If you have kids, you already know this: Dartford has some absurdly good grammar schools. Like, top-of-the-league-table level. People move here just for the schools. It’s a bit mad, but also true.
Even the state schools are solid. You’ll hear parents get really animated about catchment areas at dinner parties. Just nod and smile. But honestly, for education, it’s a massive tick in the “pro” column.
The Commute: The Good, The Bad, The Traffic
Let’s talk about the commute. To London, it’s dreamy. Fast trains to Charing Cross or Cannon Street. You can be at your desk sipping overpriced coffee in 45 minutes. Boom.
But the car? Oh boy. The Dartford Crossing is a game of chance. One crash on the bridge and the whole town becomes a car park. You’ll develop a sixth sense for checking traffic apps. It becomes part of your personality.
Still, most people take the train. And if you drive to Bluewater Shopping Centre (which is basically next door), you feel like a traffic strategist. Bluewater is a beast of a mall. You’ll find everything there. And I mean everything.
