Dunton Green Kent
Discussion
Anyone know the area? I'm considering of buying a place near the station as London is too expensive.
I'm after somewhere safe and not much "anti social" behaviour or burglary/thefts etc
How is Sevenoaks/ Dunton Green in terms people living there? Middle class? working class? Council/ DSS type?
I'm after somewhere safe and not much "anti social" behaviour or burglary/thefts etc
How is Sevenoaks/ Dunton Green in terms people living there? Middle class? working class? Council/ DSS type?
I moved to Sevenoaks when we returned from Australia 8 years ago. My wife is from the area and we found a nice house to rent and have now bought. Although I don't commute into the city much any more (I work abroad most of the time) the commute is good once you get your head round the idea of commuting at all. There are lots of trains and London bridge is 25 mins. From Dunton Green you would be on a stopping service so more like 45 mins and not as frequent.
Sevenoaks itself is about as middle class as you can get. Dunton Green isn't as posh as some parts (you will hear the local estate agents talk about the "favoured south side" - ie the far side of the town centre from Dunton Green) but I'd be very surprised if you had any serious problems with anti social behaviour. The local primary got a bit of a kicking from ofsted recently - not sure if that is justified. There are some other very good state schools and some excellent private ones in the area.
I was very sceptical about moving out (and it was probably still a terrible move financially as we sold a flat in Notting Hill in 2008 to buy our house) but I've been very happy here. It is very different from living in town but as a place to raise a family it is hard to beat. Minutes to the M25, euro tunnel an hour away, Gatwick half an hour, city 45 mins, heathrow less than an hour on a good day. And the Kent countryside is spectacular - ask anyone who did the Sevenoaks triathlon today. Sevenoaks has everything you need - a couple of ok pubs, a good curry house, lots of supermarkets include a big waitrose, tescos and sainsburys. The cinema / arts centre is pretty good too.
Good luck with the house hunting.
Sevenoaks itself is about as middle class as you can get. Dunton Green isn't as posh as some parts (you will hear the local estate agents talk about the "favoured south side" - ie the far side of the town centre from Dunton Green) but I'd be very surprised if you had any serious problems with anti social behaviour. The local primary got a bit of a kicking from ofsted recently - not sure if that is justified. There are some other very good state schools and some excellent private ones in the area.
I was very sceptical about moving out (and it was probably still a terrible move financially as we sold a flat in Notting Hill in 2008 to buy our house) but I've been very happy here. It is very different from living in town but as a place to raise a family it is hard to beat. Minutes to the M25, euro tunnel an hour away, Gatwick half an hour, city 45 mins, heathrow less than an hour on a good day. And the Kent countryside is spectacular - ask anyone who did the Sevenoaks triathlon today. Sevenoaks has everything you need - a couple of ok pubs, a good curry house, lots of supermarkets include a big waitrose, tescos and sainsburys. The cinema / arts centre is pretty good too.
Good luck with the house hunting.
Hi - I lived there for about 10 years after getting married, before moving a bit further into the countryside last year.
Commute into the City was great (you can switch to a fast train at Chelsfield and reach London Bridge from DG in less than 30mins). My kids went to the school, but has seemed to have gone downhill in the past couple of years as some great teachers have moved on.
Commute into the City was great (you can switch to a fast train at Chelsfield and reach London Bridge from DG in less than 30mins). My kids went to the school, but has seemed to have gone downhill in the past couple of years as some great teachers have moved on.
As mentioned above, Dunton Green is fine but far from the best part of Sevenoaks. The price differential from the town centre makes it better value, though. Good facilities and a good connection into town, but the nightlife is non-existent and even the very limited options in Sevenoaks itself will not be walkable. Not important to everyone, but probably worth mentioning.
I have also seen the 'favoured south side' rhetoric used by estate agents. This seems to be purely because of the quality of the housing stock because a lot of the south side is not within walking distance of the station which for most people will be the reason for moving to Sevenoaks rather than a cheaper option further out.
I have also seen the 'favoured south side' rhetoric used by estate agents. This seems to be purely because of the quality of the housing stock because a lot of the south side is not within walking distance of the station which for most people will be the reason for moving to Sevenoaks rather than a cheaper option further out.
IpsoFacto said:
Hi - I lived there for about 10 years after getting married, before moving a bit further into the countryside last year.
Commute into the City was great (you can switch to a fast train at Chelsfield and reach London Bridge from DG in less than 30mins).
Why bother? The Chelsfield fasts are ex Tunbridge Wells and will be rammed by the time they get there.Commute into the City was great (you can switch to a fast train at Chelsfield and reach London Bridge from DG in less than 30mins).
It's only another 10 minutes on the stopper ex Sevenoaks and far more chance of being able to get a seat.
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfare...
Gassing Station | Kent & Essex | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff