Kent area

[Rkvirk]

Hi all lovely mums😊 we are thinking of moving to Kent but so confused about the areas. My elder DD’ll be going to secondary and little one to primary school. We are looking for safe areas with good both secondary and primary schools. Please help me. We are in hurry and need to make decisions in couple of weeks as our property is already SSTC. Any advice would help. Thanks in advance

Kent is huge and you will find huge variations in prices. We live in faversham and love it here, it's quite central in Kent, good rail connections, close to Canterbury, lots to do for families and good schools.

Kent is a huge area. You will need to give more information. Do you need to commute or not? For secondary school, Kent is a grammar school county so you will need to take this into consideration. What is your budget?

We live in Tonbridge Kent and we have very good transport links to London. Primary schools are great. Like @Penny85 lots of families here too.

I live near the coast in Kent.
Have you narrowed down your search at all? Kent is a big area!!
Keep in mind that it’s a grammar school area so your dd in secondary will need to pass 11+ or equivalent to get in.
Kent’s lovely, so close to London, great beaches, nice people!! I love it!

Hello dear.. thanks for reply. We live near to Heathrow and thinking to move out of here. DH would be travelling to Staines couple of days a week as it’s hybrid working now due to Pandemic Shame! It would be very far nearly 2 hours drive. We are still confused with Kent and Milton Keynes but my first choice is Kent because of great schools.

Kent is VAST, with thousands of schools. Where in Kent are you looking at?

If you look at somewhere like Bexley, on the London Kent border, that's an easy 90 minute + train commute to Staines. Probably the same in a car.

Hi Notyetthere.. thanks for your reply. DH would drive to Staines couple of days a week(still not confirmed. We’ve checked online Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and are looking somewhere in these areas. DD still has a year to go so I am hoping she would clear her 11+ 🤞 schools are our main reason to list Kent otherwise my DH is keen on Milton Keynes.

Hello Lotsachocolate.. thanks for your reply.. I would love to be there but afraid coast would be very far. I am hoping she would clear as she is doing great in studies but you never know. How about regular schools?? If for any reason, she doesn’t. I am looking at Gov website even these schools have outstanding ofsted report.

Hi Joris.. we are near to Heathrow at the moment and DH works in Staines but he is willing to drive 1-1.30 to work( it would be mainly WFH but he may travel couple of days) I am not sure which areas would be good but somewhere near to Tonbridge, Turnbridge Wells, Rochester.

Our budget is around £400k -£450K

What year is your older daughter in now?
If she’s in year 5 currently you will need to register to take the kent test ( 11plus) before 1st July I believe, as they sit the test at the very beginning of September in year 6.
If she’s currently in year 4 you can relax and apply next year.

Is your DD in Year 5? If so, she will sit the 11+ in September so very little time to prepare. If she is Year, you've got more breathing space.

I'm in West Kent. Property wise, you will get less for your money in Tunbridge Wells and even less in Sevenoaks. Tonbridge could be a v good pick.

Year 4!

She is in Y-4 at the moment. Yes we did see Tonbridge and like few properties too.. can you help Which areas are safe and which areas we must avoid??

I love Kent, but I wouldn't choose to live here and commute to Staines, even if only a couple of days a week. One problem on the M25/M2/M20 and you're stuffed.

North and East Kent can also get quite heavy snow at times in winter, which also brings everything to a standstill.

Hi DameAlyson.. thanks for reply. I know it’s very far and M25 is a nightmare but we are looking at good catchment area. We have only 4 grammar schools here 😔 it’s real hard competition. I am sure it would be same @ Kent schools but we would have more choice..

Sorry to join this tread to ask about something different. However it’s the only recent one I’ve seen that to talk about Kent.

My boyfriend and I are a young black couple (in our 20s), Who are looking to purchase a home in Kent ( Wainscott , Strood, Rochester (Open to suggestions)). We are very interested to see if other people have moved from London ( east and North) to these areas and how they found it.

We are also very interested in finding out where the ‘not so nice areas’ are in the places listed above, if any. And the opinions of any young couple and or people from an ethnic minority.

Thanks

I’m sorry to jump too in this thread , as I’m struggling to create a new one :((
I’m single , working in London ( canary Warf) , with no children.
Kent is the place would like to move this year. Commuting to london would be a must
Was looking at Folkestone for my budget £180-£200k , but the crime it seems so high around Folkestone and Dover
I like Tonbridge area-but too expensive for my budget :((
Any recommendations would be so welcoming! As I need to move by autumn!!

Hello everyone,
I am plannning to move to SE of England , looking at Kent vs Bucks area. I am looking for a town/city with excellent grammar school as I have children who will be preparing for 11+. I also want a posh , friendly nice area. Which places would you suggest please ? We currently live in York.
I look forward to helpful responses.
Thank you

There's a bit right under the heading of this page that says "Start new thread" - better to do that or everyone will just be answering the OP, miss your post, and get confused/cross that it's an old thread.