Discussion
I've never been a big fan of Strood, but I've been living in Wainscott for just over a year now. We have a nice little 2 bed with garage and drive way in a leafy suburban street. 25 minute walk to Strood station which is served by HS1 (girlfriend can get to St Pancras in a touch over 30 mins), and right next to the Wainscott Bypass, so easy to get onto the A2...I can be on the M25 in 10-15 minutes, whereas it used to take me that just to get out of town when I lived in Gravesend. I rarely go into Strood except for shopping, but easy access to the A2 means it's easy to go further afield if you want to avoid the horrible one way system. Local Co-op is a 5 minute walk away.
What's quite nice for me is that I only have to cross the bypass to be on quiet county lanes toward Higham, Cliffe, etc, so it's nice for cycling and gives you a more rural feeling. My only gripe is that our house backs onto the bypass...but it's down in a cutting so the noise isn't too bad, and only really noticeable at rush hour, when I'm at work anyway.
What's quite nice for me is that I only have to cross the bypass to be on quiet county lanes toward Higham, Cliffe, etc, so it's nice for cycling and gives you a more rural feeling. My only gripe is that our house backs onto the bypass...but it's down in a cutting so the noise isn't too bad, and only really noticeable at rush hour, when I'm at work anyway.
Edited by Conscript on Sunday 14th June 19:06
Oh, I forgot to add, check out Higham...quite rural, nice houses and a station which is served by HS1. Also very easy to get onto the bypass, the A2 then on to the M25. However, can be quite pricy, I imagine because it's a rural location but with excellent links. Me and the gf looked there initially but demand is high and we couldn't stretch our budget quite enough.
I guess its a catch 22... cheaper properties outside of london, but will less likely benefit from long term capital appreciation..
I was looking at prices in Snodland while trying to get on to the ladder over the last 2 years... prices around there dont seem to have risen at all..
Not watched Rochester, has it moved much ?
I was looking at prices in Snodland while trying to get on to the ladder over the last 2 years... prices around there dont seem to have risen at all..
Not watched Rochester, has it moved much ?
dema said:
I do like the sound of Tunbridge as well, buy might be out of budget
I used to live in Tunbridge Wells and I was walking distance from the train station. Getting to the M25 involved going up the A26 first before getting on the A21. Depending on the time of day the A26 could be a nightmare.I have since moved to South Tonbridge. I am again walking distance from MLS. There are far more trains to London from Tonbridge than Tonbridge Wells as there are a number of lines that run through, rather than just the Hastings line. House prices are a lot less than Tunbridge Wells and where I am, it is easier to get to the M25.
The negatives for Tonbridge are that the shops are s
t. Great if you like pound shops and charity shops.Sorry I can't comment on Rochester as I have never lived there, but thought I'd mention Tunbridge Wells/Tonbridge.
Thank you for he comments,
Higham would be out of budget for what I've seen on Zoopla, Wainscott however, would be ok.
Although pretty and affluent,Tunbridge Wells doesn't do it for me for some reaosn. I drove through Tonbridge and the south part where the castle is looks nice, although I would problably look at the north part where the station is, the high street, is rubbish, but, for restaurants, TW is 10 min down the road and Bluewater is not far for shopping. Although at the top end, prices seems ok, I have looked at Rochester way first as you could get a much bigger property for less money (although demographic and 1K extra on season ticket might be the reason for it).
Open to all suggestion for location, due to work we did move around the south east a fair bit so we have friends scaterred every where, as long as the location is nice, housing affordable, easy commute to London I'm not too bothered, I'll be happy to travel further to the M25 if needs be (the area I look after for work strech from Newbury to Ramsgate including the south coast and parts of Herts,Bucks,Bed and Essex).
I would agree on having a future better return in a property closer to Londond but finding a deposit would take me another 15 years or so (I want to have 20%) that would cost me another 15K min in rent.
Thanks again for the suggestions and advise, I'm off to Italy to see the family for two weeks, will do more visiting and maths when I'm back.
Higham would be out of budget for what I've seen on Zoopla, Wainscott however, would be ok.
Although pretty and affluent,Tunbridge Wells doesn't do it for me for some reaosn. I drove through Tonbridge and the south part where the castle is looks nice, although I would problably look at the north part where the station is, the high street, is rubbish, but, for restaurants, TW is 10 min down the road and Bluewater is not far for shopping. Although at the top end, prices seems ok, I have looked at Rochester way first as you could get a much bigger property for less money (although demographic and 1K extra on season ticket might be the reason for it).
Open to all suggestion for location, due to work we did move around the south east a fair bit so we have friends scaterred every where, as long as the location is nice, housing affordable, easy commute to London I'm not too bothered, I'll be happy to travel further to the M25 if needs be (the area I look after for work strech from Newbury to Ramsgate including the south coast and parts of Herts,Bucks,Bed and Essex).
I would agree on having a future better return in a property closer to Londond but finding a deposit would take me another 15 years or so (I want to have 20%) that would cost me another 15K min in rent.
Thanks again for the suggestions and advise, I'm off to Italy to see the family for two weeks, will do more visiting and maths when I'm back.
Have you looked around Upchurch and the new estates off Otterham Quay lane.
It's only a few minutes to rain ham station and only 8min longer to London by train.
Where in London does the other half work? Her tube journey the other end will dictate whether mainline, high speed or coach is best for her?
It's only a few minutes to rain ham station and only 8min longer to London by train.
Where in London does the other half work? Her tube journey the other end will dictate whether mainline, high speed or coach is best for her?
Current office location is Baker St, there are rumours that the office will move near Bond St but not confirmed yet, it could be anywhere, although I'm 99.9% sure it will be central London.
The idea js to move now to buy in the next 2/3 years, I don't want to buy in s place I haven't lived in as I wasn't to be sure that the location is right.
At the moment era re spoiled in a larghe 2 bed House for Justin indet 1k ( smaller giudea in the area arte going for 1100 to 1250 , we have been good tenants for 5 years)
The idea js to move now to buy in the next 2/3 years, I don't want to buy in s place I haven't lived in as I wasn't to be sure that the location is right.
At the moment era re spoiled in a larghe 2 bed House for Justin indet 1k ( smaller giudea in the area arte going for 1100 to 1250 , we have been good tenants for 5 years)
I live in Rochester and I find it a great place to live, I used to live in London/kent Boarder and compared to that its brilliant.
Rochester always has something happening either in the castle grounds or in the high street, i.e Sweeps festival, castle concerts, dickens festival etc, which if you have kids, is always good to have something for them to do.
On the note of Kids Medway has a number of sports and leisure centres and some great parks to go to as well, which you will not find in London, with some fantastic history in the area with at least 4 castles I can think of off the top of my head that you can visit all year round and many farms with petting areas etc.
Medway has some nice parts but also not so nice parts. I'd steer away from Chatham, Strood isn't great ok, but if you look at housing more towards the academy and the houses around there are nice, on watling street I think they go for around £900k plus.
Rochester high street is a great place to drink as others have mentioned, with around 20 bars/pubs on the high street, pub crawls are a must.
and to top it off your only 20 minutes from Brands Hatch :-)
Rochester always has something happening either in the castle grounds or in the high street, i.e Sweeps festival, castle concerts, dickens festival etc, which if you have kids, is always good to have something for them to do.
On the note of Kids Medway has a number of sports and leisure centres and some great parks to go to as well, which you will not find in London, with some fantastic history in the area with at least 4 castles I can think of off the top of my head that you can visit all year round and many farms with petting areas etc.
Medway has some nice parts but also not so nice parts. I'd steer away from Chatham, Strood isn't great ok, but if you look at housing more towards the academy and the houses around there are nice, on watling street I think they go for around £900k plus.
Rochester high street is a great place to drink as others have mentioned, with around 20 bars/pubs on the high street, pub crawls are a must.
and to top it off your only 20 minutes from Brands Hatch :-)
I like Rochester, but if you're commuting I'd look at Rainham as it's only ten minutes extra on the train journey into London, and you'll probably get a seat. By the time the train gets to Rochester, most of the seats have gone.
Rainham has some nice roads, and if you want to enjoy the sights of Rochester then it's only a few minutes away.
Rainham has some nice roads, and if you want to enjoy the sights of Rochester then it's only a few minutes away.
Im in lordwoods but lived in gillingham for 20 years since birth.
Pretty much agree with whats been posted already, lordwood/walderslade aka the outs,irts are really nice to live in. The closer you get to town centres, the more "soical housing" it gets. Luton is particularly a low point in medway where i 99% certain i watched arogramme on tv announce it was where the term "chav" evolved from lol
Aylesford is a nice area and station isnt too bad either, also try eccles/burham as its easily walkable to the station.
Finally regarding the coach, my sister commutes from sittingbourne and although it takes slightly longer then train, she pays around £1200 less a year, always gets a seat (you WONT get a seat on the train at 8am as gillingham and chatham will fill it up) and it drops her off 2 minutes from her house.
Royce
Pretty much agree with whats been posted already, lordwood/walderslade aka the outs,irts are really nice to live in. The closer you get to town centres, the more "soical housing" it gets. Luton is particularly a low point in medway where i 99% certain i watched arogramme on tv announce it was where the term "chav" evolved from lol
Aylesford is a nice area and station isnt too bad either, also try eccles/burham as its easily walkable to the station.
Finally regarding the coach, my sister commutes from sittingbourne and although it takes slightly longer then train, she pays around £1200 less a year, always gets a seat (you WONT get a seat on the train at 8am as gillingham and chatham will fill it up) and it drops her off 2 minutes from her house.
Royce
dema said:
I drove through Tonbridge and the south part where the castle is looks nice, although I would problably look at the north part where the station is, the high street, is rubbish, but, for restaurants, TW is 10 min down the road and Bluewater is not far for shopping. Although at the top end, prices seems ok, I have looked at Rochester way first as you could get a much bigger property for less money (although demographic and 1K extra on season ticket might be the reason for it).
I think you need a better map. And maybe a compass... 
https://goo.gl/maps/Zqrm6
Royce44 said:
Aylesford is a nice area and station isnt too bad either, also try eccles/burham as its easily walkable to the station.
Aylesford (and New Hythe) are on the Medway Valley line which is not ideal for commuting. There are only two HS1 services which will get you to London in time and for those you have to go to Snodland. The alternative is to head through British Legion Village to Barming. The downside to that is trains from there only go to Victoria. Probably the worst station on the whole LU network: access to/from the VL platforms is dire. At peak times it is diabolical.For a daily commute into London the OP would be best to choose somwehere within easy reach of a station on the line from Faversham. HS1 is by far the quickest way to get to Baker Street - https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/your-journey...
We purchased an apartment just off the esplanade in Rochester around 6 months ago and have found it to be a lovely place to live. (I am originally from north London and more then happy to pay the train fare to live away from there..)
During the summer months we can walk along the river medway into town and around the castle/cathedral. The high street has a lot of history and qwerky buildings to see during the day. If going out of a night there are many bars, resuarants to visit.
The apartment itself is spacious with a designated car port that can hold 4 cars.
I work in central London on the evening shift so can get off peak train fares and only around a hour commute on the HS1.
There is also a brand new station being built in Rochester to replace the old one
Any questions give me a shout.
During the summer months we can walk along the river medway into town and around the castle/cathedral. The high street has a lot of history and qwerky buildings to see during the day. If going out of a night there are many bars, resuarants to visit.
The apartment itself is spacious with a designated car port that can hold 4 cars.
I work in central London on the evening shift so can get off peak train fares and only around a hour commute on the HS1.
There is also a brand new station being built in Rochester to replace the old one
Any questions give me a shout.
Edited by Joe-turbo on Thursday 25th June 13:34
Bit late to the party but bored at work.
Take a look at New Ash Green, not the best place in the world but should be within your budget rent wise.
M2 or M20 or M25 easy access.
Trains from longfield to victoria fast 30 mins.
As mentioned ebbsfleet 12 mins or something silly but double the price which I didnt see mentioned.
Your wifes commute roughly an hour door to door.
edit - if you can stretch to this even better, walk to station or commuter coach.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...
Take a look at New Ash Green, not the best place in the world but should be within your budget rent wise.
M2 or M20 or M25 easy access.
Trains from longfield to victoria fast 30 mins.
As mentioned ebbsfleet 12 mins or something silly but double the price which I didnt see mentioned.
Your wifes commute roughly an hour door to door.
edit - if you can stretch to this even better, walk to station or commuter coach.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...
Edited by TISPKJ on Thursday 25th June 16:14
Joe-turbo said:
We purchased an apartment just off the esplanade in Rochester around 6 months ago and have found it to be a lovely place to live. (I am originally from north London and more then happy to pay the train fare to live away from there..)
During the summer months we can walk along the river medway into town and around the castle/cathedral. The high street has a lot of history and qwerky buildings to see during the day. If going out of a night there are many bars, resuarants to visit.
The apartment itself is spacious with a designated car port that can hold 4 cars.
I work in central London on the evening shift so can get off peak train fares and only around a hour commute on the HS1.
There is also a brand new station being built in Rochester to replace the old one
Any questions give me a shout.
hey Joe, what colour is your exige? next time I see you I'll say hi or waveDuring the summer months we can walk along the river medway into town and around the castle/cathedral. The high street has a lot of history and qwerky buildings to see during the day. If going out of a night there are many bars, resuarants to visit.
The apartment itself is spacious with a designated car port that can hold 4 cars.
I work in central London on the evening shift so can get off peak train fares and only around a hour commute on the HS1.
There is also a brand new station being built in Rochester to replace the old one
Any questions give me a shout.
Edited by Joe-turbo on Thursday 25th June 13:34
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