Kent Living

Known as the ‘Garden of England’ and full of rich culture and history, Kent is filled with charming villages, bustling towns and beautiful countryside. But what is it about Kent that makes it the perfect home county for many new homeowners?

Conveniently Natural

Throughout Kent you will find a mix of busy towns, charming villages and rich history, as well as a range of shopping facilities, restaurants, and excellent schools. For those looking to get out of London but not lose touch, Sevenoaks is a popular choice. Set in stunning countryside, the affluent town and surrounding villages have brilliant rail links to the capital and the rest of the Kent county.

In the centre of Kent and bordering East Sussex you’ll find ‘The Weald’, an area filled with farmland and woodland as well as small towns and villages, offering a range of local produce and buildings with distinct character. Stretching from the Medway estuary down to Folkstone and Dover, the Kent Downs is filled with small hamlets and villages, with country roads taking you out as far as the famous White Cliffs.

Finally, the coastal towns give an entirely different feel to the rest of the county, with sailing marinas and long stretches of sand for the perfect escape on a summers day.

Facilities

Bordering London, Kent balances country living with the fast-paced city lifestyle. Not only does the county have many lively towns and cities of it’s own with thriving economies, such as Rochester, Maidstone and Canterbury, but also has great transport links to the capital. With the HS1 high speed rail link to London St Pancras and mainline services to London Bridge, Cannon Street, Waterloo East and Charing Cross, as well as links to mainland Europe, you’ll always feel connected.

Within the variety of towns and villages in the county you’ll find a range of brilliant primary schools, and in most of Kent the secondary schooling is selective – with excellent grammar schools, popular comprehensives and a good range of independent schooling. The county is also home to a range of higher education establishments, with the University of Kent based in Canterbury and Medway, Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Greenwich in Medway, and University of Creative Arts’ campuses in Canterbury and Medway.

Kent is an ideal home for shopaholics, not only with the capital a short journey away but with Bluewater Shopping Centre in the north west of the county. The 4^th biggest shopping centre in the UK, the mall boasts 330 stores and services and free parking for 13,000 cars. In addition to this, Ashford Designer Outlet offers 60% off every brand every day, allowing you to shop high end without breaking the bank. The Mall Maidstone and Fremlin Walk are also major shopping hubs in Maidstone for all commodities, with a range of fashion stores, homeware retailers and restaurants. However, Kent is not all about modern malls – the quaint history-rich lanes in the towns and cities also offer a range of independent shops and boutiques, such as The Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Rochester’s Victorian High Street and picturesque Tenterden, with its bustling village centre.

Things to Do

Kent, known colloquially as the ‘garden of England’, has no end of activities to offer those who love the outdoors. Nearly a third of the county belongs to one of two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – The High Weald or The North Downs. With woodland, downland, and a great expanse of coastline, you will never be short of places to explore. There are more than 30 castles in the county to visit, such as Leeds, Hever and Dover, to get your fill of the county’s rich history while enjoying a fun-filled family day out.

The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury means that there’s always an opportunity to catch a show with many direct tours from the West End. Kent is also a great county for foodies, with opportunities to learn how to grow your own, enjoy local produce, or seek out some of the county’s best dining – whether it be ‘Michelin Starred’ dining or a simple fish and chips!

Clarendon in Kent

Based in Kent, Clarendon Homes have designed and built a wide range of high quality unique homes throughout Kent, in some of the most picturesque and sought-after locations. Based around the accessible Sevenoaks area is The Chequers development in Crouch, providing an invaluable sanctuary for those wanting to escape busy London living, without completely losing touch. Other developments close to London include The Fairways and our new standalone property Brionne, both near West Malling, in an accessible area near the busy towns of Rochester and Maidstone.

Cobnut Park in Boughton Monchelsea, and Langton Gardens in Headcorn are developments not only central to the county, but only a short journey away from the centre of the county town of Maidstone and so residents can enjoy all the facilities the town has to offer.

To find out if a Clarendon home in Kent could be the one for you, contact us today!