Sevenoaks named one of the most expensive places to buy a home in the country - but what's the reason?
12:00, 05 February 2020
updated: 10:55, 06 February 2020
Sevenoaks is one of the most expensive places to buy a home outside of London, according to house price figures provided by getagent.co.uk.
The average property in the postcode area TN13 sold for just shy of £700,000 last year. This is the 20th highest figure in the whole country - not counting the capital - and the only area of Kent to make the list. So, why is it so pricey? We sent reporter Rebecca Tuffin along to find out.
I've passed through Sevenoaks a couple of times before, mainly to get to Knole Park - a delightful country estate where deers roam free all year round.
But I've never actually stopped to look around properly. And I have never been sent here for work - the crime rate being exceptionally low. As a snapshot, in April we looked at the areas of Kent with the highest crime rates. The ward of Medway River had 270 crime reports during the month, Canterbury Westgate, 248, but central Sevenoaks just 77.
On first glance, it's quite an attractive place. There is a medley of historic buildings, converted into various high-end shops, independent cafes and stylish chain restaurants. It was relatively quiet - with the majority of people milling about all being 70 plus - albeit it was a Tuesday afternoon.
I spotted a tiny Aladdin's cave of a shop - no bigger than a walk-in wardrobe - filled with Persian jewellery and crimson cushion covers. Owner of the Nook in Dorset Street, Froozandeh Schoucher, has lived in Sevenoaks for around 18 years. Originally from Iran, she lived all around the country, before settling in the town.
The 70-year-old believes the town "has definitely got a sense of exclusivity".
She said: "It's all kept very clean and pleasant - probably because people here pay huge council tax, the schools are very good and there are amazing train services."
However, Mrs Schoucher thinks the town is also quite a strange place.
She added: "Sevenoaks definitely has a certain style which people follow, and they get together in their own tight circles. It's quite weird here and has a totally different feel to when I visit my daughter in east London. As nice as Sevenoaks is, it's not quite as friendly.
"People don't go round each other's houses for a cup of tea here, for example. Maybe it's because there are lots of professionals who don't have as much time to socialise."
Australian Mark Alderman couldn't agree less.
The 54-year-old moved to Dartford Road with his wife all the way from Melbourne in August because he likes the area so much.
He said: "We've got family in England so had been to visit many times over the years and we just loved it here. I find it very friendly and pleasant - it probably helps having two dogs when meeting people though.
"There's also virtually no crime, which is great. There's not really anything I don't like about it. We live right here in the town centre so everything is really easy to get to.
"We are renting at the moment because it's so expensive but we may well buy a place here or nearby a bit further down the line."
Estate agents Hamptons International has a plethora of explanations for the town's towering prices - namely, the extremely fast train connection to London. You can get to London Bridge in an impressive 24 minutes.
Sales negotiator Denise Kavanagh said: "It's also incredibly close to the M25 and M26, so it's just in a really good spot to get to London and other places but then is still in a nice, rural location."
She added how, being a relatively small area in terms of housing numbers, the demand is very high.
"When one house goes on sale, 10 people want it, which pushes the prices up."
Another employee Christian Bigwood said many of their clients are young families from the capital, wanting to move somewhere more rural but still have good city connections for jobs.
No one I spoke to was surprised to hear Sevenoaks is one of the most expensive places to live.
All in all, I agree the town is indeed pleasant. The houses which surround the centre are large and characterful, and definitely would be a nice place to raise a family.
However, I do agree slightly with Mrs Schoucher that it's lacking a little soul. Despite the boutique-y shops, quaint pubs and attractive Stag Theatre, there's something missing. There's not much buzz about the place.
But I must be in the minority thinking that, because the house prices don't lie - people are itching to live in Sevenoaks.
