Nice parts of Kent?

115K

Hi,

We are planning on retiring early (not for about another 10 years:D) and we were thinking of moving out further to Essex after my hubbie gives up work.

I was thinking maybe Kent would be a better idea than Essex as it is quite chavvy in Essex, no offence to people who love Essex.:p

I grew up in South London so I have been to a few areas of Kent but not for years now so I was wondering which areas anyone would recommend as nice places to live.

I've been looking on Rightmove and Tunbridge Wells looks like it would be pretty and I get the impression it would be low in crime? Sevenoaks looks quite pricy. We could go up to about £300,000 and would consider a flat.

Browntoa

Dymchurch , St Marys Bay , Hythe , Romney , all nice areas

115K

Sorry, I realised I should have said that I wanted it to be fairly easy to get into Central London too.

I think I have been to Hythe.

Browntoa

Ashford is on the High Speed link to London but its a mixed bunch there and I'm not sure which are good or bad

St Marys Island , Wainscott , both near Chatham which is 50 minutes from London by train but also served by commuter coaches

115K

Browntoa wrote: »

St Marys Island , Wainscott , both near Chatham which is 50 minutes from London by train but also served by commuter coaches

Oh okay, I just looked on RM and it looks like it has some smart penthouses there with lovely views of the river.:)

lmwarr21

Hi I dont know Kent well but I would certainly recommend Stanford-le-Hope/Corringham in Essex it is not at all chavvy. Its houses are reasonably priced its close to station c2c line. Its has a lovely community feel to it.

I moved from Romford, Essex (terrible area) 6 years ago and love the place to bits. I am moving soon from one road in stanford to another I did not want to leave the area.

Goldiegirl

St Mary's Island is very pleasant, but don't know Wainscot very well


If you do come over to have a look, make sure you go to Chatham and Gillingham town centres.......it could be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. I say no more.

Seabee42

Ah tis a shame about the getting into London some of the nicer areas that are a bit more cut of are more affordable because they are not commuter villages.

Bantex_2

Depends what you are looking for, village, town, riverside etc

115K

So is there anything bad about Sevenoaks or Tunbridge Wells? I'm surprised that TW is as affordable as it is as I thought it was quite posh.

St Mary's Island does look nice, I hadn't ever heard of it.

Goldiegirl wrote: »

If you do come over to have a look, make sure you go to Chatham and Gillingham town centres.......it could be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. I say no more.

I have heard bad things about Gillingham, I went on a night out there about 20 years ago and urm, yes. It reminded me of Romford which isn't a good thing.:D

115K

Probably town as I lived in London for most of my life. I like the idea of riverside, definitely not a village.

Bantex wrote: »

Depends what you are looking for, village, town, riverside etc