This area, situated within the market town of Gravesend, has a quintessentially suburban feel to it. With its range of housing options, including terraced, semi-detached, and larger family homes, this area is perfect for people searching for a quieter suburban lifestyle, but maintained commuter access to central London; it has proved especially popular with families, given the number of schools operating in this neighbourhood and its immediate surroundings. On a typical weekend, residents here can enjoy a few rounds of golf at the Mid Kent Golf Club, or in the summer months a relaxed game of cricket at nearby Gravesend Cricket Club. There is also a plethora of green open spaces for walks, picnics, and games of football, including Windmill Hill and Woodlands Park. And should you wish for something indoors, the nearby centre of Gravesend offers a wide range of shops, which can be found in St. George’s Shopping Centre.

The history of this quaint market town is strongly linked to its position along the river; it is reported that its proximity to the Thames may have been the key reason why settlement first began here! Much of the town’s economy has been derived from the maritime trade, including the transportation of passengers to and from London during the 14th century, and the supply of river/sea pilots and tugboats, as part of the Port of London Authority Control Centre. Since the 19th century however, there has been a shift away from the dominance of this trade, with a greater significance of the cement and paper industries.

This neighbourhood area is home to a particularly unique Cyclopark, which is a venue that holds regular cycling events? It caters to all cycling tastes including mountain bike trails, a road circuit, and a race track for BMX’s. Gravesend has also had its fair appearance within a number of different famous literary works, for example: Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield and Great Expectations, as well as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein!

Due to the close proximity of this area to the A2, there is a certain amount of noise pollution experienced, especially by those living in close proximity to this road. Despite this, residents make great benefit of this road, as it allows access into Central London and further south into Kent.

The major developments planned for this area are focused on the regeneration of the town centre and the local St George’s Shopping Centre, just north of this neighbourhood. Through this, there are plans to deliver new homes, shops, a cinema, restaurants, and a hotel, and in the process generate 1,000 new jobs. As part of this, there will be improvements made to the town centre’s signage and branding, as well as the accessibility and quality of walkways. Some of these developments are taking place in the immediate area, but others will have a more indirect effect on the neighbourhood, and may go on to provoke future development within the area.