New Homes in Kent

Discover coastal towns, affluent suburbs and beautiful countryside

Encompassing the towns of Dover, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Margate, Folkestone, Dartford and Ashford, Kent is a bustling county that’s rightfully popular with house buyers through the generations. Your new home in Kent is not only close to some beautiful countryside and top-rated family attractions, but within easy reach of the capital by train, making it a great location for commuters and families.

Kent through the ages

The earliest known settlements in Kent were an incredible 400,000 years ago, after the discovery of an ancient skull in Swanscombe, the oldest ever found in the UK. The county also has evidence of settlements during the Bronze Age and Iron Age, while the Romans occupied Kent at Richborough Castle among other sites.

In Medieval times, Canterbury was the capital of Kent - or Cantia as it was known in the 8th century - and the town is still an important part of the Anglican faith to this day. During Norman times, Kent was one of the few southern regions to escape invasion. Instead, it was just used as a thoroughfare into London, and was ruled instead by William the Conqueror’s half-brother.

Over the years, Kent has seen a number of historic events including the Peasants’ Revolt, and pilgrimages to Canterbury. The town also inspired the Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer. Today it’s possible to visit many castles in Kent, including Bodiam Castle, Leeds Castle and Dover Castle.

During the 18th century, Kent was an important strategic site of military occupation during wars with France, while Chatham Dockyard was important for building warships during the Second World War. From 1944 until 1945 the Battle of Britain took place in the skies above Kent, resulting in many bombs being dropped on the region.

Must-know info for families

For families moving to a new home in Kent, it’s good to know that the county is home to some of the UK’s most esteemed schools, spanning both independent and state-run institutions. These include Dartford Grammar School, The Folkestone School for Girls, The Skinners’ School in Tunbridge Wells, Invicta Grammar School in Maidstone, Weald of Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge, Dartford Grammar School for Girls and Cranbrook School. Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School, Tonbridge Grammar School and The Judd School in Tonbridge are also very highly rated.

For higher education, The University of Kent has campuses in Canterbury, Tonbridge and Medway as well as Europe, while London’s many universities are within easy commuting distance by train.

Places to see and things to do

When it comes to family days out, there’s plenty of choice in Kent. Some of the most popular child-friendly attractions include The Hop Farm Family Park in Paddock Wood, Dickens World in Chatham Maritime, Diggerland Kent in Strood and Wildwood in Herne Bay. Groombridge Enchanted Forest, Beaver Water World, Kent Life, Canterbury Roman Museum and Dover Transport Museum are also a hit with the little ones.

What about business?

There are a number of big businesses located in Kent, including P&O Ferries in Dover, Abbott Laboratories in Maidstone and Sittingbourne, Shepherd Neame brewery in Faversham and BAE Systems in Rochester. Other big employers in Kent include Laing O’Rourke, Gallagher Group and MTS Cleaning Services.

For travel

For commuters, train services into London are a convenient way to reach the capital without getting stuck in traffic. The journey from Maidstone East to Blackfriars Station takes around 1 hour 10 minutes, while Sevenoaks is just 30 minutes by train from London Bridge. If you’re travelling abroad - whether for work or pleasure - London Gatwick has flights with major airlines to destinations all around the world, including North America, Asia and Europe.