Moving to Sittingbourne

[nalgonda]

Hi,

We have been renting in Barking, London for 6 years and finally we are planning buy a house and move out. We were looking for a 4 bed house under help to buy with a grammar school for girls in close proximity and we found Sittingbourne (Quintin Road) as the place. I did some basic research and the city seems to be okay.

I wanted to understand if I’m making a sensible decision. Please help me with info around how the locals are, how diverse it is, is good for young parents etc.. I’ve two daughters 2 and 8 years old and I’m an Indian origin.

thanks,
kiran

I’m one sense, Sittingbourne won’t seem rough coming from Barking. It’s surrounded by countryside and doesn’t have any of the urban issues, but it’s much, much less diverse than Barking & Dagenham. You called it a city and it isn’t. It’s a very small town, it has small town issues, with not many facilities and the locals can be a bit, erm, lively (some of them). The high street is nice (what there is), the grammar schools are a draw, but it’s a shock to arrive there from London. I moved down there as a FTB, but soon scraped enough to move on to a city again.

Can you afford what you want in Faversham?

There’s actually a bigger Asian community - and generally a bit more diversity, and more Londoners - in the proper Medway towns. I’d look at Chatham and Rochester. Probably Chatham has the more urban feel if you also want to minimise the culture shock.

Maidstone has got two good boy grammars and two good girl grammars. Like all areas, it has better, and not so good areas. Good for commuting to London, if needed.

You literally drive through Rainham on the A2 to get into Sittingbourne. Unless its floated further down the River Medway since I was last there.

We lived in Sittingbourne for two years nearly 50 years ago and I hated it as didn't find it friendly. We actually moved from N.ireland to there and,despite it being at the height of the troubles, I just wanted to go back. That was of course a long time ago but reading comments here it sounds like it's become very run down in recent years. Maybe it depends where your moving from. We moved to the West Country after that and I found it much friendlier there.

Oops- you're not your

Nope - you're absolutely right. Sorry. Thinking of the wrong Rainham for some reason. Although I always thought that Rainham was in Essex and now find it isn't. Hopeless.

Still, the thought of parting with £600,000 to live in Rainham (Kent) 😂? Unfathomable.

There are two Rainhams, ones in Kent one in Essex.

There has been mass exodus from London into Kent since the rent cap so my house for example has more than doubled in value in under five years. Lots of terrace houses being converted into HMOs with no parking and no infrastructure which generally contributes to Medway becoming even more poverty stricken and a dump. Its bedsit central in some areas.

But it does depend on where your coming from that is true. If you moving from Oxford to Chatham your in for a rude awakening. If your moving from Margate maybe you'd quite like it. It's all relative and I dont know Barking.

The Rainham I was originally thinking of, for some unknown reason, isn't even in Essex (although it may have been at one time). It's in the London Borough of Havering. Bit like Bromley - I was sure that was Kent, but I understand it's considered to be in London.

The point is - you're quite right that Rainham in Kent is a stone's throw from Sittingbourne, so apologies for that.

I think id take another look at Canterbury.

Yes, Sittingbourne has the grammar school for your dc - but ask yourself what else it has for your dc? What will they do in the school holidays, where will they hang out with their friends as they enter their teens? Canterbury caters to lots of students (some might even argue there's too many of them) but it means its an excellent place for young people and caters to their needs.

Canterbury also has grammar schools both mixed and single sex, and there are grammar streams in the comprehensive secondaries too (in case the 11+ isnt passed).

I absolutely love canterbury as a place to bring up my dc. There were lots of groups for babies/toddlers/preschoolers, excellent primary schools, a wide range of secondaries. Were close to the beach, the apple orchards, its small enough to walk into town, etc.

Sittingbourne, sadly.... We wouldnt chose to go there, not even for a day trip.

@LittleMissLego Sittingbourne is as close to a beach and apple orchards as Canterbury , really the only difference is Canterbury has more shops , restaurants and a cathedral otherwise there is not a lot to choose between them . Sittingbourne has some lovely parks and is surrounded by lovely countryside - possibly not in the area the OP is looking .

I live in Medway, and as in any place, you get the good, the bad and the ugly….
Yes it’s classed as a deprived area. Yes lots of alcohol and drug abuse. But I live in a street with wonderful neighbours it’s nice and quiet and it’s a 10 minute walk to the high street and the train station. Wouldn’t walk the streets at night though and you have to know the area….
Rainham is nice and has lovely shops
Rochester has some stunning houses but the high street is a nightmare.
Chatham is not good

But saying all of that, London is 45 minutes away on the high speed train, so is the airport and the coast. I’ve lived in Kent all my life and I like it.

Thank you all for the responses. I'm still keeping Sittingbourne as an option for now, however I'm also considering two more properties in Rainham and Faversham. Fingers crossed.

@MinnieGirl
“Rochester has some stunning houses but the high street is a nightmare.”

Why is the high street a nightmare? Went to the Sweeps Festival at the weekend and thought the shops looked lovely - lots of lovely little independent shops etc.

The shops are lovely and the number of independent shops is brilliant and really nice. The problem is at night. As most places, but that does have an impact on spending decent amounts in a property. The Casino is notorious and it’s just not a nice place to be anymore. Very sad as there were some lovely restaurants and it’s a beautiful area.

Faversham is nice, for someone who wants a quiet life. I honestly don't think someone who's happy in London would like it, and you sound like you're only moving for money.

I recommend looking at Maidstone.

I work in Sittingbourne. I don’t think it is too bad. Lots of developments. Train service is brilliant. High street is dead, like all high streets. Some restaurants and the new cinema complex is lovely. I walked down maidstone high street today and that is pretty dreadful now too however night life is better than sittingbourne. In the end London will be tougher than kent. But like all SE towns we have gangs, poverty, low educational levels etc. Difficult decision OP. I moved out of London 20 years ago and the towns of Kent are not great and have deteriorated. Poverty is rife.

Thanks ya. After 2 kids my night life has almost disappeared.. so I'm okay with poor night life In Sittingbourne as it means very less to me. It sounds like an OK place to me.. thanks for your views!

Thanks, I am considering Faversham at the moment, however problem with it js secondary school options aren't great except the grammar school. My daughter will need a secondary school in 2 years and it looks like Sittingbourne has better options compared to Faversham.

Yes, Budget is a big factor in considering Sittingbourne.

Thanks ya. Yeah parks seems to be bit far from my place... but that builder is building a play area in the community so that meets the daily needs for kids atleast.. We are going to buy a car anyway.. so that should enable us to go all places you mentioned

Personally I think that whole area with exception of Canterbury/whitstable and broadstairs and some villages around Canterbury is a bit grim . My father in law lives near Rochester- the high st is quite nice on the surface but I've seen families fighting in the street and as my father in law describes Thanet- 'full of ex crims , Brexit flagshaggers and scrapyard dealers' - he can't wait to get out as only moved there for his partner who is no longer around. I understand the price is tempting but there's usually a reason for that- if you want to move down there I would say move to Canterbury.

Personally I think, not to be rude that coming from Barking you will find sittingborne fine and not that rough I’ve been through barking many times and it’s pretty rough in some areas. Although as another poster wrote sittingborne is not as multicultural.

@nalgonda - Just came across your post and we are in similar situation looking to move from essex over to Sittingbourne, in fact to the same development (Amber Fields). Did you ended up moving to the area? Please any feedback will be appreciated.

Many thanks