Best place to live in Medway

[MsRo]

Hi

I have a young family (2 under 5yrs) and we are moving to Medway from London for more space and cheaper rent. I just need to know the best and safest areas in Strood, Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham.

I know a lot of people will advise against moving to Medway but due to the distance from London and cultural diversity, I’m not willing to live anywhere else in Kent. I need to be in a culturally diverse area, that’s a must.

For those who live in Medway, where would you advise we move to and what areas should be avoided?

Thank you.

Rochester probably best of the three. Strood is an avoid...

Rochester

Have you considered Faversham?

Parts of Rochester are nice, or Lords Wood/Hempstead I would still class as Medway and are nice family areas

Rochester is probably the best but like pp says there are nice areas outside of the main towns.

Also, I know strood has a bad rep but we've lived here for 7 years and never had a problem, even though we are off a road with a old reputation. DC go to a great school nearby where DS has achieved greater depth, got into grammar schools and they're also great at mental health/emotional support. But obviously everyone has their own experience, so someone else would say the opposite to me!

I had a friend who lived in Rochester, she was in a nice area...there was even a castle not far away!

Gillingham and Chatham were not that appealing

Anywhere outside the catchment of Medway hospital 😱

I had a friend who lived in Rochester, she was in a nice area...there was even a castle not far away!

That's a bit like saying 'she lived in Wembley, there was even a football stadium not far away'.

And did she, or you, not notice the cathedral?

This is probably true

I wouldn't say it's culturally diverse? Whiter than white whenever I've been! DH is from this area, he loathes it. Rochester is pretty in the centre but the areas verging it from strood are not nice. Rainham is ok. Chatham town isnt good but the docks and st marys island are nice.

I have always lived in walderslade (around morrisons)

Rochester.

Most of my family settled in Strood after leaving London and they are all deeply racist.

If you need cultural diversity, have you considered Gravesend?

The Medway is not culturally diverse. Bit chavvy and right wing.

Rainham is not too bad and has some good schools. Otherwise Faversham.

This. The medway towns and culturally diverse are not things that go together really. If that's a must, you may be disappointed.

Well the trip to Rochester castle was the highlight of my visit so it sticks in the mind!

This

also Medway is no way culturally diverse but Strood would may be more so than the others
Gravesend may be you best bet for cultural diversity

Quite a big BNP/National front/whatever the main racist groups are called these days presence in the Medway towns.

If you wanted more racial diversity, would Bedford/Luton/Milton Keynes/Stevenage be a better option?

We mover Maidstone for the property price-family-space you mentioned, Appreciate its not on your list but the commute to london is b easy and the schools are good . It's not v diverse racially ( husband is mixed race so aware++) but culturally it is with lots of Eastern European families. Close to green belt too.

It has its drawbacks- can feel a bit daily mail target audience but also loads of sensitive sensible liberal people

Gah sooo many typos- won't even try to explain/ correct

Medway isn’t culturally diverse though & it’s mostly horrible. There are so many nicer places to choose.

I’ve thought about gravesend, will look into it again.
I heard that Chatham and gillingham weren’t great but the feedback is really worrying. Is it really that bad? Aren’t there nice pockets?

I’ve never thought of these areas, they seemed quite far but will have a think.

A few have said Rainham- that’s Essex right?

People will slag off Gravesend but I quite like it, its quirky in parts, some older properties too, lots of green space.

Rainham in Kent