The Kent countryside is a popular escape for Londoners seeking a peaceful commuter town, and one of the most beautiful villages within an hour of the capital is undoubtedly Yalding.
Located on the River Medway, this little village is full of gorgeous historic properties, green spaces and lovely places to walk, and you can even bag a family home for £400,000 while still being an hour away from Central London.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, it might be – a lovely new home in Yalding could come with a huge catch.
READ MORE: The unlikely seaside town where Londoners are snapping up bargain homes for less than £150k
Yalding is very prone to flooding: in fact, it flooded eight times in the winter of 2000-2001, and again in December 2013.
Therefore, those looking to buy a home in Yalding should make sure their estate agent tells them if the property has a history of flooding, and also get a solicitor and surveyor to investigate or hire a flood risk consultant to do a study.
The River Medway is beautiful, but has caused plenty of trouble over the years, but it’s beautiful for a summer’s walk
(Image: Alan Smithers)
Life in Yalding
Yalding is a small village, so there isn’t a whole lot there, but that could be perfect if you’re looking to escape the busy London life.
It’s just six miles from Maidstone, the largest town in Kent, but it has a quaint countryside feel with great spots for walking your dog or an all-day hike.
The Twyford Bridge is well worth a visit, as it’s known for being one of the finest medieval bridges in the south-east of England.
The Twyford Bridge in Yalding is known for being one of the finest medieval bridges in the south-east of England
(Image: Alan Smithers)
There’s a charming river walk which runs from the Teapot museum in Yalding along the Greensand Way through fields and woodlands, with gorgeous views over the landscape.
Along the way is the beautiful Nettlestead Place, a medieval manor house and gardens that makes a beautiful backdrop for weddings.
The aforementioned Teapot Museum, named Teapot Island, is a charming addition to the village, which grew from the personal teapot collection of owner Sue Blazye that began when her grandmother gave her a teapot in 1983.
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The village has a couple of pubs, including The George and The Walnut Tree, as well as an Indian restaurant, but there’s plenty more to eat and drink in the surrounding area.
There’s a primary school in the village, Yalding CofE Primary School, which was rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in 2019.
Trains into London St Pancras or Charing Cross take just over an hour with one change, which is great for the occasional day out or office visit.
After a long walk in the fresh air, you can stop at a country pub for a hearty meal
(Image: Nick Macneill)
Property in Yalding
According to Rightmove, properties in Yalding had an average price of £550,327 over the last year, compared to London’s £674,027.
That said, the average price of terraced properties sold in the past year was £395,944, while semi-detached homes fetched £409,167.
The types of homes on offer range from detached period cottages to barn conversions, classy new-build homes to characterful terraces, meaning there’s something for everyone.
The village is clearly full of history and charm, with plenty of unique properties at a fraction of the price of London homes.
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