What's Ashford in Kent like?

[Albgo]

I lived in Canterbury as a student and loved it there. I'd like to move back to the area but I don't really know any towns other than Canterbury. Ashford looks to have some very reasonably priced homes and I'll obviously go for a visit, but would love feedback from people who live there. Any particular areas to avoid? What do you like about it? Thanks.

It’s nickname is ‘Trashford’, that should give you a clue!! 😂

Oh really? I've never heard that. Doesn't compare favourably with Canterbury then?

Canterbury is nicer

I really love Canterbury but my husband isn't so keen - he thinks it's too studenty there. 🤷‍♀️

Like everywhere there are some nice bits and some not so nice bits . The bit up by Boughton Aluph is nice , Stanhope should be avoided at all costs .

Shithole.

Yes it is known as Trashford across Kent sorry op!

Any other nice towns in Kent people could recommend?

The town centre is awful, wouldn't recommend. The outlet is ok for shops and restaurants, schools are mostly good, lots of new build estates if you like those, or lots of lovely villages on the outskirts, like anywhere, there is good and bad areas. There are certainly far worse towns in Kent.

Canterbury is nice for shopping but it is very studenty, actually I find the Ashford house prices more expensive than Canterbury recently.

Canterbury is a lot nicer. Ashford is called ‘Trashford’ for a reason. Some lovely villages surrounding though.

It's shit

Lived there for a year, in Kingsnorth. Went to live with the in-laws for a few months in the end while we found somewhere nicer to live because we just hated Ashford.

We moved to a village within the Maidstone Borough and we're so much happier

Good and bad in all area's, including the Maidstone area (closer to the town centre you go, the worse it tends to be, outskirts/villages much nicer). But we found Ashford utterly depressing.

There’s a lot of investment going into Ashford including Netflix studios, so it may be one to watch. The outlet centre is good!

One of the good things about Ashford is the transport links are very good, and it is easy to get to other places....

@NobblyKnees what village? What is public transport like?

I don't drive and rely on walking, trains and busses which is why a town appeals to me more than villages.

Faversham?

How about Folkestone? The Harbour arm regeneration has been done so well, it’s full of really nice places to eat and things to do.
I am local to Ashford, the town centre has gone downhill but in time it may improve as it may be partly pandemic effect. Some recent new projects are good like the new cinema etc. but many people live in the beautiful surrounding villages and rurally.

Ashford is really all set up for drivers. That said it is possible to get by without driving if you live in town. But other people are so wedded to their cars you will find they can’t understand people who don’t drive! There are villages with stations but the services are not all back to pre pandemic levels. But it is possible to manage without driving if you are willing to be somewhat limited.

Not keen on Ashford but lots of the villages around it are lovely. Though I’d say the same about Canterbury now too tbh (well, now I don’t have to worry about schools). Faversham is nicer but I suppose transport links aren’t as good as Ashford. Do you need to worry about transport links and schools?

I wouldn't live in faversham or ashford or any of the Medway towns.

@Notoironing @ParvuliThankYouDebbie I don't need to worry about transport link for e.g. London. But I do need at least a good local bus service.

And yes, half decent local schools are important. It's one of the reasons I want to move from my current area. I have a toddler and where we live now has some amazing schools but we're not in the catchment for any of them and the primary and secondary my son will go to are not great.

However, my main reason for considering a town in Kent is home affordability though. We're currently in a 2 bed flat and I'd like a proper house with a garden for my son. Round here (In my part of Surrey) id be looking at close to £600k for anything half decent. Canterbury seems to be more like £400k.

@abovedecknotbelow can I ask why? What specifically is wrong with them?

My husband has asked for a comparison between Ashford and Croydon (where he grew up)!

@Albgo Look at Tonbridge. Much nicer than Ashfield. You might just about get a small house for your money in parts of Tunbridge Wells too

I second the recommendation for folkestone. Ashford is a bit soulless I think and the traffic can be awful because there’s so many roadworks constantly going on.

there’s loads to do in folkestone and the regeneration project has really improved things especially in the harbour area. Nice beaches, lots of independent restaurants - no idea about the schools but there are quite a few around. I would look in the west end of folkestone, cheriton, hawkinge, or even hythe but that’s more expensive and access to the schools would be more difficult / less choice

@TuxedoJunction thanks - just had a look and I think Tonbridge is a bit over our budget ☹️