please tell me about Sevenoaks...

[Alva]

...thinking of moving out of London but commuting back into Charing Cross Station (PT for me, full time for dh).
Dh is keen on the idea of Sevenoaks, but neither of us really knows anything about it. Would be great to hear views from anyone who lives there/has lived there/ lives somewhere nearby! Looking for info on areas to buy, pros and cons, schools, facilities etc.
Have a two year old and another due soon...bit worried about building a network so all thoughts will be very welcome!

errr .... it no longer has seven oaks (since great storm 20 years and 1 day ago)

Plaxtol (village outside Sevenoaks) is really nice, has a very good school and an extremely pleasant pub (have friends who live there).

DH used to be from round that neck of the woods but his family have all moved away now so other than Plaxtol we're no longer really up on the current hot spots and areas to avoid.

Thanks Lemonaid; will investigate. We're planning a daytrip down there once I've got my virtual bearings, and it's always good to hear about pleasant pubs...
Kaloo - that's just about the only thing I know about it! I remember hearing that at the time and thinking how sad it was.

.

I hope the radio silence isn't some kind of warning! Does anyone out there have any further comments, good or bad?

one last try...

I certainly didn't expect to be the board expert on Sevenoaks...

expensive

not as mice as it used to be

up itself

nice not mice

icklegem is near Sevenoaks, if you can track her down.

Here you go

Probably quite a nice place to live if you like that sort of thing [damning with the faintest of praise emoticon]

Agree with NAB3 that it is considered quite expensive - and a bit dull. Commuter-ville, but nowt wrong with that... Some big houses and plenty of money.

Also this is quite a useful website, by the looks of it...

hasn't got seven oaks anymore

Thank you! I am already feeling much better informed from those comments and links, and ready to have a quick look (stopping off for a shandy at Plaxtol, of course...)

We had a good look around (houses,schools etc) a few years ago when looking to relocate. DH liked it but I hated it and refused to move there.

Interesting, Mahonia7 - could you put your finger on why you hated - and your dh liked - the place?

Hi Alva

I cannot put my finger on why I hated it so much. It caused a huge row with dh as he loved it.

I think it was because I was brought up in a place very similar and therefore it triggered small townville type memories for me. I hated growing up in a small town and always wanted to live in a city.

Sorry not to have been much help.

M

No, that's really helpful, Mahonia! Think we're ready for some smalltown life, after so many years in London, but I just want to be totally sure before we take the plunge - I do like city living...

We are hoping to move there with dh commuting back to London. Chose it as a good compromise between the city (where we are now) and the real countryside. Good commute has to count for a lot. Yes, might be a bit small after London - but everywhere will be and it is so much easier to get out of, so you can go other places too. Let me know if you do end up moving - we can meet for a coffee

I live in a village 20min drive from Sevenoaks and to be honest I would look at villages around sevenoaks. Unless your house budget is quite substantial you will not get a decent house in a nice area.
Also I find some of the people a bit snobby and well a bit up their own derriere.
Otford is a very nice village with a good train service. Infact if you look at that train line most of the stations have nice villages (Kemsing village however is miles from the station)

I used to live in Sevenoaks, until 9 yrs ago, when we sold our tiny 1 bed mews house (4 min walk from station) to buy a 3 bed semi in Tonbridge(86 min walk to station) (and went on holiday to Ritz Carlton in Bali with the change) Our DD does ballet there and we still use it for shopping, as live in a small village nearby and have lots of friends there.

My observations are (rash generalisation of some friends/experiences)...many people are living at the absolute egde of their finances due to wanting to live there and house prices being so extortionate. They have little spare income, despite large salaries, making their lives very stressful. Although other friends live in a private road and have had to employ private security patrols as break-ins so common.

It has the worst ever service in Pizza Express! Has a not bad Zizzi's. Generally well supplied with coffee shops and restaurants. Has a good Gap Kids, tiny Monsoon, not bad independent smart men's shop (Harvey's) do a good line in Armani, Cerruti, Du Champ etc Has M&S food, Waitrose, some excellent local independent schools (St. Michaels in Otford and Sevenoaks) but also Riverhead primary used to be a good school too.

There has been a lot of trouble with yooufs at pub/club closing time as many bars are open late.

I would not move back there, despite a change in finances (meaning we could afford to) as I prefer a more rural life.

should read 6 minutes not 86 minutes!

Villages round the outside nice. MIL lives in Hildenborough, also trains there to London.