Maidstone - 8th best place in the UK to live?
Discussion
Just read in the Torygraph that Maidstone is the 8th best place to live in the UK. A local councillor went on to say "We have everything in Maidstone." Not sure that is quite true councillor!
Apparently 84% employment and a high number of listed buildings makes it a desirable place to live. Still at least it is a better claim than it being the clubbing capital of the UK, a dubious boast if ever I heard one!
Apparently 84% employment and a high number of listed buildings makes it a desirable place to live. Still at least it is a better claim than it being the clubbing capital of the UK, a dubious boast if ever I heard one!
t in many respects, but the Kent countryside is beautiful. Lots of lovely villages around the stone. Maidstone...
....has lots of lovely villages around it
....has some excellent grammar and independent schools
....is well connected to London, Motorways and Europe
....has a pretty river running through it
....has some good restaurants (chains mostly, but still)
....has good shopping - locally and nearby in Bluewater
....has lower cost housing than lots of other kent/SE towns
....has it's nice areas to live closer to the town centre
....has fabulous countryside on the doorstep
On the downside...
....it has some chavs in the town centre (show me a UK town that doesn't)
....some areas are a bit run-down
I'd hardly describe it as a 'toilet'. Show me a nicer place to live, taking everything into account, than Maidstone, in Kent. Sevenoaks has it's own chavs, housing is extortionate etc. Tunbridge Wells, where I used to live, has a massive drug problem, and while it's very nice it's colossally dear to buy a decent house. Canterbury (I used to live outside it in a little village) feels like it's the end of the earth, and is also packed with chavs. The only place in kent I would rather live than Maidstone is probably Deal.
....has lots of lovely villages around it
....has some excellent grammar and independent schools
....is well connected to London, Motorways and Europe
....has a pretty river running through it
....has some good restaurants (chains mostly, but still)
....has good shopping - locally and nearby in Bluewater
....has lower cost housing than lots of other kent/SE towns
....has it's nice areas to live closer to the town centre
....has fabulous countryside on the doorstep
On the downside...
....it has some chavs in the town centre (show me a UK town that doesn't)
....some areas are a bit run-down
I'd hardly describe it as a 'toilet'. Show me a nicer place to live, taking everything into account, than Maidstone, in Kent. Sevenoaks has it's own chavs, housing is extortionate etc. Tunbridge Wells, where I used to live, has a massive drug problem, and while it's very nice it's colossally dear to buy a decent house. Canterbury (I used to live outside it in a little village) feels like it's the end of the earth, and is also packed with chavs. The only place in kent I would rather live than Maidstone is probably Deal.
bqf said:
Maidstone...
....has lots of lovely villages around it
....has some excellent grammar and independent schools
....is well connected to London, Motorways and Europe
....has a pretty river running through it
....has some good restaurants (chains mostly, but still)
....has good shopping - locally and nearby in Bluewater
....has lower cost housing than lots of other kent/SE towns
....has it's nice areas to live closer to the town centre
....has fabulous countryside on the doorstep
On the downside...
....it has some chavs in the town centre (show me a UK town that doesn't)
....some areas are a bit run-down
I'd hardly describe it as a 'toilet'. Show me a nicer place to live, taking everything into account, than Maidstone, in Kent. Sevenoaks has it's own chavs, housing is extortionate etc. Tunbridge Wells, where I used to live, has a massive drug problem, and while it's very nice it's colossally dear to buy a decent house. Canterbury (I used to live outside it in a little village) feels like it's the end of the earth, and is also packed with chavs. The only place in kent I would rather live than Maidstone is probably Deal.
I've lived in Maidstone my whole life until recently. Grew up in a village, spent many a hazy evening in town and now moved away for a few years, I've realised it isnt actually all that bad! Totally agree with the statement above. show me a town that doesnt have a few bad areas and drunken chavs out at night?....has lots of lovely villages around it
....has some excellent grammar and independent schools
....is well connected to London, Motorways and Europe
....has a pretty river running through it
....has some good restaurants (chains mostly, but still)
....has good shopping - locally and nearby in Bluewater
....has lower cost housing than lots of other kent/SE towns
....has it's nice areas to live closer to the town centre
....has fabulous countryside on the doorstep
On the downside...
....it has some chavs in the town centre (show me a UK town that doesn't)
....some areas are a bit run-down
I'd hardly describe it as a 'toilet'. Show me a nicer place to live, taking everything into account, than Maidstone, in Kent. Sevenoaks has it's own chavs, housing is extortionate etc. Tunbridge Wells, where I used to live, has a massive drug problem, and while it's very nice it's colossally dear to buy a decent house. Canterbury (I used to live outside it in a little village) feels like it's the end of the earth, and is also packed with chavs. The only place in kent I would rather live than Maidstone is probably Deal.
I've spent lots of time in elsewhere in the Uk, but would still choose this area over another!
bqf said:
Maidstone...
....has lots of lovely villages around it
....has some excellent grammar and independent schools
....is well connected to London, Motorways and Europe
....has a pretty river running through it
....has some good restaurants (chains mostly, but still)
....has good shopping - locally and nearby in Bluewater
....has lower cost housing than lots of other kent/SE towns
....has it's nice areas to live closer to the town centre
....has fabulous countryside on the doorstep
On the downside...
....it has some chavs in the town centre (show me a UK town that doesn't)
....some areas are a bit run-down
I'd hardly describe it as a 'toilet'. Show me a nicer place to live, taking everything into account, than Maidstone, in Kent. Sevenoaks has it's own chavs, housing is extortionate etc. Tunbridge Wells, where I used to live, has a massive drug problem, and while it's very nice it's colossally dear to buy a decent house. Canterbury (I used to live outside it in a little village) feels like it's the end of the earth, and is also packed with chavs. The only place in kent I would rather live than Maidstone is probably Deal.
I agree. It is important to remember that house prices are a really important factor in these surveys and Maidstone is one of the cheapest places that you can buy a house and still be within an hour of London on the train.....has lots of lovely villages around it
....has some excellent grammar and independent schools
....is well connected to London, Motorways and Europe
....has a pretty river running through it
....has some good restaurants (chains mostly, but still)
....has good shopping - locally and nearby in Bluewater
....has lower cost housing than lots of other kent/SE towns
....has it's nice areas to live closer to the town centre
....has fabulous countryside on the doorstep
On the downside...
....it has some chavs in the town centre (show me a UK town that doesn't)
....some areas are a bit run-down
I'd hardly describe it as a 'toilet'. Show me a nicer place to live, taking everything into account, than Maidstone, in Kent. Sevenoaks has it's own chavs, housing is extortionate etc. Tunbridge Wells, where I used to live, has a massive drug problem, and while it's very nice it's colossally dear to buy a decent house. Canterbury (I used to live outside it in a little village) feels like it's the end of the earth, and is also packed with chavs. The only place in kent I would rather live than Maidstone is probably Deal.
I think too many places are judged just by the night-time economy in their town centres. I live in Kingston-upon-Thames. I love the place, but the town centre is blighted by chav activities most nights. It doesn't stop the rest of the area being a nice place to live.
House prices in Kingston seem broadly double those in Maidstone, and next door Richmond about triple and there are similar problems there as well. I can't think of a town centre big enough to offer a good range of facilities and not attract chavs. As you say, even Sevenoaks has these problems from time to time and there isn't really anything there!
I live and work in Maidstone and although I like to moan about it, it is actually quite a nice place to live
- Most residential areas are pleasant, there are only two areas id avoid (any locals will know where I mean)
- Decent shops in the town centre
- Ok, there are some chavs about, but name me a town in the UK thats chav free?
- The night life is good! Im in town most weekends and have never had any trouble (apart from getting headbutted once, but we wont talk about that!)
- London is easily accessible! (although it is an expensive commute)
Al
- Most residential areas are pleasant, there are only two areas id avoid (any locals will know where I mean)
- Decent shops in the town centre
- Ok, there are some chavs about, but name me a town in the UK thats chav free?
- The night life is good! Im in town most weekends and have never had any trouble (apart from getting headbutted once, but we wont talk about that!)
- London is easily accessible! (although it is an expensive commute)
Al
Edited by Rev Limit on Wednesday 25th January 13:59
I lived there for a couple of years (until Dec 2010) and I'll probably be moving back again this year and I can't really say I've had any complaints. The only downside is the nightlife has taken a bit of a turn recently.
That being said, I used to frequent the Thirsty Pig on Knightrider Street most nights, some of the cheapest beer in Maidstone and a great atmosphere with a decent landlord!
One major issue for me personall was the boy racers tearing up Lockmeadow car park (very annoying when you live in the flats that overlook it!)
That being said, I used to frequent the Thirsty Pig on Knightrider Street most nights, some of the cheapest beer in Maidstone and a great atmosphere with a decent landlord!
One major issue for me personall was the boy racers tearing up Lockmeadow car park (very annoying when you live in the flats that overlook it!)
Calamity James said:
I lived there for a couple of years (until Dec 2010) and I'll probably be moving back again this year and I can't really say I've had any complaints. The only downside is the nightlife has taken a bit of a turn recently.
That being said, I used to frequent the Thirsty Pig on Knightrider Street most nights, some of the cheapest beer in Maidstone and a great atmosphere with a decent landlord!
One major issue for me personall was the boy racers tearing up Lockmeadow car park (very annoying when you live in the flats that overlook it!)
Your right, the nightlife has gone down hill, last few times ive been into town its been dead!That being said, I used to frequent the Thirsty Pig on Knightrider Street most nights, some of the cheapest beer in Maidstone and a great atmosphere with a decent landlord!
One major issue for me personall was the boy racers tearing up Lockmeadow car park (very annoying when you live in the flats that overlook it!)
I dont think there is a problem at Lockmeadow anymore since they started clamping people (and charging £250 for release) for doing wheelspins etc
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