Londoner buying in Tunbridge Wells or Rusthall

[LawyerSeekingCalm]

I've decided to buy my first home in Tunbridge Wells/Rusthall.

I am 33 years old, grew up in London but my family moved to Tenterden during Covid. My partner and I plan to have kids in 2 years time so I want to raise them near family. We're also a interracial couple.

I have found two homes but no clue what would be better. A house in Rusthall and the other in Hawkenbury. I go in 1 day to the office but my partner has to go in 4 days! I want a nice area, open space, good links to London and good schools.

I'm struggling to figure out what is a better/suitable area and also, conscious that I don't want anyone having issues with a mixed family (we've experienced cold behaviour in parts of Kent, when people figure out that, I who is white-passing, is not white and we are a interracial couple).

I love both homes and my partner said he's happy to cycle from Rusthall to Tunbridge Wells Station because he will move jobs in a year or two to WFH a little bit more.

I would love to know what people who live there think of these areas and whether it would be the right fit for us.

I have lived in TW for 25 years and raised mixed race kids here in prep and state schools. Love the area, beautiful countryside, friendly folk, great schools, easy commute (used Tonbridge station mostly as more frequent). Hawkenbury and Rusthall are both lovely. I'd probably opt for Hawkenbury or look at Bidborough/Tonbridge re grammar school options (a decade away at least but time flies!).

Thank you! I'm so glad you've been so happy raising your family there ❤️

I grew up in rusthall and personally didn't like it! A everyone knows everyone situation. But that was a long time ago. My mum and siblings still live there and my grandmother lives in hawkenbury. I much prefer hawkenbury. It is larger than a village but still small enough that it's close knit and also easy to get to town and the train station.