Relocation Guide

Kent County Council is the place to get information about local schools, AshfordFor is also a valuable resource. KentLive.news ran an article in January 2018 listing Ofsted reports for local primary schools. Ashford boasts two Grammar schools which compare favourably amongst the town’s secondary schools as shown in the government’s school comparison website. In September 2022 the John Wallis Academy hit the news when it insisted that students keep their mobile phone in a locked pouch all day.

Rightmove,  report that average house prices were £326,529  in 2023 which was 4% down on the previous year. After talking to various Ashford Removals customers we think that  rises are due so long as Great Britain moves away from political uncertainty. Local estate agents, Gould Harrison and Stevens  will be a greater authority on this, if they disagree please let us know!

Ashford has excellent transport links, from Ashford International railway station (which is adjacent to the town's mainline station) there is a high speed link (38 minutes) to St.Pancras. Also 4 trains an hour to London Charing Cross & Victoria via Maidstone & Bromley South or via Tonbridge & Sevenoaks. In the opposite direction with good connections to Ramsgate, Canterbury, Dover & Hastings. International trains to Paris & Brussels were stopped during the pandemic and have not been resumed. This is to the constantion of locals who are campaigning to have the Ashford International Train  Service re-instated. Ashford is linked well via the M20 to the motorway network however in the event of problems on the Channel Crossing Operation Stack closes the motorway coastbound to hold freight transport, causing huge inconvenience for locals. Ashford is only 12 miles from Eurotunnel at Folkestone, 24 Miles from the Port of Dover, 41 Miles from the M25 Dartford Crossing and almost 60 Miles from Central London.

Ashford town centre has a wealth of eateries including, Amici, Trattoria Romana & the Everest Inn.  Also the borough as a whole has so much  to offer that it's hard to know where to start! There's Tenterden town center with Montalbano, The Vine and The Lemon Tree. Among the host of gastro pub gems in the surrounding villages is the Tiger at Stowting, the Swan & Dog at Great Chart, the Tickled Trout at Wye and the Old Mill in Kennington. At Small Hythe near Tenterden you will find the Michelin rated Swan at the Chapel Down Vineyard which is not just a restaraunt but also a party venue.

There are 3 hotels near junction 9 of the M20. The Ashford International, Premier Inn (Eureka leisure park) and Travelodge Ashford, all are handy for the motorway but just short of the town centre. Also there's the Holiday Inn, the Conningbrook Hotel. In Ashford town centre, and close to the train station is a Travelodge and the Hampden by Hilton.

Also rural pubs with accommodation:-   In Tenterden there's the Woolpack and the White Lion, both good choices for food too. Also the Bowl near Charing is a  quaint establishment which not only provides acommodation but also serves excellent food.

For recreation there's not only the Stour Centre in Ashford, Tenterden Leisure Centre but also the Julie Rose Stadium and Conningbrook Lakes Country Park which caters for fishing, watersports and is a great place for a stroll to take in the variety of wildlife. For more serious walkers The North Downs Way passes close to Ashford taking in Charing, Wye & Stowting. There's plenty of history in Ashford town centre but it's also a great shopping centre, whilst you're there check out what's on at the Coach Works. Also check out the  If you're not satisfied there's also the McArthurGlen Ashford Designer Outlet. Tenterden, dubbed "the jewel of the weald", is not only an interesting shopping centre but also home to the Kent & East Sussex (Steam) Railway  and a fascinating little museum