Saturday, April 6, 2013

Where would you buy a house in Tonbridge?...

A lady in my shop earlier was asking me where the best streets and which are the areas to avoid in Tonbridge. She is thinking of moving here so that she's close to London and thinks it a nice looking town. This got me thinking which areas I'd look at if I were moving here again for the first time, only with the knowledge I have now. The Slade perhaps? Once a no go area it now seems to have become quite gentrified and certainly has some quirky and interesting cottages in it's little knot of streets. (Yes and, before you comment, I know that I've nicked the title of the book on the history of the Slade.)  The new houses by the River clustered around the Town Lock. Bit tightly packed for me but picturesque and handy for the station certainly. Dry Hill perhaps? With it's grand old Victorian semis no wonder that it's a very sought after area. Pembury Road? Too busy. Quarry Hill? Similarly too busy a road for me. Any other thoughts on favourite areas??..

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You will never make an estate agent.
No such thing as a busy road, just roads with excellent connections, "Bit tightly packed for me but picturesque" friendly neighborhood. You could always live in one of the new apartments next to Angels in the High Street, car not needed (no parking space), good double glazing (to keep out the pollution, late night noise and smell from the river).

hallum said...

Glad to hear that the lady is looking to move to Tonbridge. A very good choice.

As for where. North of the big bridge? Within a mile of the station and high street? Certainly not beside a road or footpath that is used by drunken revellers late at night.

Someone once told me it was a good idea to check out the local convenience store before moving to a new area. If the tabloid stack is six feet while the broadsheets are six inches, and there is a prominent dump bin displaying single cans of super strength lager.......

Unknown said...

It depends on whether you're renting or buying in this area. If you're renting, then it wouldn't matter if you're in Tonbridge, or London: you're going to get royally ripped off. Yardley Park Road, or Trench Road, you will be severely stitched up. You wouldn't have the luxury of choice if you rented, you'd simply live wherever you can afford.
As for buying in Tonbridge, well, Tonbridge strikes me as a commuter town, not much else. If you're rich, and can pick and choose I wouldn't choose any of the roads in this town if I were given a very broad choice. I live here, but only out of necessity. I DO live in Dry Hill Park Road, Tonbridge Blog. It's the unofficial motorway to Maidstone.