Family home to move to Chelmsford or Turnbridge Wells

[Hayzee101]

Hi everyone, it's my first tike here. I'm really confused with my moving decision making.
I am planning to move my family of 5 from London to either of this places to start their secondary school education. Chelmsford, Rochester, Dartford or Tunbridge Wells.
My major priorities are:
1. Quality education
2. Safe and friendly environment
3. Mosque
4. Good transportation links to London

Your feedback, comments and suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks.

Dartford, Rochester and TW are 11+ areas. Have you factored in DC failing this? Only 25% pass.

@Splety I will also put that in mind. Are there any good secondary schools apart from grammar school.
Thanks

Depends what you mean by “good”. The only non selective ones that come high in the league tables that aren’t grammar are the church schools. eg Bennett Memorial etc. You’re much safer in another county if your DC are borderline and you can’t afford private tbh.

Have you visited any of these towns? They’re very different to each other….. I would pick a couple of weekends and do some day trips to see how you feel about each town. Chelmsford is much bigger than the others on your list.

Tunbridge Wells.

@NonJeNeRegretteRien I have visited Chartham, Rochester and Strood. Not really fascinating for me but can deal with as an adult. I'm only prioritising the DC education, safety and place of worship atm.
Thanks

@Splety another county such as? Your advice will be more appreciated.
Thanks

@NotARealWookiie thanks and tips on how it feels like moving there?
Thanks

Do you need to commute to London? Norwich in Norfolk is 1.5-2 hrs on train. Good secondary schools by national standards, cheapish by UK standards, very very safe with a mosque and very multicultural despite not being a major city.

Good for arts, family and getting to beaches.

@bleughgreen we looking at £350k can you suggest where to be looking at and where to avoid please.
Thanks

Do you need to commute to anywhere?

I mean where in London as that will be a big factor.

@Suckitup101 yes myself and DH both works in London.
I don't mind knowing more about Norwich

You will not be able to afford Tunbridge Wells, you could just afford Dartford, it's rundown.
I would not live in Rochester.

@Teenangels thanks. Would you suggest TW any reason?

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/23478285.norwich-ranks-among-top-five-cities-families-uk/

https://www.norwich-central-mosque.co.uk/

I'm not sure about the other areas but you are unlikely to be able to purchase more than a 2 bed for 350k in Tunbridge Wells. Have you checked local housing markets to see what is possible in each area? This could massively impact your quality of life.

TW is a very nice town, good schools even beyond the grammars which has changed a lot in the past 10 years or so. Generally safe though like anywhere it has its rougher areas and its scandals.

it’s a family oriented town - a fair amount to do with kids in the area, but you need to be motivated and a driver as transportation is not great. There’s not loads to do for free either. If you’re moving out of London this is a change.

TW is much more multi-cultural than it used to be but still quite WASPy on the whole.

The commute to London is ok - in the mornings there are fast trains that go non stop after high brooms (the secondary T Wells station) to London Bridge and Cannon Street. These non stop trains take about 45 mins. Stopping service about 1hour to Charring X However it’s one of the most expensive commuter lines in the country so factor this in.

On a budget of 350k for a three bed you will struggle - just did a little right move and it’s slim pickings and all in areas of town that I would describe as a bit “dodgy”. Dodgy is relative I suppose but there are a few areas of T Wells that have a bad reputation that they can’t shake.

T W is a town (and series of surrounding towns) of two halves really - serious privilege right next to 1/4 of the children in the town living in poverty and relying on food banks.

I wouldn’t like to live in Rochester - by comparison the “dodgy” areas of T Wells seem to be the normal areas of Rochester, and I’m not sure Dartford is that much better.

@butterflycatcher thanks I will put that into consideration

@LazJaz Thanks. I found it very informative. I will be narrowing down my considering to either Chelmsford or Tunbridge Wells for now.
Thanks

Would you come further out to somewhere like Swindon? It's on the main line into Paddington and takes about an hour. You can hop on the Lizzy line from there and be somewhere like TCR less than 90 mins after leaving Swindon.
You'd get much more for your money, and there is at least one big mosque. Some schools are v food - eg Ridgeway and Royal Wootton Bassett. Others not so good.

I think Tunbridge Wells is out of your budget. I’ve just done a quick right move search and I only got terraced houses, which is probably too small for a family of five.

You may be best to consider towns and villages within touching distance of TW, although I don’t think £350 will get you much in this area.

@Torganer St Paul's station

Try Tonbridge, more affordable than Tunbridge Wells and with grammar schools and a fair bit going on. Lots of kids travel between Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells for the schools.