Living in Tonbridge

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furtive

Original Poster:

4,498 posts

278 months

Monday 27th April 2009
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I'm thinking of moving to Tonbridge and am after some information on the town. I would be commuting to Canary Wharf 4 days per week so need easy access to the train station to catch a train at about 8am.

What is the traffic like on weekday mornings at that sort of time? Would the station be a nightmare to get to from North Tonbridge? What is parking at the station like?

Anything else I should know?

Thanks

groomi

9,317 posts

242 months

Monday 27th April 2009
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Parking at Tonbridge station is very limited IIRC, although there is reasonable parking at Hildenborough station which is one stop nearer to London and about 10 mins drive from North Tonbridge.

Alternatively, it would take you about 10-15 mins to walk from the school down to Tonbridge station, so add another 5-10mins depending whereabouts you find in North Tonbridge I guess.

furtive

Original Poster:

4,498 posts

278 months

Tuesday 28th April 2009
quotequote all
Thanks. I've spoken to the station parking people and there is a 5 month waiting list for season ticket places, and there is no waiting list for the council run car parks that are near the station

Interesting about Hildenborough though - I hadn't considered that station. I assume all the trains stop there as well?

Any idea what the rush hour traffic is like?

mwy1964

171 posts

208 months

Tuesday 28th April 2009
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I live outside Tonbridge, about 5 miles, and use Tonbridge station to get into the city 2-3 days a week. Parking at Tonbridge has never been a problem, apart from the £5+ it costs to park. The service into the city is fast, best case about 35mins, worst 45mins depending on where the train stops, it does not always stop at Hildenborough for example as there are a number of trains that are fast from Tonbridge to Waterloo East.

The rush hour in Tonbridge is nothing to write home about... Depending on the time of day my journey from Seven Mile lane to Tonbridge takes between 15 - 25 mins tops...

Luke.

10,944 posts

249 months

Friday 26th November 2010
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I'm moving to Tonbridge in February, so this is an interesting post.

Just out of interest, can you usually get a seat on the Charing Cross train first thing in the morning (well about 8ish)?

Happy Eater

438 posts

194 months

Friday 26th November 2010
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I travel from Paddock Wood and most people at Tonbridge get a seat, you might have to walk the train a bit. The Sevenoaks crew dont always get a seat, and very few fast trains stop a Hildenborough.

Chris_

483 posts

205 months

Sunday 28th November 2010
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I commute from Hildenborough where there is no waiting list for a parking season ticket. The main reason being a couple of alternative parking sites being available very close by which offer cheaper alternatives (the gym, restaurant and the allotments) If you are early, there are also free on-street places. The advantage with parking at Hildenborough itself is that you are right next to the station so as close as is possible. There are also no traffic issues getting in and out (unlike Tonbridge). Lastly, the coffee is a million times better at Hildenborough which might swing it.

It is true that there are fewer trains (something like two out of three stop there) but in the mornings you still have plenty (from 06.30 to 08.36 there are ten direct to London Bridge, then going on to either Charing Cross or Cannon Street). The journey is slightly short and cheaper than from Tonbridge, but less chance of a seat in the morning, though on most trains it is still possible. By the time it gets to Sevenoaks it is usually standing room only.

I would try each for a few weeks and see how you get on.

5pen

1,874 posts

205 months

Sunday 28th November 2010
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Luke. said:
I'm moving to Tonbridge in February, so this is an interesting post.

Just out of interest, can you usually get a seat on the Charing Cross train first thing in the morning (well about 8ish)?
I'm a 8ish to Cannon Street commuter, but I think there are 07:51 and 08:09 trains to Charing X and pretty sure there are always plenty of seats on these trains - they tend to be the stock with 5 seats across and hundreds of school kids disembark at Tonbridge so you can usually be sure of a seat.

BBYeah

326 posts

182 months

Saturday 10th September 2011
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A google search about Tonbridge brought up this post and as a regular PHer, I am bumping it back up!

I'm really curious about how Sevenoaks compares to Tonbridge as a place to live? House prices, things to do, crime etc.

I have yet to visit either (due to living about 5 hours drive north).


bqf

2,226 posts

170 months

Saturday 10th September 2011
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Sevenoaks is 30% more expensive, and has far fewer chavs than Tonbridge (although if you're 5 hours North of both, you would think both places are like Belgravia). Sevenaoks - Shorter journey to London but parking at the station really for early birds.


Mr_annie_vxr

9,270 posts

210 months

Saturday 10th September 2011
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They both are nice places, Sevenoaks has better night life and is a nicer high street.

Tonbridge suffers with more ASB than Sevenoaks, but neither have a lot of crime. Most common calls are domestics. Sevenoaks is on the edge of the car key burglar hunting ground.

Ive worked both and lots of other parts of Kent. I'd happily live in most parts of either.


BBYeah

326 posts

182 months

Saturday 10th September 2011
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Thanks both of you for the helpful info. Although I live up'North, I'm currently in the countryside near Harrogate so not too chavtastic here. Have lived in very chav infested towns in the North before though and checking on police.uk maps, even Tonbridge suffers a lot less ASB etc. than those places, so fingers crossed I should be OK.

Digby

8,230 posts

245 months

Monday 12th September 2011
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Tonbidge way is also home to our MX5 club.Regular meets (when the weather is good) where we do anything from fitting exhausts to changing roofs etc.
www.mx5modsters.co.uk if you make that move and ever fancy it thumbup

Dalto123

3,198 posts

162 months

Wednesday 14th September 2011
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Chris_ said:
I commute from Hildenborough
I go to school in Hildenborough! I may have passed you on the platform once or twice, I come from Bromley, on the other line!

Happy Eater

438 posts

194 months

Thursday 15th September 2011
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Parking at the Stations is not a problem - it is getting a seat on the train that makes my blood boil, nearly £4000 per year to stand!! Thats daylight robberymad

Happy Eater

438 posts

194 months

Thursday 15th September 2011
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think of Harrogate as Sevonoaks and the nice parts of Leeds as Tonbridge!

ih1978

2 posts

116 months

Monday 14th July 2014
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Hi, found this thread. I am currently thinking of moving to Tonbridge and commuting into London. Just wondering if the info in this now slightly old thread is still correct? Could I expect to get a seat from Tonbridge into London Bridge on trains leaving between say 7.15 and 8.15? What about trains coming the other way from London B between about 5.15 and 6.30? Also is the parking situation round the station still the same?


Luke.

10,944 posts

249 months

Monday 14th July 2014
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You'll always get a seat. They're also doing some work on Tonbridge station to improve the parking.

Hol

8,356 posts

199 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
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Going home always depends on how early you get to the train, before it pulls out.

If you get there 10mins before it leaves you will always get a seat, but the kater you leave it, the slimmer the chance of getting one if they form part of the train with the older 2+2 stock.


Keep an open mind and see how much a First Class ticket will be. Its not that huge a jump on SE trains, but you can pretty muach guarantee sitting down both ways.


Sticks.

8,706 posts

250 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
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Hol said:
Going home always depends on how early you get to the train, before it pulls out.

If you get there 10mins before it leaves you will always get a seat, but the kater you leave it, the slimmer the chance of getting one if they form part of the train with the older 2+2 stock.
I used to do this from Charing Cross, but the trains didn't used to start at London Bridge, so were usually full at peak times. Some didn't stop at LB either, being fast from Waterloo East. That was the Ashford line though, not T Wells.