Is Maidstone in Kent Actually a Good Place to Live?

Maidstone often gets a bad rap, but is it the best value town in Kent? Home to dinosaurs (Iggy the Iguanodon), civil war battles, and amazing riverside living, we explore the County Town to find the hidden gems. We break down the three train stations, walk the historic river path, and show you exactly how much house you can get for your money. Hashtags: #Maidstone #KentCountyTown #AffordableKent #IggyTheDinosaur #FirstTimeBuyer #KentProperty #RiverMedway Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:19 Not a sleepy place 2:13 The Commute: Which of the 3 Stations Do You Need? 3:30 The Schools: Maidstone's "Big Four" Grammars 4:33 Green Space: The 450-Acre Mote Park 5:28 Where to Buy: Neighbourhoods & Property Comparison with other similar cities 7:16 The Verdict 🧰 MY COMMUTER TOOLKIT (What I actually use): (Disclosure: Some of these are affiliate links. If you use them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel!) ⚡ Best Energy Supplier (£50 Free Credit): We use Octopus Energy for the house and EV. They are the cheapest for the area, the only ones with great tarrifs for EV owners and have amazing service. 👉 Claim your £50 here: https://share.octopus.energy/young-sn... 🎧 Make the Commute Productive: I listen to audiobooks on the train to London. 👉 Get a 30-Day Audible Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4a0SNZL 📦 MY MOVING ESSENTIALS: Strong Large Moving House Boxes: https://amzn.to/4agL37j Heavy Duty Storage Bags: https://amzn.to/4aoFrqo Reusable Large Furniture Movers Sliders for Carpet and Hardwood Floors: https://amzn.to/4ktZQig Double Size Mattress Bag for Moving and Storage: https://amzn.to/4aFAMS3 Large Home Moving Labels for Boxes: https://amzn.to/3ZvvkLg Strong Industrial Cling Film for Removals: https://amzn.to/4qmROsN 🎥 MY FILMING GEAR: Camera (DJI Pocket 3) – The best stabilization for walking tours. https://amzn.to/4ktvufJ Camera (DJI Osmo Action 6) – The best action cam for walking tours. https://amzn.to/4qmS4rL Phone (Pixel 10 Pro XL) – For the zoom shots. https://amzn.to/4kKDKs9 Catchment zones for secondary schools: 1. The Official Source (Best for "Will I get in?") Website: Kent.gov.uk Search for the school (e.g., "Homewood School"). Click "Admissions". Look for the sentence: "The last child offered a place lived X miles away." The Test: If you live 5 miles away, and last year the cut-off was 4.8 miles, you know you are at risk. 2. The Visual Source (Best for "Where do others go?") Website: Locrating.com (requires a free account for basic maps) The Trick: Type in your postcode. It puts a dot on the map and draws coloured lines to the schools current local children attend. If you see a lot of lines going to that particular School, you know that is the trend for your street.