Moving to North Kent...maybe

[EM2]

Because of the excellent commuting offered by HS1, and the lower rents, it looks like we might be moving to North Kent next year (after the Olympics), probably Gravesend, Strood or Rochester (most likely Strood).
What's it like round there? Bear in mind I live in Forest Gate, so I am well used to streets covered in litter, police sirens and rubbish pubs

 

[4SRKT]

Strood is, with the best will in the world, a bit of a hole. My employer has a depot there so I've been to the area quite a few times. The whole Medway Towns area is a bit run down, but Strood does seem to be the arse end of Rochester. Rochester itself OTOH seems nicer than either Chatham or Gillingham, so that might be a good bet (ME1 postcode: Strood is ME2).

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Avoid the Medway towns. They're chav central - imagine Wakefield or Rotherham with estuary accents. I lived in Rainham for a little while and that was quite close enough thankyou. Just down the line a bit is Faversham, that's a nice little town.

 

[EM2]

Problem is that rents in Faversham (plus the slight increase in ticket prices) leave me worse off than in E7.
I'm almost certain that the Medway Towns can be no worse than East London...can they?

 

[4SRKT]

Of course this is why the Medway towns are so cheap for the South East. Faversham is where Kent gets seriously nice, so the price goes up (plus as you say it's further out so more ching is needed for the rail fare as well). The whole of the 'Thames Gateway' from Tower Bridge to Sittingbourne is pretty grim. Rochester has a pleasant town centre, but that's about it. On the basis that these places are all much of a muchness, Gravesend might be your best bet as you can still get the HS1 into town, but the fare'll be less.

 

[kentuckytony]

Boy, you make Kent sound absolutely gruesome.
I guess I will just relive my memories of Margate back in the early 50s! [Before the Mods and the Rockers!]

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Boy, you make Kent sound absolutely gruesome.
I guess I will just relive my memories of Margate back in the early 50s! [Before the Mods and the Rockers!]

The problem is with Kent, certainly much of it north-east of the Medway is that it's too near London. Kent does have some lovely bits but the environs of the Medway ain't one of 'em. Folkestone/Margate/Ramsgate/Dover are for the most part awful, Deal/Sandwich are for the most part rather nice. Canterbury has it's moments. Tonbridge/Ashford can be grim. Maidstone is like the curate's egg, good in parts.

 

[yorksrob]

It has to be said, even though the Medway is perhaps a little rough around the edges, Rochester is rather a handsome town (and the castle's quite spectacular). And don't forget, you're a stones throw away from places such as Faversham and West Malling which are lovely, and Maidstone and Canterbury which are great for shopping and the like.

Personally I'm not moving back until they bring back the slammers.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Tonbridge/Ashford can be grim. Maidstone is like the curate's egg, good in parts.

Oh goodness, It's not that bad. One of the main reasons I've not moved back there is because it's a bit quiet and out of the way. (I'd miss the urban lifestyle )

 

[steamybrian]

From a Kent resident --I agree with

The problem is with Kent, certainly much of it north-east of the Medway is that it's too near London. Kent does have some lovely bits but the environs of the Medway ain't one of 'em. Folkestone/Margate/Ramsgate/Dover are for the most part awful, Deal/Sandwich are for the most part rather nice. Canterbury has it's moments. ........

Thamesside?Medway towns (Kent Gateway) basically north of the M2 .. a big..NO..NO...
I live in Tonbridge .. and I recommend it...
Tunbridge Wells is very nice but has a few anti-social estates...
Ashford/Maidstone and Canterbury are good in places...
Faversham is nice.

 

[EM2]

I know most of Kent *below* the M2 quite well as I lived in Maidstone for about seven years (and still have family there).
As it happens, I've just had a look at the most recent crime stats on that new interactive Police website.
If I centre it on my current house, 1098 crimes in the vicinity.
Centre it on Strood station, 264

That's some difference! And a good start

 

[Zoe]

Does it have to be Kent? There are some quite good locations in Essex with good train services.

 

[4SRKT]

Does it have to be Kent? There are some quite good locations in Essex with good train services.

I think he's a 390 basher. Or at least wants to become one.

 

[EM2]

Does it have to be Kent? There are some quite good locations in Essex with good train services.

Because of where I work, and the great journey times on HS1, it's the best solution.
Only other option is further out on the MML (e.g. Radlett) but having family in Maidstone, makes Kent rather attractive. It means the wife can go visiting when I'm at work!

 

[Zoe]

Because of where I work, and the great journey times on HS1, it's the best solution.
Only other option is further out on the MML (e.g. Radlett) but having family in Maidstone, makes Kent rather attractive. It means the wife can go visiting when I'm at work!

Javelin services from Stratford to St Pancras are available and almost all trains from Essex call at Stratford.

 

[EM2]

I think he's a 390 basher. Or at least wants to become one.

Er, no. One doesn't bash
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Javelin services from Stratford to St Pancras are available and almost all trains from Essex call at Stratford.

Yes and no. You've still got to get between the two Stratford stations...

 

[142094]

I think he's a 390 basher. Or at least wants to become one.

Remind me not to move down south. I want my commute to be at least something starting with 1xx

 

[Zoe]

Remind me not to move down south. I want my commute to be at least something starting with 1xx

You'd get a 170 if you moved to Uckfield.

 

[4SRKT]

You'd get a 170 if you moved to Uckfield.

I think he really wants his commute to be on something 14X, or at a push 15X.

I'd almost rather walk than take a 170, the second most odious train on the network after a 185.

 

[Deerfold]

I know most of Kent *below* the M2 quite well as I lived in Maidstone for about seven years (and still have family there).
As it happens, I've just had a look at the most recent crime stats on that new interactive Police website.
If I centre it on my current house, 1098 crimes in the vicinity.
Centre it on Strood station, 264

That's some difference! And a good start

Bear in mind the lower population density and that figure might not look quite as good. If you centre it on my local station you get 37...which I thought was quite high.

 

[142094]

I think he really wants his commute to be on something 14X, or at a push 15X.

I'd almost rather walk than take a 170, the second most odious train on the network after a 185.

Yup. From September I'll have a whole year of possible travel using the student pass between Newcastle and Sunderland and back. Racking up 24 miles and 30 chains for each return journey.

 

[4SRKT]

Yup. From September I'll have a whole year of possible travel using the student pass between Newcastle and Sunderland and back. Racking up 24 miles and 30 chains for each return journey.

Yes, but you will have to go to Sunderland every day, a sort of Northern 'Medway Town' if ever I saw one!

 

[kentuckytony]

Personally I'm not moving back until they bring back the slammers.

I am familiar with slammers, but over here, a "slammer" is a prison! Would that help there?

 

[Clip]

I am familiar with slammers, but over here, a "slammer" is a prison! Would that help there?

they dont have enough prisons to keep the scrotes of Medway in.. Tons of the horrid ****s. And no way to strood either - not unless you want to get mugged by gypsies when you get off the train..And rochester is only pretty to visit.

Thanet is a dump whose councillors would rather spend money on a stupid art gallery instead of trying to make it a seaside town again - Ramsgate wants to be posh but the town centre is a hole and Broadstairs is ok.

Faversham is alright but as you say no saving on living where you are. Nice brewery smells though and its really to short a ride on HS1 from there to even make it worth your while.

Ashford is probably your best bet or Canterbury because its really not worth it..

 

[Mike395]

I think he's a 390 basher. Or at least wants to become one.

I assume you mean a 395, cant remember ever there being a time a 390 entered Kent

In my county's defence, I'd say there are more nice places than some people above give credit for. Thanet (Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate) is definitely on the up again now after a couple of decades where no-one cared about the area :P And Canterbury is pretty nice for the most part too

I agree with the negative comments about Medway though! Only ever stopped off in Gillingham, but not somewhere I'd wanna be stuck overnight again, I'll put it that way....

 

[4SRKT]

I assume you mean a 395, cant remember ever there being a time a 390 entered Kent

Oops.

 

[466.networkers]

Avoid the Medway Towns if possible, Gravesend isn't too bad ...

Just, for god's sake, don't come anywhere near where I inhabit.

 

[Hydro]

I assume you mean a 395, cant remember ever there being a time a 390 entered Kent

Few months ago, the 11 car Pendo came in through the tunnel to Dollands.

In my county's defence, I'd say there are more nice places than some people above give credit for. Thanet (Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate) is definitely on the up again now after a couple of decades where no-one cared about the area :P And Canterbury is pretty nice for the most part too

I agree with the negative comments about Medway though! Only ever stopped off in Gillingham, but not somewhere I'd wanna be stuck overnight again, I'll put it that way....

I could never imagine Margate being on the up, ever. To me Thanet will always be a complete and utter hole. Canterbury is great. Bit ropey on the outside, especially towards Sturry, but certainly nice. I've tried to stay away from the Medway area.

Kent does not do towns very well. It produces some of the most amazing villages and countryside, but just cannot pull off the idea of a nice town.

 

[kentuckytony]

I could never imagine Margate being on the up, ever. To me Thanet will always be a complete and utter hole.

In my opinion, it seemed rather nice from 1951-1954. I lived on Cliftonville Road as a lad and walked all over the place - seemed okay at the time.
Also spent some time in Manston and Canterbury on various visits - and Ramsgate and Dover once or twice.

Must haver been a quieter and gentler time.

Plus I have read that Thanet was much better back when it was a real island - that must have kept the riff-raff out!

A lot of the comments in this thread now make me want to say, "It might be a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there!"

 

[Clip]

In my opinion, it seemed rather nice from 1951-1954. I lived on Cliftonville Road as a lad and walked all over the place - seemed okay at the time.
Also spent some time in Manston and Canterbury on various visits - and Ramsgate and Dover once or twice.

Must haver been a quieter and gentler time.

Plus I have read that Thanet was much better back when it was a real island - that must have kept the riff-raff out!

A lot of the comments in this thread now make me want to say, "It might be a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there!"

cliftonville is a like a war zone at times at the moment.. they've had massive gangs of eastern europeans set up shop there with prostitution violence and all sorts.. one walk down northdown road and you get the nastiest stares and you do feel threatened..

theyve even boarded up loads of old hotels where they were living cos of the prossies and the drug dealing and fights between them all.. its shocking it really is.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I travel to the Meday nearly every week its not to bad, if you come from Forest Gate its nothing new either, even a tad bit better! (No offense)


Where ever you go you will find bad bits, I come from South London so anywhere away from it is nice!