Relocating to Kent

[Ben90]

Having been a subcontractor for the first 8 working years of my life I'm looking toward something employed to help get my future together with regards to getting a mortgage, pensions, paid holiday and all that boring stuff.

I applied for a job in Shoreham near Sevenoaks and got an offer, I'll most likely go for it. I reckon I can stomach a maximum 40 minute commute so that gives me an outer radius of Rochester, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, and as far as venturing into the smoke is concerned I doubt I'd go in any further than Bromley.

So Kent-based BCF massiv, I'd like any advice on a good place for a twentysomething to relocate where I can make friends in my age group and generally have an alright social life. I'd hate to wind up in a town full of pensioners and posh wankers with no 'nightlife' where I won't meet anybody my age. Any more advice on these areas is greatly appreciated.

Some useful points
- I've already been scouring Zoopla for days.
- Job includes a company car so public transport is not crucial.
- I will keep the bike, but it limits my rental choices somewhat since I'd like some sort of off-street parking or a building to tuck it behind.

I'll only occasionally be required to venture into London on work time, so close proximity is not essential or even desirable for that matter, on the same hand I don't want to end up in a dead commuter town where people only return to sleep. Please note that this is only conjecture, I have no idea what to expect of these areas which is why I'm here.

What say you?
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Yamaha FZ6 S2

[grr666]

When are you off mate? My sister lives in Kent & I have pals in Thurrock who will put me up so maybe I can
visit once you're settled in. I was born in Kent.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Ben90]

The decision hasn't formally been made and I don't know the notice period for my current job but if it all goes that way it'll be within the next month or so
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Yamaha FZ6 S2

[waffles]

Worthwhile bearing in mind that a large portion of Kent suffers from being near London and consequently you won't get much bang for your buck from rental properties. Not unless you want to venture into *shudder* Sheppey.

I don't live in Maidstone but I work there and it seems to be OK in terms of nightlife. I've only been out a few times mind but there are lots of pubs and stuff with live bands, restaurants, the cinema and so on. Not somewhere that I would go out every night though as the town centre is very small and currently half of it is being dug up to improve it. However there is lots to do in the local area and you can be out in the countryside within 10 to 15 minutes, places like Bedgebury are great if you fancy a walk or are into mountain biking. Plus it has three train stations so you can get up to London reasonably quickly without having to negotiate the M20/M2 and A2 in the morning.

See if you can find somewhere to stay for a few days and try some areas out in advance.
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[grr666]

Ooh before Christmas then. Exciting! Well if you're driving up from there for the bike show there's a spot to crash
at mine if you want to come up the day before.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[B0ndy]

I live in Tunbridge Wells and have lived in Crowborough (East Sussex, close to Twells).

Tunbridge Wells has an interesting mix of people, there are council estates very close to million pound homes - because of that on a night out except to meet both posh wankers and Vicky Pollards crying into kebabs after drunk arguments.

The town is far from dead, traffic is piss poor pretty much everyday apart from Sunday after 4pm and there's always people in the town centre. Thursdays are busy in the pantiles area and the local Weatherspoons on a Friday or Saturday night is always crammed.

Good traffic links.

Crowborough on the other day is a ghost town in comparison, full of alot of old people. Not that the town was on your list, just don't consider it if you're looking for somewhere with a bit of life.
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CBF 125 -> CB400SF -> GSX600F -> ZX6R (G1) -> GSXR1000 K4 -> ZX6R (B1H Stunt bike) -> VFR800 -> R1 5PW -> Sprint 1050 -> Fireblade 929 -> ZX10R C2H -> GSXR1000 K3

[Robby]

I grew up around there.

You can choose to live somewhere boring, quiet and cheapish like Edenbridge, or a shithole with the odd really shit club like Maidstone, or somewhere boring and expensive like Tunbridge Wells or Sevenoaks.

May be a bit counter-intuitive, but you may see your options improving by looking inside the M25 and up the A2 a bit.

[Ben90]

[Robby]

Sevenoaks has always been one of the most expensive towns in the country, it has a couple of private roads where a cheap house was a million quid in 1995. Lots of people that live in the area work in the City. Rent is going to be expensive.

Bexleyheath or Dartford should be cheap if you're looking north. Chatham will be cheap, and I think its a uni town so there may be some nightlife. You might get stabbed though, it is Chatham.

You won't really get the satellite towns for cheapness. That bit of Kent has the medium sized towns, that are expensive, and their surrounding villages, that are really expensive.

[P.addy]

Lived in Kent, currently in Sittingbourne. Takes me about 45 mins to get to Orpington, would be less to Sevenoaks.

[Motorhate]

[hellkat]

East Kent (Sandwich, Canterbury, Folkestone) is not for young people ... apart from the Universities) ... it's too rural.

Don't get me wrong, it's very nice, I was very happy there, but its too rural for a young person looking for night life.

Plus ... Dover: only has chavscum, foreigners and lorry tail-backs.
Stay north.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[hellkat]

[Ben90]

[Fizzer Thou]

I have been living in North West Kent for most of my life and have no problems with access to London or the countryside.Lots of good roads within a short ride.

Not so sure about cheap accomadation in the Bexleyheath area though.

What about Orpington? (London Borough of Bromley)

Or West Kingsdown?Free entry to Brands Hatch if you can prove your location
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[Motorhate]

[waffles]

[M.C]