FTB - advice on locations in Kent?

Jackie1813

I currently live in Lordswood Chatham and have done for the last 26 years. Chatham itself is not very nice but here in Lordswood bordering Walderslade it is quiet with nice houses and decent prices a three bed terrace around £250-£265K. There are many open spaces for walking and running with designated paths for cycling. The schools here are fantastic. Like all places the Medway towns has is not so nice areas but some are lovely.

NameUnavailable

Octothorpe said:

Medway, like everywhere has it's nice areas and less desirable areas.
Certain parts of Gillingham and chatham are very nice (normally further from highstreet gets nicer). Both have excellent railway links to London. Also some good green areas for walks.

Medway also has some excellent grammar schools - i know kids aren't a consideration yet, but....

There's some nice new builds around the water and St Mary's Island.

On the outskirts you have places like walderslade etc but you'd need to drive to the station.

Maidstone town centre is far nicer and much bigger than medway towns. However - driving in Maidstone is a nightmare!! Always SO busy!! And the one way around town is blooming dreadful. Also the train links are naff!!

I moved from Sussex to Medway due to it's affordability,  now can afford to move back to Sussex but have choosen to stay here.

I've been wondering about the Medway area as I'd ideally like to buy a house and I can get that there. I like Rochester and have visited the Dockyard and the areas around there seem OK - Brompton looked nice?

I know Chatham in particular gets a bad reputation but why? OK it's not the most attractive area but then again doesn't seem bad as such although I know there's a lot of narrow hilly streets of terraces where parking looks difficult.

Octothorpe

NameUnavailable said:

Octothorpe said:

Medway, like everywhere has it's nice areas and less desirable areas.
Certain parts of Gillingham and chatham are very nice (normally further from highstreet gets nicer). Both have excellent railway links to London. Also some good green areas for walks.

Medway also has some excellent grammar schools - i know kids aren't a consideration yet, but....

There's some nice new builds around the water and St Mary's Island.

On the outskirts you have places like walderslade etc but you'd need to drive to the station.

Maidstone town centre is far nicer and much bigger than medway towns. However - driving in Maidstone is a nightmare!! Always SO busy!! And the one way around town is blooming dreadful. Also the train links are naff!!

I moved from Sussex to Medway due to it's affordability,  now can afford to move back to Sussex but have choosen to stay here.

I've been wondering about the Medway area as I'd ideally like to buy a house and I can get that there. I like Rochester and have visited the Dockyard and the areas around there seem OK - Brompton looked nice?

I know Chatham in particular gets a bad reputation but why? OK it's not the most attractive area but then again doesn't seem bad as such although I know there's a lot of narrow hilly streets of terraces where parking looks difficult.

Yeah it's a bit of a quandary. 

I used to live in a house 2 minutes from the highstreet in Gillingham.  It was my first home.

Road was good as one way. Never heard traffic!! Neighbours were lovely.

However the area just looked 'rough'. The town centre does attract the jeremy kyle types 😳
Parking on road anywhere near town is permitted parking. So it's currently about 35 a year for own car but £2 a DAY for visitors permits! Used to be 50p!!! It can be a struggle to find parking free by your house. Tradesmen need a permit etc so was a nightmare. I will NEVER live in a permitted road again and moved so i could have a driveway!!
But overall i couldn't have afforded Sussex as first home at 20 years old.

Moved to a 15 minute walk away from town. Have lovely neighbours,  a big park on my doorstep etc. Street is no longer rough looking. Shopping i go to Hempstead or bluewater. 

Chatham is bigger so town is bigger. It also means more Jeremy Kyle people. I feel uncomfortable sometimes there but its got enough shops to make it worthwhile visiting now and then.

My kids are in excellent schools, eldest in a grammar school. Students outside of kent try to get in from london to the grammar schools.

Medway council is actually pretty good. Bin collection every week. Sussex, it's once a fortnight!!

I came from the 'posher' area in Sussex to Medway and overall like it 😂 I don't get all the hate haha

Jackie1813

Rochester is lovely, but can be pricey and parking difficult. The nightlife and pubs in Rochester are good too. If you can drive and are happy to drive to the station coming out of town is better as most houses have parking and are cheaper.