Dartford, Bromley.. Confused!

[alledm]

Hello,

our daughter is 16 months and I would love us to move to a bigger place by next spring.
We currently live in a 3 beds in Canada Water SE16, and we would like to cash in on the equity increase to move to a detached/semi detached house with a Garden.

We are looking for areas around either Bromley or Dartford where it seems there is a good bang/buck ratio. I imagine we would be looking for something in the 500-650k range.

I need to be able to commute to St. Pancras/Kings Cross in under 1 hour to make it sustainable. I think Dartford would give me the opportunity to take the fast train from Ebbsfleet so it seems ideal.

We liked Bromley as well but we keep hearing all sort of things about both these places.

What are your thoughts on these areas?

Thank you

We're attempting a similar move, so hard to know what an area is really like isn't it, until you've lived there for a few months. Bromley is ok, not sure about dartford, don't know it much at all. Dartford has grammars/ sec mods, Bromley has mostly well regarded comps if that makes any difference?

Ebsfleet is actually in Gravesham rather than dartford so if you need to use that train line I would suggest you look at Greenhithe, northfleet, swanscombe, bean, stone and ebbsfleet itself. If you go dartford then you would have a good 20-30 minute drive to get to Ebsfleet at commute times of the day. 10 minutes any other time.

I currently live in greenhithe. Happy to answer any questions about the area if you want to PM Me?

There are some nicer more rural places nearer to Ebbsfleet which might suit you. Easy access to Ebbsfleet and the amazing train service, short drive from Bluewater for shopping and entertainment. Dartford is ok, not pretty and bits of he town centre need some tlc (has suffered since bluewater was built) but there are good schools and easy access to London and green spaces.

Bromley has some very nice areas and excellent schools, particularly around the Langleys.

Have you considered Croydon? Half an hour from East Croydon to Kings Cross. South Croydon, Sanderstead, or further out (Warlingham, Limpsfield).

Ebbsfleet, interesting, are there any more fast services from St Pancras to the south that I haven't clocked?

Thank you everybody for such helpful answers!

Chocolatemartini if you are willing to move to ashford (next stop after ebbsfleet, you can get awesome gigantic houses for the cost of a london 2 beds :) and only 45 min by HS1!

Voscar are these places you suggest nice? From streetview they look a bit gloomy... Thank for your offer might PM you at one point :)

LBOCS actually I havent' I must visit that area because my current idea of Croydon is only based on what I see from the train and probably it doesn't give justice to the area :)

MyVegasBaby which rural areas do you mean exactly? Greenhithe, northfleet, swanscombe?

Unless it's really changed since I left London Bromley is much nicer than Dartford for all sorts of reasons.

Most of Bromley is lovely. Try places near hayes train station - trains into London.

Or just outside of Orpington - again nice but some parts of Orpington are to be avoided (the crays for example)

Hayes is amazing for schools but not cheap and a pretty slow live into charing x

Aledm- Ashford- interesting! Too far from DH's work I think but will investigate

iggly what are good bits of orpington? We liked Green St Green and Farnborough but they're quite far from the station. Are any good areas near the station?

Meopham, New Ash Green, Southfleet, Longfield and Hartley might be worth a look.

Rochester is also on the HS1 line, I think it is 35 minutes to St P and you'll get even more for your money. There are some lovely houses within walking distance of the station. Most of the DA postcodes (apart from Swanscombe and possibly Northfleet) would require a drive/additional public transport link to Ebbsfleet.

Near St places school is quite nice. Or petts wood, next one up the line.

*St olaves, not places!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/a1823571-Honest-opinions-on-Bromley-please

Pretty interesting thread!

Have you considered bexley or Sevenoaks? That's where I would choose with the budget you have

Have you considered bexley or Sevenoaks? That's where I would choose with the budget you have