Moving to Whitstable - advice from local mums pls

[Erin2010]

Hello, my husband and I are planning on moving to whitstable in the next 4-6 months with our 16 month old boy. We are currently living in crystal palace in London. I am a film producer/project manager but not currently working as looking after our little one and my husbands work will have him travel by car and train into London and Surrey but we've done the trip by car a few times and we are ok with it.

I am looking for local mums in the area as we'd like to find a few nice playgroups/activities. It would be lovely to meet any other DFL's in the area. Also the area we are hoping to move is in Chestfield- house is on the Drove behind the golf course. I'd love to hear from mums near here and how the immediate area is in terms of parks/playgrounds, walks etc. I know whitstable town is a little bit away in the car which we are fine with but would love to hear what locals think of living in chestfield itself. Thanks

Sorry I don't have any advice but bumping as it's somewhere we are considering in a few years time and I'm keen to know more of what it's like at the moment and how easy it is to make friends with preschool or primary age children.

There are lots of old threads if you google search Whitstable and mumsnet but can't think of much re Chestfield area. I don't drive so would want to be in thick of it either Whitstable or Tankerton near the sea if we do take the plunge.

Hope you get some replies as v interesting topic to me!!

(For what it's worth I would love to know more about vibe/diversity/how liberal/how much AP style parenting groups, primary schools and how easy to get immersed and involved in community) as I mainly SAH. Thanks!)

Thanks for bumping it Lulupeg. I have seen some threads on here from a while ago but wanted to see if there was anything more recent or indeed if there were others in a similar situation. We have been to the area about 5 times now to see various properties. Seen some in central Whitstable, tankerton and but just recently went to see some at Chestfield which is a bit out of the town but I don't mind walking and hope to be driving by the time we move. Fingers crossed we get a few more posts x

Chestfield is nice but not walkable to whitstable really. You also have to cross the main road (ie 60 mile zone) to get out of chestfield to tanker ton and whitstable. Most buses don't go there either

I would stick to main whitstable. You want to be walkable to bus stop/ train and beach. Whitstable parking in main town is limited as high st is narrow

Hi Artandco thanks so much its really helpful. Yes I think I am a bit concerned about the distance into town from Chestfield and also still having a look at Tankerton. However looks like you get more house for your money in Chestfield. I am learning to drive right now which would help heaps but I also like the idea of leaving the house and being able to walk to places. Parks/woods/a playground/pub/shop…. I love the idea of being near the sea in the summer months but don't like the thought of living right in an area that gets hugely busy in the summer too as I imagine it might get quite noisy etc at night? Mmmm we'll see. Have some more houses to see next weekend.

I've pm-d you Erin!