Kent is consistently recognised as one of the best places to live in the UK, unsurprising with its easy and fast transport links into London, picturesque countryside – its moniker as ‘the garden of England’ doesn’t come from anywhere – coastal communities and eclectic mix of quintessentially English towns and villages.
Offering the perfect balance of country life and London commutability, Kent continues to prove popular with those looking for a richer quality of life and more space for their money – with many heading for the county.
Responding to this demand is leading developer, Berkeley, which is delivering luxury new homes across some of the country’s most desirable locations, from the prestigious Royal Tunbridge Wells to the charming towns of Cranbrook and Paddock Wood – all offering a range of houses and apartments suiting the needs of a variety of purchasers.
Here, we take a closer look at some of Kent’s popular towns to see why this county is such a hotspot with today’s buyers.
Cranbrook, a quaint Kentish town with medieval roots and known as the ‘capital of the Weald’, has over 60 shops, including an artisanal farm shop selling local produce, a family-owned butcher and a post office – it’s the perfect place for all the essentials.
Additionally, the highly sought-after Cranbrook School, a boarding and day grammar school is located in the heart of the town.
The town has also recently welcomed a brand-new address, Farmstead, offering just 28 three- and four-bedroom houses and a five-bedroom farmhouse (prices start at £630,000), surrounded by beautiful landscaping and far-reaching views.
Just a short walk away, residents have access to everything Cranbrook has to offer as well as some of the best countrysides on the doorstep with Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest to the east, whilst to the north is the Vera Sackville–West’s famed Sissinghurst Castle Garden, tended to by the National Trust.
Thanks to an array of convenient transport connections, residents at Farmstead will be able to stay closely connected to nearby towns, including Staplehurst and Tunbridge Wells, with the bus stop located just a few minutes away.
From Staplehurst station, residents can reach London Bridge in under an hour thanks to frequent and direct rail services.
To the west of the county, Royal Tunbridge Wells has long been a popular settling spot with its country setting, internationally renowned schools and charming town centre, ensuring it remains high on many a house hunter’s wish list.
Situated on the periphery of Tunbridge Wells is Hollyfields, a collection of houses, coach houses and apartments – an established community offering modern rural living at its finest.
The two-bedroom coach houses and three, four and five-bedroom homes, starting at £800,000 for a four-bedroom townhouse, all feature ample outdoor space and flexible layouts, whilst the selection of apartments (where prices start at £349,000) offer a new way to enjoy the Kentish countryside with lateral living.
The town centre’s amenities and train station – from which journeys into London take less than an hour – are easily accessible via a dedicated residents’ shuttle bus. Located on the edge of the High Weald, the development is surrounded by greenery, with trim trails, woodlands, and outdoor play areas on the doorstep.
Just a few miles away is leafy Paddock Wood, home to Foal Hurst Green, another vibrant community by Berkeley.
The development comprises a collection of three, four and five-bedroom homes, and just two, two-bedroom apartments set around a new village green, where prices start at £460,000 for a three-bedroom home.
Education locally is first class, with a selection of well-regarded schools all within easy reach.
Trains from Paddock Wood’s station offer speedy, direct rail links to London in under 45 minutes, while closer to home, local amenities include independent boutiques and a Waitrose for daily essentials.