Moving to Ashford, Kent

[Tiffanylcm]

Hi there,

We are set to move to Ashford or surrounds in the New Year and I know nothing about the place. My husband and I are moving back from Australia to the Uk after 7 years and have additional babies now, 1 years and 3 years. My eldest will be starting School next year so I am mainly worried about being in a good catchment area for a primary school. We aren’t strict about being in Ashford just as long as we are within half an hour drive. Can anyone recommend any areas to live/avoid.

It would be to have somewhere that has some Mums and tots group as I know NOBODY. Also my daughter has been dancing since she was 2, so recommendations for a good dance school would be fab too.

Thankyou,

Love from a rather nervous Mums!

Would you consider Folkestone? It's a lovely town with lots of history and regeneration happening. It's got a really great community feeling and not far from Ashford. It's also on the high speed link to London. It has great schools and the main plus.. its by the sea!!!

I lived there a long time ago, but do go back from time to time. I like the villages outside Ashford, Aldington is quite big with a great selection of houses, Mersham and Smeeth are pretty villages with schools , shop, and pub. Wye has a train station, giving access to Ashford, Canterbury, London etc and had a university college branch, so may have a wider variety of people living there. Other nice places are the villages to the south and north.....others may know them better. You've got a nice big catchment to think about. Good luck.

Hi, we moved to Wye last July and really like it. I'm a london girl and have never lived anywhere else but I feel at home here already.
I prefer the surrounding villages to Ashford itself.
Good choice of schools, we are the Canterbury side. Good fast train into London.
Lots of dance schools around. They have lots of classes in Wye for toddlers etc as well as a dance school. It's a large village and it has lots of facilities.
It all depends on how rural you want to be. There are some gorgeous small villages.

I can recommend Hythe - my husband used to work in Ashford and i think it was a 20 minute drive. Lovely seaside town, good schools, lots to do for the children - we love it here!

Another vote for Folkestone! We looked at Ashford and Folkestone (and elsewhere in Kent) and had to choose on a ten day trip when living overseas. Folkestone in general had a far better feel and you get a look more (and nicer period properties) for your money. Haven’t regretted it at all. Love living walking distance to gorgeous beaches, lovely countryside and great schools. Good luck!

Tenterden, which is about 10 miles from Ashford, is lovely. Far enough away from Ashford to feel a bit more rural, lovely High Street and very good primary schools. There is also a good, albeit large, secondary school in Tenterden but you also have the option of grammar schools in Ashford. Only downside is it doesn't have a mainline railway station but Headcorn is only about 20 mins away or Ashford 25 minutes.

Stowting village has a lovely school. Well worth a look.