Anyone from Tonbridge?

bluedrop

Hello Tonbridge folks! Nearly 10 months on and we still haven't found a property we like.

We are now looking further into the town (and nearby towns), with DH considering taking a bus to the station.

Please can anyone tell me how these areas are?

1. Paddock wood
2. Higham lane area (Tonbridge)
3. Bat and Ball (Sevenoaks)
4. Otford (Sevenoaks)

Cornucopia

Most places in this part of Kent are pleasant and have good schools.

All of the rail stations/corridors are well tried and tested having been solid commuter belt for many decades.

When you get into the detail, yes, there are small things like can you easily buy within walking distance of the station, and is the station in/near the town centre or just a station more or less on its own.

On your list:-

- Paddock Wood is a classic small rural/railway town with some light industry and much agriculture. The railway lines dominate the town's geography to an extent.

- Don't know Tonbridge districts.

- Bat & Ball is an area to the North end of Sevenoaks. Pleasant enough with various shops, though the area round the station is mainly housing. The station is on the Otford loop, which is slower into London, although you can travel one stop South and change to the fast line at Sevenoaks.

- Otford is a charming village with a quaint village green area near the Station. Probably the most expensive area on your list. Again, the station is on the loop, so takes longer to get to London.

SuboJvR

It's late and I will add more later I'm sure but...

Make sure your DH knows that 40 mins train from tonbridge can be standing, depending on time! Some trains you will get a seat but you are pretty much assured one from Tunbridge Wells. Though on the flip side, Tonbridge has more trains.

Where abouts will your husband be working in London? Tunbridge wells/Tonbridge/Sevenoaks line is excellent as all trains stop at multiple London stations which is handy.

We currently rent in RTW and will shortly be moving to West Malling which is on the Victoria branch. Bit slower on train but still a lovely place and again good schools (catchment for the Maidstone grammars I think... no clue, no kids!) We can afford quite a bit more in that area, and it's more useful for our commutes

SuboJvR

Parking and traffic are horrid in Tunbridge wells as said before. Loads of roads are narrow with plenty of houses without Off street parking If that's an issue. And the station car parking is expensive/limited (Tonbridge situation much better).

bluedrop

Hi all,
We saw a property in Higham wood area (Tonbridge) - we like it. Is that area good? We live in Beckenham at the moment. Its nice here and we feel safe. How does Higham wood area compare?

SuboJvR

bluedrop wrote: »

Hi all,
We saw a property in Higham wood area (Tonbridge) - we like it. Is that area good? We live in Beckenham at the moment. Its nice here and we feel safe. How does Higham wood area compare?

I'm afraid I don't know the area too well, but you can't really go that wrong with Tonbridge. There will inevitably be some more desirable areas than others, but on the whole it's a good area.

Something you may like to do is review the police crime map:

https://www.police.uk/kent/226/

The area you are looking at (TN10) seems to have a pocket around the Turner Road/Wilson Road/Dodd Road area of higher crime (specifically some criminal damage/arson/violence) which would make me wonder why. The other side of Higham Lane there's not much of anything!

Check out the area you live now too, and see how that compares, as you say you feel safe there, but there may be things going on that you don't know about and that have literally no impact on you

bluedrop

SuboJvR wrote: »

Something you may like to do is review the police crime map:

https://www.police.uk/kent/226/

The area you are looking at (TN10) seems to have a pocket around the Turner Road/Wilson Road/Dodd Road area of higher crime (specifically some criminal damage/arson/violence) which would make me wonder why. The other side of Higham Lane there's not much of anything!

Check out the area you live now too, and see how that compares, as you say you feel safe there, but there may be things going on that you don't know about and that have literally no impact on you

This is exactly what I did just now.

The area I currently live (Beckenham) feels really nice and safe. I've been in this house for just over 4 years and in the area for over 6 years. Always felt nice and safe. For this postcode, Police.uk shows an average of 50 crimes a month in the last 6 months within 1 mile of my house. In comparison, Higham wood area shows an average of 30 crimes a month within 1 mile of the postcode I'm looking at.

Looking at the statistics, I can conclude its a comparable area (if not better). Is that a reasonable conclusion?

In your opinion, do you think I should just go for it?

SuboJvR

bluedrop wrote: »

This is exactly what I did just now.

The area I currently live (Beckenham) feels really nice and safe. I've been in this house for just over 4 years and in the area for over 6 years. Always felt nice and safe. For this postcode, Police.uk shows an average of 50 crimes a month in the last 6 months within 1 mile of my house. In comparison, Higham wood area shows an average of 30 crimes a month within 1 mile of the postcode I'm looking at.

Looking at the statistics, I can conclude its a comparable area (if not better). Is that a reasonable conclusion?

In your opinion, do you think I should just go for it?

As said I don't know the area well unfortunately, but in comparison yep those stats look good at least. You're not that far away - I would try and come down and spend an afternoon wandering around and see what you think. It's going to be worth it to try and suss it out more fully.

Had a quick look on rightmove - houses look pretty nice too but you can only tell so much looking online.

Being close to the A26 is good access for getting out toward Hadlow etc. Access good to A21 through Hildenborough too. The station is a bit of a trek at 2 miles if your husband wanted to walk each way (especially in rain, winter etc) but the car parking is excellent at Tonbridge (although will cost) and there's bound to be buses that go up nearer your end of town too.

Not sure what school catchments you may be in. But Tonbridge well known for grammar schools.

As said, I don't know Tonbridge too well (I know Tunbridge Wells much better) but of what I do know, there's no reason to think it's a bad area. There's areas of Tonbridge that I would have a question mark over for buying, e.g. nearer the more industrial areas of the town, but you're well away from that.

elverson

Where exactly does your husband need to commute to as Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Otford each have a different mix of trains into London.

bluedrop

elverson wrote: »

Where exactly does your husband need to commute to as Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and Otford each have a different mix of trains into London.

London bridge / Cannon street