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Original poster

Is Maidstone a nice place to live?

46 replies

Sofia109 · 25/07/2022 19:38

I moved the Reading area for IT work and everyone said it was a great place, but it's actually not very nice at all.. there are pockets of nice areas, but its really ugly and not aesthetically pleasing at all.

Is Maidstone also going to be a disappointment?
I wish i'd known about Reading before i moved here. I did visit but its hard to get a feel for a place until you live there.

Would appreciate some sound advice about Maidstone - one the one had i read its a middle class town, on the other people are laughing at the suggestion anything about Maidstone could be middle class....?

OP posts:
MarmiteCoriander · 25/07/2022 23:47

Which exact part of East London do you consider bad OP???

DangerNoodles · 25/07/2022 23:48

I was shocked last time I visited Maidstone, it has really gone downhill. As a previous poster suggests, have you looked at Tonbridge?

Traintonowhere · 26/07/2022 06:18

I live in one of the villages and know the market well as I have just sold my house.

Your budget would not stretch to Bearsted but would stretch both to Barming and especially Penenden Heath, which is lovely and has some million pound house as well as much cheaper ones, I have friends living there and it's really the best part of the area - however you may find it difficult to find a newer house there - developers have just build an estate with 3 beds around the 375k mark near M&S, but I would discard those, very near the motorway and quite small. Instead there are some victorians, 1930s and post-war houses which are much more spacious and better built.

In PH ou are far away enough from town with a village green and some shops nearby, near the M&S/Next retail park, near a heath club/swimming pool and close enough to the station and the supermarkets in town. PM if you need more info.

Ifailed · 26/07/2022 06:36

People have mentioned Tonbridge, but OP would be lucky to find something that meets her criteria:
a 3 bed house less than 20 years old, around the 360-380k mark

itbemay · 26/07/2022 09:16

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85739889

itbemay · 26/07/2022 09:17

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124448270

Toffeeandapplecake · 26/07/2022 10:21

@Sofia109 have a look at Allington, Barming, Penenden Heath and Weavering

slinkoff · 26/07/2022 14:02

+1 for Tonbridge over Maidstone at this price point

Original poster
Sofia109 · 27/07/2022 01:43

Traintonowhere · 26/07/2022 06:18

I live in one of the villages and know the market well as I have just sold my house.

Your budget would not stretch to Bearsted but would stretch both to Barming and especially Penenden Heath, which is lovely and has some million pound house as well as much cheaper ones, I have friends living there and it's really the best part of the area - however you may find it difficult to find a newer house there - developers have just build an estate with 3 beds around the 375k mark near M&S, but I would discard those, very near the motorway and quite small. Instead there are some victorians, 1930s and post-war houses which are much more spacious and better built.

In PH ou are far away enough from town with a village green and some shops nearby, near the M&S/Next retail park, near a heath club/swimming pool and close enough to the station and the supermarkets in town. PM if you need more info.

This sounds ideal - I am nervous about older builds due to the need to rewire the house, and all the things that need doing to an ageing property, but ive heard they are built better. I'll PM you in next few days:)

OP posts:
Original poster
Sofia109 · 27/07/2022 01:45

DangerNoodles · 25/07/2022 23:48

I was shocked last time I visited Maidstone, it has really gone downhill. As a previous poster suggests, have you looked at Tonbridge?

I was speaking to someone today and apparently the empty office blocks in town, as a result of the pandemic, have been turned into flats and rented out - some people have moved in from London and other parts - not all of them are desirable.. Thats from someone who has lived there all his life. He said avoid town center if you can!

OP posts:
Original poster
Sofia109 · 27/07/2022 01:48

itbemay · 26/07/2022 09:16

Thanks - I saw this property on the market ages ago, its nice but i'm trying to avoid terraces, unless end of terrace, due to potential noise issues on both sides.. I'm a light sleeper, and you can often hear neighbours peeing, sneezing, arguing, etc in terraces... some better built than others, but you don't know until you're living there..

OP posts:
Original poster
Sofia109 · 27/07/2022 01:53

itbemay · 26/07/2022 09:17

Thanks - I love the look of this one, but i'm trying to avoid terraces and also 3 floor town houses - only because ive torn the miniscus in i think both knees at the gym and it may not ever get completely better. Lots of stairs climbing probably isnt recommended :( Id consider a town house if i could pretty much live on the lower 2 floors and just use top floor for storage but the layout of this house doesn't work like that. It is beautiful though )

OP posts:
Ifailed · 27/07/2022 06:49

Sofia109 · 27/07/2022 01:48

Thanks - I saw this property on the market ages ago, its nice but i'm trying to avoid terraces, unless end of terrace, due to potential noise issues on both sides.. I'm a light sleeper, and you can often hear neighbours peeing, sneezing, arguing, etc in terraces... some better built than others, but you don't know until you're living there..

Show quote history

It's also liable to flood, has no garden and about 50 metres from a train line & station.

GreenPalmTree · 27/07/2022 09:00

Medway is worth a shout- you may be able to find what you are looking for in Rochester, or across the river then Finsbury is fairly residential with both having good links to London at Strood or Rochester stations.

GreenPalmTree · 27/07/2022 09:02

Sorry Frindsbury - not Finsbury!

Mama1922 · 11/04/2023 13:19

We moved to Maidstone from South London last summer and not looking back. The only thing is you have to drive really to move around unless tou have a lot of time to spare waiting for busses. We are on one of the quieter roads near the town centre as we wanted to be within a walking distance to all the amenities, which is great. Now hoping for more regeneration around the town centre, hehe, there seems to be quite a lot planned. It seems a lovely town, with the river and the medieval buildings, and well connected too. The schools too were important for us having kids.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 11/04/2023 13:33

Haus1234 · 25/07/2022 22:50

Streatham has better parts and worse parts just like Maidstone? I’d much rather live in a nice part of Streatham than a rough part of Maidstone … (in fact I’d rather live in Streatham full stop).

Streatham over Maidstone any day.

Ooolaaaala · 11/04/2023 14:35

@Sofia109 Did you manage to make a move anywhere?

Samara26 · 11/04/2023 14:47

The seller did the dirty on me and pulled out just before exchange however I think it was a blessing in disguise, on what I have learned about the town since. If you like it that’s great, but I definitely won’t be looking for another house there.

Ooolaaaala · 11/04/2023 15:41

Samara26 · 11/04/2023 14:47

The seller did the dirty on me and pulled out just before exchange however I think it was a blessing in disguise, on what I have learned about the town since. If you like it that’s great, but I definitely won’t be looking for another house there.

Are you the @Sofia109 ? Have you found somewhere else?

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