don't really know the area, we viewed a house last weekend in Westbere which we loved but it's Sturry and I've googled some reviews and read a few comments that aren't that great!! But I don't know why?! We only drove through Sturry briefly but what I saw looked ok! And Westbere and the house we saw were beautiful! If you can give me any advice I would appreciate it so so much, I'm going to view the house again this Friday so I'll try and do a bit more of a recci! I hope you've managed to meet some people and other nice mummy's! I also have two boys of 3yrs and 6 months so we're looking for good schools and also my other half will be commuting to London. I hope to hear back from you!! Thank you :)

[BananaCo]

Hi all. New on here but I've been reading this thread with interest. As it's been good going a while, not sure if I'll get a reply but I just wondered, of those who were thinking of moving to Canterbury, how many did and are you enjoying it?

We currently live in South East London and are considering options for a move at some point in the next year or so (basically before our oldest starts primary school). I'm quite keen on Canterbury but my OH is worried about starting again somewhere new.

[venividivicky]

I would also be very grateful for some information about Canterbury and surrounding areas, as we are thinking of relocating there. Schools are not an issue but we would like to be near a high speed rail link to London if possible.

[nrahman]

hi I currently live in Canterbury just opposite the west station. We are now looking into buying houses. Please recommend some good areas. We are quite tied up with distances because my husband would have to be within walking distance to the wetsstation. We have seen a house in harbledown but I am quite unsure about the area and school. please any help would be appreciated.
Thank

[AMC123]

D'oh! I've literally just started a thread on this very subject - and just seen this!

[abkol47]

Hi all, I am new here but really need advice as we(my family) plan moving to aylesham but a bit worried about some bad comments we have read online about how safe the area is. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[drbetty17]

I have lived in Canterbury for over 40 years and seen it change dramatically - from a beautiful quiet medieval city to a noisy student hellhole.Student accommodation dominates every area of Canterbury. There are some 40,000 students which Canterbury is unable to deal with on any level be it noise, anti social behaviour, rubbish etc. I would avoid like the plague!

[planetclom]

Zombie thread
Ps on Aylesham it's pure old snobbery.
It was a mining village and not dangerous at all. You are not far from where Megan and Lin Russell where murdered but that would be step to far to say the area is dangerous tragic and awful as their murders were.

[Vonnie2020]

Hi, did you eventually move to Canterbury? I would be interested to hear how you got on. I am looking at that area as a move from South London and would love any information on areas.