Sittingbourne is a thriving Kentish market town that’s near stunning countryside as well as within easy reach of the coast.
It’s situated on the north Kent coast next to the Swale, a tidal channel of the Thames Estuary that separates mainland Kent from the Isle of Sheppey.
With a host of local amenities Sittingbourne is growing in popularity every year – and as it’s less than an hour to London by train it has plenty to offer prospective buyers and renters.
The last decade has seen the town go from strength to strength, including significant investment in residential developments and a multi-million-pound regeneration scheme welcoming a new leisure quarter with a hotel, cinema, restaurants and cafes to the town centre.
If you’re thinking of moving to Sittingbourne or the surrounding area, you’ll have a huge choice of great places to live. Find a brand new home in one of the large new residential developments or take your pick from the large choice of Victorian town houses, or family homes built more recently.
You’ll find more period-style properties on the edges of Sittingbourne and its pretty surrounding villages, and the area’s farming heritage makes barn and oast house conversions a real option for people seeking rustic living.
As it’s part of Kent, the county known as the ‘Garden of England’, Sittingbourne is surrounded by farming land and picturesque fruit orchards which sit perfectly among traditional villages and ancient churches. Delicious local apples and cherries are particularly well-known here, as are the beautiful hop gardens (and beer!) that Kent is famous for.
There are lots of pretty villages to explore near Sittingbourne with fantastic property options, including:
Bapchild; Bobbing; Borden; Bredgar; Conyer; Hartlip; Iwade; Kemsley; Lower Halstow; Lynsted; Milsted; Milton Regis; Murston; Newington; Rodmersham;
Tonge; Tunstall and Upchurch.
And despite Sittingbourne’s speedy links to London, property prices are still very competitive. In fact, the town proves better value than other Kent hotspots like Canterbury or Whitstable, with many families choosing to move to Sittingbourne and its surrounding villages from London and North Kent.
Built along the old Roman route of Watling Street, Sittingbourne is located halfway between London and Dover. It originally got its name from the small stream or ‘bourne’ that runs underground in part of the town, and was also mentioned in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
The industrial revolution and 19th century saw the town rapidly expand to produce bricks from local clay – and it’s been thriving ever since.
With train journeys from Sittingbourne to London St Pancras taking less than an hour by high speed, and just over an hour to London Victoria, the capital is incredibly easy to reach.
There’s a good selection of highly regarded primary schools in the town, along with some excellent nurseries and childcare providers too.
The main secondary schools are Fulston Manor School, Sittingbourne Community College and The Westlands School – plus there are two grammar schools in the town itself – Highsted Grammar School (girls), and Borden Grammar schools (boys).
There are plenty of fun things to do in the town and surrounding areas:
Keep fit and get the kids active at The Swallows Leisure Centre with its swimming pool, gym, fitness classes, sports hall and climbing wall.
Stroll along the pathways and estuary landscape of Milton Creek Country Park and appreciate its charming estuary landscape. Built on the site of a former landfill, it’s now 128 acres of meadow, scrub and aquatic habitats for important wildlife – plus there’s a natural play area to amuse little ones.
Hop aboard one of the area’s two heritage railways: Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway or theBredgar and Wormshill Light Railway.
Take a turn round the racetrack at Bayford Meadows go karting site on the Eurolink Industrial Estate.
Pick up the pace at greyhound racing and speedway at the Central Park Stadium.
Take in an amateur dramatic production at the Avenue Theatre or a film at the New Century Cinema or the new Light Cinema in Bourne place where you can make a day of it, with a meal and bowling
Stock up on what you need on the high street and the Forum shopping centre, with a mix of chain stores and independent shops, or take a short walk to the retail park for some big-name brands.
Find out more about Sittingbourne’s fascinating history with a trip to the Heritage Hub in the Forum Shopping Centre, Sittingbourne Heritage Museum or the Milton Regis Court Hall Museum (a 15th century courthouse based in nearby Milton Regis), which all proudly tell the story of the area’s history.
Discover the charm of the Isle of Sheppey. Over the Kingsferry Bridge by car (or by train it’s a short journey from Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea station) you’ll find traditional seaside towns with a mix of sandy and shingle beaches. Sheerness, Minster and Leysdown are all family fun days out – and for a quieter moment spotting water birds and birds of prey don’t forget Elmley Nature Reserve, one of the jewels in Sheppey’s crown.
Are you thinking of moving to Sittingbourne? At Harrisons Homes independent estate agent we pride ourselves on our local knowledge – and as we’re based in the heart of Sittingbourne we’re perfectly placed to talk to you about what makes this area so special. Call us on 01795 474848 or email hello@harrisonshomes.co.uk for a chat.
