Help! Moving to Kent!

[KateS12]

Hello all!

We’re planning to move from Streatham (SW16) to Kent to be near my in-laws in Biddenden and we want a garden!
Ideally I’m looking for a village with a great community feel either with a train station or very near a train station and a good primary school and nursery for the little one. Also must have an excellent pub and a couple of shops, I’m not keen on driving all the time!
I’ve been looking are Marden and Staplehurst as well as Tonbridge but I would love any pointers!
Please tell me all about your wonderful villages

Leigh is gorgeous, little commuter bus connects to rush hour trains at Hildenborough. Wonderful community and primary. Only thing is 11+ is very very extreme there, we left because we didn't like the non aspirational non grammars and couldn't afford multiple school fees. The kids being bright might have passed, but equally might have failed. Too much risk.

Tenterden is nice - no train station but not too far to drive to Ashford for high speed link

Hi, East Kent has slightly less 11+ pressure around, but still good access to grammars, if that is something you are bearing in mind.
Following on from the mention of Tenterden, the villages around it, but outside of Ashford, tend to have a good community feel to them - Hamstreet and Woodchurch might be worth a look. Both have schools (primary) and pub. And shops for basics.