Comprising Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, and Rainham, the Medway Towns are located in north Kent and becoming a ‘go-to’ place for house-hunters looking for great value in a brand new home.
Considering its mix of location, amenities, connectivity and heritage prices are very reasonable and the range of new properties for sale is impressive, from affordable starter home apartments to spacious family houses. These vary from high-rise, contemporary-design towers on the waterside to more traditional-styled streets in new and regenerated neighbourhoods.
Regeneration here is huge. Chatham Waters alone, on former dockyard land, has a £650million budget to bring nearly 1,000 new homes as well as shops, commercial space and a technical college. South of Rochester, a whole new village is taking shape, demonstrating the demand for new homes in this part of the country. The growing popularity is reflected in property prices, with Medway having risen over 400% from 1995, according to government figures.
One of the primary factors in the boost of interest of living in this area was the introduction of High Speed rail services to its stations in 2007, which significantly reduced commuting times to the capital. But the area has been well-connected for centuries, from the historic Pilgrim’s Way and Watling Street to the array of major roads and regular rail services which serve it.
We take a more detailed look at what the Medway Towns offer.
Shops
Each town has its own high street with a thorough collection of well-known and independent shops, and Rochester’s cobbled Eastgate Street is also well loved for retail therapy, while also popular are the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham, the Dockside Outlet Shopping Centre near St Mary’s Island, and Horsted Retail Park near Rochester Airport and the M2.
Bluewater Shopping Centre is around a 20-minute drive away.
Food and drink
Some of the best places to have a meal, according to GastroRanking.co.uk:
Elizabeth’s Restaurant, Rochester (average 8.6/10 from 761 reviews) – “The menus reflect our signature European style with seasonal raw ingredients sourced from Kent producers where possible.”
The Tudor, Strood (average 8.2/10 from 636 reviews) – “Your tastebuds will be tempted by a full range of modern dishes, traditional favourites and vegetarian options.”
Ela Kendro, Gillingham (average 8.1/10 from 399 reviews) – An authentic Greek restaurant with an extensive menu, which can host events for up to 100 people.
Pubs
Among the most popular of the area’s pubs and bars:
The Ship, Gillingham – “Beautiful old school English pub, great vibes and even greater people”
The Eagle Tavern, Rochester – A family run place with history going back to the 1600s.
The Cricketers, Rainham – “A good selection of ales and lagers, excellent waitress and bar service.”
Music and entertainment
Rochester is an established town with a variety of cultural events, which attract visitors from all over the UK and Europe. One of the most loved is the Dickensian Christmas, a thematic festival held every December.
For year-round entertainment, there are a number of cinemas and theatres across the area, mostly in Chatham and Rochester. There are also a number of nightclubs, and numerous pubs also host live music regularly.
Sport and fitness
There are many gyms, and clubs to cater for everything from table tennis to taekwondo. Notable on the map are Medway Eagles Ice Hockey in Rainham, a sub-aqua club in Strood and the Kent Boat & Ski Club just down the river in Cuxton.
The River Festival in Chatham offers all sort of sailing and watersports activities and entertainment for everyone in the family.
Countryside and open spaces
Kent is famous for its countryside, dotted with countless beautiful villages and characterful market towns. The Medway Towns are very close to the North Downs, which runs southwest past Sevenoaks and southeast down to the coast at Folkestone and Dover. There’s also the less well-known Elmley National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey, about half-an-hour’s drive away.
Road connections
There are three major roads very close by, the A2, M2 and M20. The M25 is most easily reached at Dartford or Sevenoaks.
Dartford Crossing, 20 mins
Sevenoaks, 30 mins
Canterbury, 35 mins
Folkestone, 40 mins
Central London, 1hr
Rail connections
Each town has its own station on the same line (the Chatham Main Line connecting London Victoria and Dover), while Strood is also terminus to the Medway Valley line that runs to and from Tonbridge. Some example journeys are:
Strood to London St Pancras, 33 mins (annual season ticket £5,480 via High Speed 1)
Rainham to London Victoria, 52-56 mins (annual season ticket £4,460 via National Rail)
Rainham to Dover, 64 mins
Healthcare
The Medway Maritime Hospital is in Gillingham. The nearest others are 11 miles away in Maidstone and 13 miles away in Dartford.
Education
There are many well-respected schools for all ages here.
Primary: New Horizons Children's Academy and St Benedict's Catholic Primary School (both in Chatham), and Temple Mill Primary School (Rochester) are among those with a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating.
Secondary: Kent operates the grammar school system and the ones in Medway score very highly in exam results. The Rochester Grammar School, Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School, Rainham Mark Grammar School and Fort Pitt Grammar School are examples of ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating. Chatham Grammar School for Girls, Holcombe Grammar School and Rainham School for Girls are all ‘Good’. Other well-ranked state schools are The Thomas Aveling School in Rochester and The Howard School in Rainham, both ‘Good’.
Independent: Among a choice of several: between them, King’s Rochester Prep and Pre-Prep and King's Rochester look after 3- to 18-year-olds. Meredale Independent Primary School is in Rainham and is for children aged four to 11.
Further Education: The Universities at Medway are the University of Greenwich, the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University, which have a single campus in Chatham. The University for the Creative Arts has a campus in Rochester.
Council tax
Lowest: Band A, £1,169.60
Highest: Band H, £3,508.80
New homes for sale in the Medway Towns right now
Featured development: Rochester Riverside (Countryside)
Rochester Riverside is a £419m landmark regeneration scheme from Countryside and The Hyde Group which will bring a total of 1,400 new homes in four neighbourhoods, a combination of one- and two-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses. As the name suggests, the site is alongside the River Medway, with some properties having views across the water. A 2.5km river walkway will be created, as well as a range of amenities such as a primary school, nursery, play area, hotel and shops. Prices here currently start from £215,000 with Help to Buy available. Find out more at www.countrysideproperties.com.
Temple Wharf, Strood (Redrow Homes): Three- and four-bedroom houses priced from £359,995 to £394,995.
Crown Fields, Chatham (Bellway): One-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments and houses priced from £149,995 to £372,995.
Victory Pier, Gillingham (Orbit Homes): Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments available through Shared Ownership priced from £42,150 to £105,000 for a 30% shared (based on £140,500 to £350,000 full market value).
Moat at Beaulieu Park, Rainham (Moat Homes): Three-bedroom houses priced from £102,000 for a 30% share (based on a full market value of £340,000).
Berengrave Gardens, Rainham (Linden Homes): Three-, four – and five-bedroom homes priced from £369,000.
Kitchener Barracks, Chatham (TopHat): Two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes priced from £320,000 to £520,000.
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