Borough Green in Kent - what's it like?

[Boroughgreenq]

We have a max budget of £650k for a 4 bed and would love somewhere in Kent that is:

• Ok to commute to the City
• in catchment for grammars but doesn't put all our eggs in the grammar basket (our kids are young so who knows!)
• somewhere we would enjoy living (we're currently in London and really fed up of the dog shit, litter and general sense of everything going down the toilet)

Borough Green house prices are great but that's always for a reason. What's the unvarnished truth???

And any other suggestions?

Hopefully bump!

I would look at Wrotham or West Malling (not Kings Hill which is all new build)

Thanks so much @friendlycat. Does that mean it's a bit rough?

In my opinion yes. Have you visited and driven around the area yet?

@friendlycat We've just canned our plans for today and we're about to go! We know a few areas round there that we can't afford but not that one specifically

Def agree Wrotham or W Malling is a better bet. (Nb: it's pronounced 'Root-um' locally)

What about Longfield/Hartley?

I'm going to send you a pm @Boroughgreenq

I'm Tonbridge so prob more costly due to travel links

If you head towards Maidstone more it's cheaper

There are some nice houses in Borough green

Equally some chavvy areas

But can say the same for anywhere sevenoaks and Tonbridge

Mmmm we live close(ish) and I wouldn't chose to live in Borough Green. It's not awful but it's not particularly great either. You have a good budget and should be able to buy in another area. Personally I don't like Longfield or that area of Kent.
I'd look further towards Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks way. Avoiding Paddock Wood and West Kingsdown.

Interesting replies. I have lived in one of the neighbouring villages for over 20 years. Borough Green might not look that pretty but it has a very strong community and the centre of the village has many useful shops, including a library, (one of the best) bakery, 3 convenience stores - 1 contains the post office so it is open more often and for longer than the main post offices, chemist (recently taken over), travel agent, coffee shops galore, various take-aways, quality beauty places and a charity shop. Not to forget the well-stocked plant and food nursery just out of the village. Sadly the lovely card and gift shop closed recently due to retirement. It also has a railway station - didnt used to be the best line (slow and to Victoria) but there are now Charing Cross trains. Do check the South-Eastern rail website for timetable. I used to always drive to Sevenoaks, but now if I am out in Central or West London will go from BG&W as the cheaper station parking offsets the slightly higher fare.

Regarding schools - Borough Green is well placed for both the Maidstone secondary schools, Sevenoaks, and Tonbridge/Tun Wells. There are the grammar schools but most of the local secondary schools have had significant investment and have good local reputations. Bus services are not great - either school run or out of school run but people manage. All the local primary schools seem to be OK, but different in feel - worth visiting all. Getting to college is not quite so good so you both need to drive with access to a car.

The village I live in has 1 pub remaining and 2 small shops. So in comparison Borough green is incredibly well supplied.

There is a Sevenoaks high premium so naturally Borough Green will be cheaper. I do know people who live in Kings Hill and love it. For me it is an acquired taste, as I feel it rather destroyed the gorgeous character of West Malling. Tun Wells is very pricey now - families moving from Sevenoaks complain about it!!

I actually lost part of my very long post - unbelievable I know!

The community spirit in Borough Green is great. Mums got together and fund raised to renovate the local children's playground. There is a Christmas Lights committee. The Parish Council - who are interesting I will admit - get out there in person and sort issues. Eg drains, signs. (Some of their other decision making is less than perfect). I live in a "ham" - and although I "know" many of our parish Councillors they aren't out there doing that. They care so much about the village that many stood as local councillors for recent elections. One candidate nearly beat one of the local conservative candidates. If you didn't know already - West Kent went very blue about 10-15 years ago - it used to be a better mix of Conservative and LibDem. So for a local independent party to come close to unseating a conservative incumbent is a big deal. If you are a labour supporter this would not be the county for you - sorry!

Having read my previous post and now this - it is time that I thought about moving away! Otherwise I will be stuck here for life!

How funny, I live in Ightham which is directly next to Borough Green.

Borough Green is great! It's the only placed we've lived where there's community spirit. People say hi to each other and there's lots of community events. The transport links are fab, right near the M26/M25. A20. Easy to get to Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Maidstone.

The high street has a good array of shops including an independent travel agent, estate agents, florist, pharmacy, opticians, (lovely) bakery, greasy spoon, Costa, tea room, hair dressers, dry cleaners. A lovely library and multiple small grocery stores.

West Malling is boring. It's pretty but the high street doesn't offer much and the parking is crazy. It's no safer than Borough Green and the transport links aren't as good. Some people like the overpriced restaurants but they're not for me.

Sevenoaks has a nice high street but lacks community spirit. You're more anonymous and it's very much keeping up with the Jones's.

Wrotham is dull. No public transport or train and it's a long walk into Borough Green. Nice housing stock but nothing there other than a few pubs and a primary school.

Borough Green is safe with great primary schools. Good mainline station but other public transport is lacking. Honestly, I'm shocked at the posts above that say it's rough! Hardly!

St Mary's Platt also has nice housing stock and is a short walk to Borough Green high street. Ightham is lovely too, not much going on admittedly but some areas are walkable into Borough Green and it's nice and quiet.

Definitely visit it, people tend to stick around once here as it really is a little gem.

Where do you live? I'm sorry but Borough Green is hardly rough 😂 we've lived in the area for 11 years and have had zero issues.

I used it live in BG, worked in Ightham and also Sevenoaks. I live 45 mins away now but will soon be moving 200+ miles away.

Have you thought about Rushall or Langton Green ?

Thought loads of criminals lived there tbh

It’s fine. Good train service. Village feel. Close to m20/m25. It’s no rougher than other non London areas in the south east. Sometimes Mumsnet is odd.

As i said above there are rough areas everywhere

Sevenoaks is lovely and some say posh but also has its rough areas

I like Borough Green, I also like West Malling, it’s pretty and quaint and has everything you need apart from the doctors (which is at Kings Hill). Kings Hill has bad transport links and new very overpriced housing. Come down and look round the area. There are lots of new houses being built (if that’s what you like) in Larkfield and Hermitage Lane at Aylesford.

I second Rusthall and langton Green. Depending on how much you need the train Pembury is also worth looking at. (Or add costs of parking into calculations)

Having said.that BG is nice enough.

If any of you need decent access to GP surgeries, Borough Green is a large partner run practice and is well regarded. Kings Hill surgery is known to be awful for getting appointments.

You need to visit places. Tonbridge is down to earth, some nice cafes, a great park and lots of charity shops. Mixed socioeconomics which I tend to like and may suit someone coming from London as it's a town. Borough Green is a village.

Tunbridge Wells has a good reputation for schools, but like Sevenoaks, I feel is overrated and overpriced. Quite a lot of crime in terms of drugs and burglaries and lacks a community due to its size but has some lovely parks and good links into Sussex.

It really depends on what you're looking for.

Steer clear of Medway and you can't go far wrong. Larkfield, as someone suggested above, isn't nice and you'll see why if you visit.

No you're getting confused with West Kingsdown.

I would bike to the train from LG or Rusthall apretiate that's not for everyone though.

Borough Green is lovely.