Relocating to Kent - where would fit the bill?

[SallyMischievo]

I am well aware drafting this post that I sound like an massive cliche and rest assured I am flushed with mortification as I type. DP, 2 year old DD and I currently live in Forest Hill, South East London but, in the well established tradition, we would like to 'up sticks' and relocate somewhere with good schools and the possibility of our own garden. We are thinking probably Kent, (or perhaps one of the areas beyond Bromley that used to be in Kent - Hayes, Orpington?). We currently pay £1650 a month to rent a 3 bedroom house, (no question of us buying as we have no means of getting a deposit together). We don't drive. DP works in Charing Cross, I work part-time remotely. Ideally DP's commute would be no more than an hour into one of the major London stations and not astronomically expensive, (his travel is currently around £200 per month).
I entertain whimsical thoughts of the type of place I would like us to live. Obviously I am cringing as I write this, but somewhere with a 'villagey' feel, lots of families with young children, (I appreciate that this is a complete contradiction when we don't run a car and are reliant on public transport) and good schools, preferably with a nursery intake.
So suggestions regarding where we could start our search would be fab and much appreciated. I know that Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells seem to be the main contenders but I'm sure there must be countless places that would fit the bill. Many thanks in advance for any tip-offs that anyone can provide.

Just bumping in case anyone can help or if there is a better section to post this in? Many thanks.

Hayes fits the bill in terms of commute, schools, nice feel to it etc and fantastic schools but it's not really much different to Forest Hill, it's suburban as you can get. Hayes common is great so you do have easy access to open space.

Last time I checked a season ticket from Tunbridge Wells was around £4k so a big jump up in travel costs.

Staplehurst has direct trains to Charing cross, maybe look at marden and headcorn too? You'll both want to learn to drive though as rural bus service is crap!

PS we moved from London to Kent too - yes, it's a cliche but been here 7 years now and no regrets!

We live in medway. Not the greatest of areas but not awful. I know plenty of people who come from London and love it.
Rents for 3 beds range from £900 to £1300. My husband works in soho, he catches the fast train from Rochester, it cost £550 a month and includes 1-6 travel card. He is in charring cross within 30mins. There is a slow train that is a bit cheaper but it takes longer.
Schools do vary depending on where you will be but there is a lot of development happening overall in the area and new schools have been ear marked over the next few years.

Biased but Edenbridge might fit your bill - it's a little bigger in Kent terms but means you have better transport links and it's a bit cheaper than RTW or Sevenoaks.

I'd second Marden, nice village direct line to Charing Cross. Or Headcorn, also on the line, a very pretty and larger than Marden.

I think the problem is that you'll swap cheaper accommodation in Kent for a much more expensive commute so, financially, you'll not be better off. However, the school's might be better and life in general will feel less frenetic than Forest Hill I think. Personally, I think Forest Hill is a great area for a young family. Orpington rents aren't cheap but you'll get a house - commuting costs will be higher. We like the Petts Wood area and I think there are direct Charing x trains from there. Sevenoaks is lovely too.

We moved from east dulwich to sevenoaks and are really glad with our decision. We did nearly buy in chislehurst but the sale fell through and we're now glad it did. Tonbridge is a bit further out but more affordable than sevenoaks. I think the problem will be the season ticket price.

Thanks so much for all the very promising suggestions! We are planning a weekend to have a look around imminently.

Petts Wood is lovely, you can get a nice family home with large garden for well within your budget. Trains to Charing Cross are half an hour, season ticket is £1700 a year for zone 1-5 but excluding tubes (I use my Oyster for odd tube and bus journey and get a third off courtesy of my annual gold card attached to the Oyster).

It is a lovely family area, child friendly cafes with soft play areas, grown up restaurants for the evening, nice shops and boutiques. Ofsted outstanding Crofton Infant School etc. Regular family events like the May Fayre, Petts Woodstock, Christmas Lights etc.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-60955294.html

Thank you! Sounds idyllic, we will definitely investigate!

We made a similar move (from Brockley) but to Surrey rather than Kent. The places down the end of the Forest Hill line might be worth looking at - Kenley, whyteleafe, caterham, etc. They are very suburban but right on the edge of lots of green space. I have to say I quite like living out here at the weekends, but HATE the commute Monday to Friday. It's such a time wasting drag. I would move back in but my husband likes it here and I can see that it is a nice environment for raising kids.

Just be aware of moving into an 11+ area. Not saying you should or shouldn't prefer it but be aware of it.

Kent is great and the Kent people I met were lovely-seven oaks is natural choice but check out West Malling and around there- very pretty. I am amazed more people do not move to Kent out of London- Forest Hill is a dreary throughfare in comparison.

Schools might want to be a thing to consider. It's likely the 11+ will still be around by the time your DD is 10, so you'd need to look at grammars and secondary moderns in the catchment of your house, or budget for private secondary education....

Sevenoaks probably fits the bill best, with good connections into town as well as local buses. If you don't drive, you'll need a nursery/pre school on a bus route or within walking distance. Outside of the main towns, village bus services are virtually non existent. Can you learn to drive? Certainly anyone not driving in our village is virtually cut off, despite us not being in deepest darkest ruraldom.

We're in the process of doing just this. I really loved Chartham when we were housing hunting (excellent schools in Canterbury and wide choice), though ultimately we opted for Folkestone, which was a total wild card, but felt overall that the commute was better (fifty minutes on the high speed), schools looked good and our DC would enjoy somewhere with a bit more going on (massive regeneration project ongoing) Good Luck!

I live in Kent and it is wonderful but number one thing you need to do is learn to drive. It will be terribly restricting for both you and your children if you don't. Your children won't be able to meet up with their friends easily and you will struggle to get them to birthday parties etc. I lived right in the middle of Sevenoaks and still couldn't have coped without a car. Definitely don't even consider Marden/Headcorn/Staplehurst etc unless you can both drive.
I reckon Tunbridge Wells or Tonbridge (for the cheaper option) would probably suit but again you would struggle without driving.

Don't do it unless you are prepared to learn to drive.

I used to live near west mallling as well as petts wood and Sevenoaks so would recommend those

Biggin hill and westerham are too but need to get a bus for a train so lengthens journey to work somewhat

Couldn't comment on schools tho