Kings Hill, West Malling

[itbemay1]

Hello
Does anyone live in Kings Hill? What's it like? Have seen some lovely property and a google shows a very nice area, but it would be good to know if anyone has any first hand experience.
Thanks

Bumping this to push it up a bit for you OP.

I moved away from the area quite a long time ago (over 20 years!), but back then it was known for being quite "cliquey". It had a bit of a reputation of those that lived there thinking they were better than anyone else, and those that didn't live there thinking those that did were snobs! I'm sure it's changed now as the development has expanded and become more established.

I lived nearby when it was first being developed and it attracted a lot of objections as it destroyed a much beloved airfield (that used to have a cracking air show every year!).

Times change though and things move on. Property prices are quite high for the surrounding area, so it's obviously popular.

If you're on facebook take a look at the group "Kings Hill Life". Also, googling "living in Kings Hill" comes up with a few things - for example - though that link is 9 years old.

Do you live nearby now or is it somewhere you're considering relocating to? The best thing I can suggest is going to have a look. Because it's all very new, it does feel very different driving around it compared to other more established areas.

This may or may not be of any use at all, but as you haven’t had many replies yet I shall share the tiny bit of knowledge I have - We have good friends who live in East Malling and they view the West Malling people as a bit ‘aspirational middle class’ and ‘showy’. I’ve never ventured onto any of the developments, but have heard from them that the What’s App groups and Facebook groups offer super entertainment value as often have parking wars and neighbour disputes aired in public as the houses are all quite close together...

I did quite a lot of research on the area, but specifically West Malling as I had decided that I wanted to move there. Didn't in the end and went to Hampshire but that's a different story.
I absolutely loved West Malling but did not actually like Kings Hill and found it particularly souless but that is me and I do not like purpose built estates. If you do then that's fine. My research of Kings Hill did bring up the fact that it has a quite transient population with many people moving after 2 - 4 years on average as they have moved for the work as there are many, many large companies on that business park and once they move jobs they then move out. Apparently the gardens are also small for some of the size of houses and yes apparently it can also be very cliquey. It has a very different appeal to other areas and from what I can gather families will move there to be close to the work but that is about it. Personally I found it completely lacking in any charm whatsoever but I am not the target market of the people that it is attracting and I can think of much nicer places within a short distance of that location. But if you like modern built estates and are working in the business park locally it may well be for you.
West Malling High Street is lovely with lots of very nice pubs and eateries, there is a big Asda at Kings Hill, a Morrisons at Larkfield and a nearby Sainsburys. Close to amenties at Maidstone and Bromley South, good access for the M25 and good access into central London on the train. Lovely villages nearby, good walks, close to Tunbridge Wells, reasonable access to the coast etc. etc.

Thank you all! We drove out there this evening and decided it's not for us.

Far too many houses, very close together, cars everywhere and also lots of signs blocking little closes with private road etc which says that there is obviously a parking issue. So glad we went for a good look around.

It just felt absolutely wrong for us, we currently live in SE London and was looking for some space and peace, we won't find it in kings hill.

Appreciate the responses, back to the drawing board!

Yes that about sums it up. Glad you went there and saw what it’s all about. I moved from SW London and drove to lots of places but do know Kent quite well. Why not further your search just a bit further down. Take a look at Headcorn and the surrounding areas. West Malling is absolutely lovely though! Perhaps look there as well just bypass Kings Hill. Things on the internet can be very different to an actual visit. Good luck with your search.

I live nearby and have friends who live there.

It's a bit like the Truman show, a choice of three primary schools and lots of 'pushy mums' so the schools are pretty focused on academic achievement rather than the child as an individual. Small, overlooked gardens and more parking politics than you can shake a stick at.

Internet is rubbish.

Train service is also terrible, only option is really to travel to Victoria since rush hour London Bridge/Cannon Street services were scrapped about ten years ago and have never been reinstated despite repeated suggestions they will be.

West malling, on the other hand, is very lovely. Maybe worth a look.....

I see things haven't changed much after all! Such a shame as they could have done so much better with the development of it. Ridiculous to not built sufficient parking when the public transport options are so limited. But then again I'm not surprised.

If you're keen on Kent OP there are lots and lots of lovely areas. If you're happy to share a budget and an idea of what you're looking for I'm sure we'd all be happy to stalk Rightmove for you!

Second what @DistinguishedCarrot said. Know Kent v well and only a couple of years ago was in same position of relocating for space and the ideal place to raise our family, so have visited many of the small towns and visits. Happy to help broaden options if you give us idea of what you are looking for 😁😁

villages

I think your experience sums up Kings Hill, very overbuilt and cramped. A lot of the houses over the back towards the sports centre arent even in easy walking distance of the shops, so that would mean driving, even just for quick essentials. Phase 1, the older section, has larger houses, more spaced out and bigger gardens, if you were still considering it. You might be worth looking there. Another option is Tonbridge or Sevenoaks way, lots of beautiful houses, good schools, outside spaces and amenities.

Hi all

Thank you so much for your comments! Some of which have made me laugh! - Truman show is so true!!

We have a budget of £550-600 looking for 3 double bedrooms with off street parking for 3 cars if possible. Would love some space, greenery and not bothered about size of garden but would like a space to sit and enjoy the sun.

Currently like in a semi detached Victorian, 3 beds in Greater London.

Drove to Sutton after and saw a lovely 3 bed on a very small development but 3rd bedroom very small, we have 2 teens so need some space.

Thanks!

Not Sutton , *ditton in Kent! Autocorrect! Sorry

That's where I live - Ditton!!

Have you looked at places like Hadlow, Borough Green, Wateringbury?

@spice ditton is gorgeous! Will add the others to our list, thank you

Where do you commute into? Would you consider a bit further in? There are some lovely green belt areas in Zone 6 and just outside the M25 where you could get 3 double bedrooms for your budget.

If you have two teens it's also worth considering how small a village/place you want to go to. Public transport is very, very different in more rural locations than SE London. Perhaps you would be better off considering some of the larger towns such as Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury etc that also enjoy lovely countryside just outside the main towns.
I moved from SW London to a market town in Hampshire and still find it very very different to London some two years on!

I have posted about this on many threads now, so apologies to any mumsnetters that have been bored with my evangelical ravings before 😂. But we did extensive research and looked all over Kent and Sussex for a family home commutable to London and were utterly surprised to find our perfect home in Folkestone. We had visited about ten years before and thought it was a total dump, but there has been so much investment and it has changed so much. We paid off our mortgage, have a decent sized house on a large plot which is both peaceful yet close to everything - individual shops and restaurants, beautiful beaches, stunning countryside with fantastic pubs, plenty for our children to do and DH still can be in the office in central London in less than an hour door to door. Also right on top of the channel tunnel for mini breaks to Europe. I am a total convert to beach living and am so thankful we took the huge gamble of moving outside of the M25. Your budget would totally get you wanted here and more. If you need a London then obviously the travel is more expensive, but the commute is actually pretty pleasant (through rolling hills) and the holiday lifestyle at the weekend and the better value property more than makes up for it...

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-84906692.html

Should have a bit of space here 😁

Not considered Folkestone but that house is amazing! Will add it to the list.

I commute to Greenwich, DH & DD to central and DS will be tonbridge come sept. Myself and DH will be driving and DC public transport although we can help out as flexible working.

@sarah would consider zone 6

We feel all adrift as was set on kings hill!

Thanks again all for all your advice & help!

Based on what you have just posted, I would give Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells serious consideration. Much more going on for the DC excellents transport to London for the commuters and the green spaces and walks are all there already.

Public transport isn't great in some areas. My DP live in Kent still and their bus service starts at 10am and finishes at 3pm and there's only one bus an hour in each direction! You may need to select an area where it's a bit more built up to get access to better transport options.

If that weren't an issue, this is quite nice - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71006079.html. The villages of Vigo and Trottiscliffe (pronounced "Trosley") are lovely, but I'm not sure how often properties come up.

If you're not averse to estate living, Leybourne is nice www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-82207018.html

This needs some work and is semi-detached but is massive - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72480775.html

The Holtwood estate in Ditton is nice though - particularly in the woodier bit of it where the surrounding trees are more established.

It's awful when you think you've made your mind up about somewhere and it doesn't turn out to be as you expect.

To get three decent sized bedrooms you may find you have to look at a 4 bed place. We said the same thing when we were househunting but most places seem to have a box room 3rd room. At least with a 4 bed, if one is a box room you're normally left with 3 decent sized rooms. Then at least you can get a bonus study/craft room if you want it!

@notyet that does make sense and not sure why we haven't looked at tonbridge!

@DistinguishedCarrot thank you so much for the links! Also the correct pronunciation of trottiscliffe! I really have been saying trott-is-cliff!!

You lot are fabulous!

[quote itbemay1]@notyet that does make sense and not sure why we haven't looked at tonbridge!

@DistinguishedCarrot thank you so much for the links! Also the correct pronunciation of trottiscliffe! I really have been saying trott-is-cliff!!

You lot are fabulous!
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So many funny pronunciations in Kent! Wrotham is root-ham, Teston is tee-son.

Tbh I'm not sure about Vigo. I think it's v-eye-go, rather than vee-go, but even I'm not certain lol!

The one that always gets me is Shipbourne...pronounced Shipham 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

@Letsgethisshowontheroad

The one that always gets me is Shipbourne...pronounced Shipham 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

Even I've never heard of that one! 😂