Kent

Kent is one of the most popular counties in England, with a population of 1.8 million people. It has some really beautiful scenery and many great amenities for families that are looking to buy their first home or move up into a nicer place. There are also several excellent universities that attract students from all over the world to come and study here.

4.42
Average Location Score

Excellent

55%

Very Good

34%

Average

10%

Disappointing

1%

Very Poor

1%

Best places to live in Kent

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

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Canterbury Cathedral in Kent

Where is Kent?

Kent is located in the southeast of England, bordered by The Thames Estuary to its north and the English Channel on its other three sides (south, west and southeast). This makes it a great place for those looking to commute into London as there are good transportation links with both ferries from Kent to France and trains from Kent to London.

Areas in Kent

Some of the most popular areas for protective home buyers in the county of Kent include:

Canterbury – This city is a beautiful and historic place to live, with plenty of things to do both in the city centre and the surrounding countryside. A lively student city, Canterbury is an especially popular choice for those seeking a home in Kent and wanting to be close to the universities.

Dover – Dover is a seaside town that offers stunning views of the English Channel and easy access to France by ferry. It’s also home to several military bases, making it an ideal place for those looking for employment in the armed forces.

Folkestone – Folkestone is another coastal town with plenty of amenities and attractions, as well as excellent transport links to London and other parts of Kent.

Gravesend – Gravesend is a town situated on the banks of the River Thames, with good transport links to both London and Essex. It’s also home to a large shopping centre and several schools rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Scotney Manor in Kent

Maidstone – Maidstone is one of the larger towns in Kent, with a population greater than 100,000. It is home to both Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School and Mascalls Academy – two high-performing secondary schools that are consistently ranked among Ofsted’s ‘outstanding’ category.

Universities in Kent

Kent plays host to a number of universities, including the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, both of which are located in the ancient and beautiful city of Canterbury.

Canterbury Christ Church University – Canterbury Christ Church University is one of the largest universities in Kent and has a rich history, dating back to its inception as Canterbury College – founded in 1904. It is now one of the premier universities in the country, with a growing international student body from over 100 countries.

University of Kent – The University is now one of the UK’s top ten leading universities and has been voted as ‘the best modern university by The Sunday Times newspaper. It offers world-class teaching for undergraduates, postgraduates and professional students at its campus in Canterbury.

The University for the Creative Arts – The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) is a specialist art and design university with campuses in Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate study in Art & Design, Film & Media, Architecture & Interior Design, Fashion & Textiles, Music and Performing Arts.

Top Schools in Kent

Kent is home to some of the best grammar schools in England, including The Skinners’ School, Tonbridge Grammar School for Boys and Chatham House Grammar School.

The Black Griffin Pub in Canterbury

The Canterbury High Schools are among Kent’s top-performing secondary schools with the all-girls Oakwood Park Grammar school also performing well in recent years. Some of the best schools in Kent include:

The Weald of Kent Grammar School – Located in Tonbridge, the Weald of Kent Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school for students aged 11 to 18, with an excellent reputation for providing a high standard of education.

The Skinners’ School – Situated in Royal Tunbridge Wells, the school provides an excellent education for boys and girls aged between 11 to 18 years old.

Tonbridge Grammar School for Boys – A popular grammar school with good results at GCSE level, Tonbridge Grammar is situated in Tonbridge and caters to boys aged between 11 to 18.

Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Girls – The top-ranked single-sex girls’ grammar school in Kent, with excellent results at GCSE level and a good reputation for A-Levels as well. Situated just outside Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Population of Kent

The population of Kent is around 1.855 million, making it the 5th most populous county in England. The majority of the population of Kent is concentrated into areas such as Maidstone, Canterbury, Gravesend and Dartford.

 

Reviews in Kent

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Shaky start but things have certainly improved in the last year. Very happy with the current management (Diba and Cameron), and would recommend to anyone.

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Jun 2024

The scarcity of restaurants within walking distance with views of the water is a disappointment. There was previously talks of lifestyle centre being built below the residences, looking into Chatham docks etc and this has not been done.
There’s also no parking for visitors yet there are facilities for hosting visitors.

Please review your development:

The development had some hiccups initially with water damage because of pipes bursting etc, however there has been great improvement since. The building management has also greatly improved, with Diba and Cameron being here there’s been a change in atmosphere. They’re approachable, they’re attentive and very proactive in ensuring we as tenants are comfortable and happy. My experience with them has been very pleasant, it is because of them that I recently renewed my lease with them for long term.
My only concern is with the gate not working, giving free access to the property and the parking lot.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I knew about the number of pets in the building, and the fact that although there are cameras up in and around the building, actually getting any footage is not possible. Seeing cameras all over the building gave me a sense of safety and security, however when I needed access to check who had hit my vehicle I was denied and given what felt like the run around. That said, this was with the building managers who were here before the current management.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Current management has been very responsive, they’ve been professional and transparent in their communication.

4
Facilities
3
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely and honest review. We really appreciate your kind words.

If you need anything please feel free to pop to reception.

Fantastic experience

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date May 2024

The location is the best you can get for a town like Gillingham. Shops are a walking distance as well as a lovely walk along the river Medway and St. Mary’s Island, where you get a nice range of restaurants as well as a lovely stroll.
Gillingham train station is a 20 minute walk or you can catch an Uber at your doorstep that will get you there in 8 minutes.
The residents are super quiet, you can’t hear a thing. It feels like a hotel. The building is located in front of a cement company, so there will be a but of noise on weekdays if you leave the windows open. However, once you shut them, it’s dead silence, as they are super thick to block out any noise. They also do a great job in insulation, so you won’t be spending loads of money with heating as the flat will be warm throughout the year.

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The flat dimensions are enough for me, a single tenant. I rent it unfurnished, so I could set a lovely decoration myself. It’s spacious enough to have everything.
The building is super modern and the facilities are top notch. There’s a super lovely rooftop garden overlooking the river, and the bike secure parking comes super handy for me.
Diba and Cameron are super helpful if you need them. I had some isues with the washing machine when I first moved in and they were proactive to help me out wiht that, even because I was the one causing the issue with it.
The only thing I do not like about the building is when I receive guests, they don’t have where to park their car. I would have to pay a monthly fee to have a parking spot, which is something that is not worthwhile considering the price and how often I have people over.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I think everything was clear prior to moving in, so I didn’t have any unpleasant surprises or got underwhelmed by anything.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Diba and Cameron as sup[er quick and proactive, I have never had any issues. I still owe them a cuppa in my flat!

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Hi Dan

Thank you so much for leaving us a lovely review. It’s a pleasure having you stay with us here at The Kell. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us.

Please always feel free to pop to reception or send us an email at thekell@wayoflife.com if you ever need anything.

Kind regards,
Diba

Easy living

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

For someone who works mainly at home (and needs peace and quiet) but occasionally commutes to London, the somewhat remote location is ideal for me, while having the option to jump on a 40-50 minute direct train to London; it’s the best of both worlds. I do wish I had a good coffee spot close by, but other than that it’s perfect for my needs. Plus being literally next door to a huge Asda which sells pretty much everything is a lifesaver.

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The building in general is so clean, modern, and minimalistic, and made choosing to live here an incredibly easy decision. There’s so much scope to make the apartment your own. It’s also assuring to know there is always someone on hand to answer any questions and deal with any problems, and that you’re not stuck with an unresponsive landlord! The overall viewing and application process was made so easy by Diba and Cameron, and they went out their way to make the move work for me. Easiest rental process ever.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I personally can’t think of anything I wish I had known before I moved in, although I would definitely recommend going for a flat pack/vacuum packed sofa or one that comes in parts as I very nearly went for a three seater which wouldn’t have fit in the lift!

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Luckily haven’t had any major problems but they are always available to answer questions and are super approachable.

5
Facilities
5
Design
4
Location
5
Value
5
Management
User submitted image of The Kell, ME4
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Manager Response

Hi Laura

Thank you so much for leaving us a lovely review. It’s a pleasure having you stay with us here at The Kell. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us.

Please always feel free to pop to reception or send us an email at thekell@wayoflife.com if you ever need anything.

Kind regards,
Cameron

The design of the building is very modern and nice

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

The kell has Attached a very local convenience shop which helps with all every day needs. As well as the pub across from the property at the location is very useful and beneficial to those wanting the best of both worlds there is not much noise and we live in a very quiet area, so I have no complaints regarding that.

Please review your development:

I do believe the design of the building is very modern and nice however I would note that blue sofas do not go with the colour scheme in the properties and do you believe they should be more neutral colours such as grey or black. or I do believe that we should have options to select and change different pieces of furniture we may not need as there is no access to storage which is a bit inconvenient if you would like to make your own personal touches

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known a bit more regarding the process when things go wrong however I must admit since Cameron and Diba Joined the company I have not had any issues regarding misinformation and are constantly up-to-date with maintenance repairs as well as issues I have personally

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Cameron and diba Have been excellent and on top of all issues that I have had ensuring that things are sorted and that we are satisfied with the options presented to us

5
Facilities
3
Design
5
Location
3
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Hi Shonna

Thank you so much for your kind words and lovely review. It’s a pleasure having you stay with us here at The Kell. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us.

Please always feel free to pop to reception or send us an email at thekell@wayoflife.com if you ever need anything.

Kind regards,
Diba

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