Commuting *into* Maidstone?
Discussion
Worth taking a look at Tunbridge Wells. Some decent places to eat out, bit of a music scene, good pubs & arts, theatre etc. Half an hour to Maidstone on a good day.
Sevenoaks similar distance, though smaller than T.Wells & less options for a night out.
Tonbridge also worth a look.
Smaller towns , such as Cranbrook, Tenterden , both very pleasant, but may be a bit 'quiet' for some.
Lots of good villages & pubs within short distances of all these towns.
Sevenoaks similar distance, though smaller than T.Wells & less options for a night out.
Tonbridge also worth a look.
Smaller towns , such as Cranbrook, Tenterden , both very pleasant, but may be a bit 'quiet' for some.
Lots of good villages & pubs within short distances of all these towns.
What exactly is your priority? Where you live or where you can go out?
There are lots of nice places to live in maidstone or the surrounding areas. Like most places, there are some rough areas to avoid.
Traffic is appalling in maidstone so whilst Tunbridge Wells is nice and more expensive, it could be a nightmare for driving into maidstone. Sevenoaks during rush hour is more than 30 minutes away but again, a very expensive area.
Tell us more about your requirements and priorities. Kids, schools, village life etc? Is the job in the town centre or outside? Would you be prepared to commute into town by train?
There are lots of nice places to live in maidstone or the surrounding areas. Like most places, there are some rough areas to avoid.
Traffic is appalling in maidstone so whilst Tunbridge Wells is nice and more expensive, it could be a nightmare for driving into maidstone. Sevenoaks during rush hour is more than 30 minutes away but again, a very expensive area.
Tell us more about your requirements and priorities. Kids, schools, village life etc? Is the job in the town centre or outside? Would you be prepared to commute into town by train?
Edited by MYOB on Friday 9th February 23:43
Are you renting? Maidstone is not so bad. Lots of rental flats along the river. Some good pubs and restaurants in the town. Maidstone is the main night spot in Kent. Big 450 or so acre park quite central to run around.
I would suggest if you're working in the centre of town, and you want to sample the nightlife regularly, these apartments by the river are good for short term rental.
When you get a new girlfriend and look to settle, then think about moving out to the suburbs or surrounding villages. Villages west and South of the town are very nice, even some heading east and North are nice.
I would suggest if you're working in the centre of town, and you want to sample the nightlife regularly, these apartments by the river are good for short term rental.
When you get a new girlfriend and look to settle, then think about moving out to the suburbs or surrounding villages. Villages west and South of the town are very nice, even some heading east and North are nice.
MYOB said:
Are you renting? Maidstone is not so bad. Lots of rental flats along the river. Some good pubs and restaurants in the town. Maidstone is the main night spot in Kent. Big 450 or so acre park quite central to run around.
I would suggest if you're working in the centre of town, and you want to sample the nightlife regularly, these apartments by the river are good for short term rental.
When you get a new girlfriend and look to settle, then think about moving out to the suburbs or surrounding villages. Villages west and South of the town are very nice, even some heading east and North are nice.
Yep - 2 or 3 miles out of centre can often take 20 mins or more at busy times driving in especially from South. I would suggest if you're working in the centre of town, and you want to sample the nightlife regularly, these apartments by the river are good for short term rental.
When you get a new girlfriend and look to settle, then think about moving out to the suburbs or surrounding villages. Villages west and South of the town are very nice, even some heading east and North are nice.
Sevenoaks and T Wells very expensive and quiet evening wise (Sevenoaks especially), lots of commuters to London. T Wells traffic bad aswell
Ashford down M20 but busy road in and often queues to get off at J7 and then always a slog into town.
Assume your working right in town pretty close to river. Earl Street there pretty busy for bars and loads of clubs etc on weekends in side streets nearby and High St/ Bank St.
Should have a weekend or Saturday night down there first if want to make sure
glazbagun said:
Starting, as I am, a job in this fair town, I have uncharacteristically done some research and have ascertained that Maidstone itself is held as a chav-infested hellhole by many residents of Kent. I'll be popping down next month to scope the place out, so thought I'd ask what PHers would recommend.
Is there a preferable town within, say, half an hours commute that has some decent culture, an element of nightlife and civil people? Ashford seems well connected, but I know nothing about the place other than it has an old WWI tank on display.
Yes, I was relocated through work in 2009, right in the middle of town (Week St), and had parking behind our office.Is there a preferable town within, say, half an hours commute that has some decent culture, an element of nightlife and civil people? Ashford seems well connected, but I know nothing about the place other than it has an old WWI tank on display.
First day popped out for lunch, to see a big police sign saying beware stabbings and muggings!
In all honesty its alright there, and theres some nice little places to go (and to avoid).
My commute was from Ashford, and was 25/30 mins door to door (but I started at 8, and finished at 4).
However, on some outside visits (that were part of the role), getting across town was challenging and could eat up 30/40 mins easily.
Had people I worked with travelling from West Malling, Lordswood, Paddock Wood, Rochester & Canterbury, who drove every day.
Every town has it's Chav areas and places that they will congregate. For instance did you know that one of the towns with the highest dispensation of methadone is leafy and lovely Royal Tunbridge Wells? RTW is half hour from Maidstone.....at night. Daytime it will realistically be 40 minutes and over an hour in rush hour. I drive to RTW regularly and there are a number of routes M20/A228, A26 or through the villages and it's the same.
Areas to avoid in Maidstone are (generally) Tovil, Parkwood, Shepway and Mangravet.
If your work is near one of the stations then look at villages and towns along train routes. West Malling is nice, I grew up there, but is now the main leisure area for people who live in Kings Hill so rather busy. It has some really good pubs and restaurants.
Ashford is called Trashford for a reason!
For nightlife/culture the main centres in this area are Maidstone, Canterbury and Rochester.
Areas to avoid in Maidstone are (generally) Tovil, Parkwood, Shepway and Mangravet.
If your work is near one of the stations then look at villages and towns along train routes. West Malling is nice, I grew up there, but is now the main leisure area for people who live in Kings Hill so rather busy. It has some really good pubs and restaurants.
Ashford is called Trashford for a reason!
For nightlife/culture the main centres in this area are Maidstone, Canterbury and Rochester.
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