Rochester

[thebullettrain]

I’m looking at Rochester as place to move too. I’m coming from east London, “work” in the city and wanting a new place which is a bit cheaper too.
Any thoughts about the town?

That said I’ve a 11 year old who needs a good school too. The grammars are too hard to get into (and only a handful are actually very good) and he’s missed the cut off for the exams anyway. As such, would anybody know about Rochester Independent College?

[Hol]

I travel that line to London.

It’s a lovely spangly new station and the last stop in most cases until Victoria, Blackfriars or Cannon Street.
BUT, by the time the trains gets to Rochester it’s full or near full, so half the time you will be standing 40 plus minutes. Even First Class is full usually.

If I were you I’d look 10 mins further out to Rainham area. Some nice villages in the outlying areas and still in the catchment area for grammar schools.

Both mine went to Grammar, of whic there all boys, all girls, or mixed options available.

I’m not familiar with the one you mentioned.

[thebullettrain]

Thanks, that is a long time to stand. The only saving grace is that I’ll end up travelling into the city, at most three days a week, compared to five at some stage.

I’ll check out further along the line as you suggested.

[anonymous-user]

A few stops further along, but Faversham is a lovely town and has a very much more affluent feel than the alternative Medway and Swale towns (some of which are, let's say, a little socially challenged).

[thebullettrain]

Andy-IM said:

A few stops further along, but Faversham is a lovely town and has a very much more affluent feel than the alternative Medway and Swale towns (some of which are, let's say, a little socially challenged).

Thanks, Rochester falls in Medway right?

[Sticks.]

I grew up in the area, moved away many years ago and haven't regretted it. In fact, last time I went back, a lot of interesting shops in Rochester were now nail bars.

I don't know about schools, but re the commute you might consider Paddock Wood, Marden, Staplehurst and Headcorn. P Wood is 45 to Charing X and Cannon St and there used to be 6 trains per hour at peak times.

The advantages are that there's a lot of new building going on, most of it in walking distance to the station, saving time, stress and £6/day. Currently the trains are all but empty but if we do get back to pre Covid levels, later trains from P Wood are fairly busy, a seat but not much choice. Trains run from @ 5am, last one back leaves @ 11.30, or always used to.

The disadvantages are that everything is more spread out, including schools, shops, eg Bluewater is easy from Rochester, if that's your thing, but P Wood does have a Waitrose and T Wells is not far. Headcorn has had issues with travelers.

None of these places are perfect but I do notice a cultural difference when I'm in Medway and, as I say, don't know about the schools.

ETA Staplehurst has a Sainsbury's opening next year, apparently.

Edited by Sticks. on Sunday 13th September 12:27

[thebullettrain]

Thank you. I am looking to move from east London and move away for the burger shop/nail bar type feel.

Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll check them out.

[anonymous-user]

thebullettrain said:

Andy-IM said:

A few stops further along, but Faversham is a lovely town and has a very much more affluent feel than the alternative Medway and Swale towns (some of which are, let's say, a little socially challenged).

Thanks, Rochester falls in Medway right?

Yes - 15 years ago when I moved to Kent someone I worked with from the area advised me to to not buy anything in the Medway towns. That was good advice at the time and it's got worse since then.

[thebullettrain]

Andy-IM said:

Yes - 15 years ago when I moved to Kent someone I worked with from the area advised me to to not buy anything in the Medway towns. That was good advice at the time and it's got worse since then.

Eek, thanks! It did sound like very good value for money!

[anonymous-user]

There are some truly lovely parts of Kent - it's not called "the garden of England" by chance - but Medway is not what that's referring to ;-)

I always put stead in the notion that it's worth travelling 20 minutes further to return home to a place with that ahhhhhhh feeling..... Especially if you are in a high stress career.

The issue will always be great place + good transport links = high price. Regardless of where you are.

[MYOB]

Depends on your budget. My advice is if you have a huge budget, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a cheap property, you will get that in Medway. There's a reason property prices are cheap there but like I say, it depends on your budget.

There are areas catering for all budgets in the areas. But for social activities, you may find yourself driving everywhere to go somewhere nicer.

[thebullettrain]

The budget can extend to the 750-850k if the local schools are good.

Rochester took my interest as the schools are good and I looked at a 500k mark I could look at a public school etc.

[Sticks.]

Given that, I can't think of many places in walking distance to stations from what I suggested. There are other nicer villages, such as Matfield, Brenchley but as MYOB says you'd be driving everywhere for everything.

[thebullettrain]

Thanks, I don’t mind driving (!).

What kind of budget would you suggest for a ‘nice’ house?

[Sticks.]

That depends on what size you need but assuming 3 bed, then whether you want easy care of a new build, character and outdoor space of an old place. I looked online and didn't find anything really appealing, lots of new builds though.

This works as a family home, for example, walkable to local shops, station etc https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...

Similarly https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prop...

Small estate houses start @ £300. I used to think I'd like a rural home but too many compromises imho.

[thebullettrain]

Thanks. I’ll take a look and drive over to investigate.

[marcusjames]

I agree with Sticks. I'm originally from Medway but now living in West Malling. Tonbridge and Malling is a different world to Medway and for relatively small premiums in house prices. Schools are generally very good to outstanding in the Ofsted ratings.

[MYOB]

Agreed, with your budget I would be looking at tonbridge and tunbridge Wells. Excellent grammar schools there and a much more desirable area to live in. Only 40 mins to London by train too.

[MYOB]

PS - you may enjoy driving but it's not enjoyable driving in and around Medway!

[Hol]

Sticks. said:

I grew up in the area, moved away many years ago and haven't regretted it. In fact, last time I went back, a lot of interesting shops in Rochester were now nail bars.

I don't know about schools, but re the commute you might consider Paddock Wood, Marden, Staplehurst and Headcorn. P Wood is 45 to Charing X and Cannon St and there used to be 6 trains per hour at peak times.

The advantages are that there's a lot of new building going on, most of it in walking distance to the station, saving time, stress and £6/day. Currently the trains are all but empty but if we do get back to pre Covid levels, later trains from P Wood are fairly busy, a seat but not much choice. Trains run from @ 5am, last one back leaves @ 11.30, or always used to.

The disadvantages are that everything is more spread out, including schools, shops, eg Bluewater is easy from Rochester, if that's your thing, but P Wood does have a Waitrose and T Wells is not far. Headcorn has had issues with travelers.

None of these places are perfect but I do notice a cultural difference when I'm in Medway and, as I say, don't know about the schools.

ETA Staplehurst has a Sainsbury's opening next year, apparently.

Edited by Sticks. on Sunday 13th September 12:27

Paddock wood isn’t a bad shout.

I think also Maidstone has grammar schools and operates under the 13plus scheme, so all the Ops children, may still be young enough.