Thinking about moving out of London?
Covid-19 has changed our world, almost overnight, and we can already see that it brings with it a tailwind of changes that are wider than simply relating to health. We have woken up to the pleasures of down time, enjoying our hour of exercise every day, wishing the roads would remain quiet and hoping not to have to do the daily commute on packed public transport again. Inevitably people have been contemplating what they really want from life. Priorities have changed. If more of us can effectively work from home, and organisations finally accept that this is a fact and could even be beneficial to them, then the mass migration to cities may finally be halted.
Tunbridge Wells is the perfect option for families thinking of moving out of London and you would be following in the footsteps of lots of others who have already made their move. Why?
· Tunbridge Wells is far enough away from London to have a slower pace of life, more space and more affordable properties on a like for like basis.
· The town is blessed with acres of public green space. The two main parks, Calverley and Dunorlan are a treat for families with a lake, ducks, play areas, cafes etc. Tunbridge Wells Common is at the heart of the town with an unexpected crop of sandstone rocks, ideal for climbing and scrambling on. Southborough common is picturesque with cricket on the green and lots of walks leading out through the woods. Each area of town has it’s own park with different hidden delights like the path from St Johns Park that leads out to Hurst Wood or the skate park and ponds in Grosvenor & Hilbert.
· Tunbridge Wells is set in an area of Kent perfect for short day trips to explore pretty villages like Goudhurst and Ticehurst, visit the ancient castles of Scotney, Hever and Bodiam or the historic town of Battle and travel down to the coast at Hastings, St Leonards or Bexhill.
· You can easily bike to the surrounding villages like Groombridge where you can pick up the old railway line to bike as a family, or follow the cycle trail from Tonbridge Castle to Penshurst Place.
· There are distinct areas in Tunbridge Wells which creates local communities. WhatsApp groups and Facebook Pages have been a godsend during lockdown for local groups to share resources, care for each other and just share their concerns. One feature of the town is attractive wide, red brick pavements – easier to distance from people while we remain fearful of contagious disease.
· Tunbridge Wells is an easy drive to the Channel Tunnel or ferries from Dover and Folkestone for holiday travel options that avoid being trapped on an airline.
· The historic heart of the town is The Pantiles, fully pedestrian and bordered by a pretty colonnade of shops and houses. The bandstand is the heart of summer activity when the free, weekly Jazz on the Pantiles event takes place. Lots of cafes, bars and restaurants on the Pantiles have outside tables creating a desirable café culture. There may only be takeaways at the moment, but catering to people out in the open will make the Pantiles eateries among the first to be accessible while social distancing still persists.
· Tunbridge Wells has a wealth of good schools. Our schools blog tells you a lot more about the local options. The quality of schools has been really put to the test during Covid but we would expect the Tunbridge Wells grammar schools to remain in the top of the education league tables.
We have had a lot of time stuck at home and inevitably have assessed how our homes work for us and what we might like to change. What have you realised is important to you that you don’t currently have – a home office, a family room that the teens can escape to, a garden, privacy from the neighbours, peace and quiet, a view, proximity to local shops so you can avoid the superstores? There is a higher chance of finding the above features in the property stock in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding villages than in any London Borough no matter how effective their regeneration plan.
If you’re considering moving out of London and would like to learn more about the area and our properties please contact us for a no obligation discussion. We would be pleased to discuss options, market conditions, local house prices and the ways in which we can help you make a move that suits you and allows you a better quality of life.
