Canon Cafe
Set within the grounds of Fort Amherst, this welcoming community café is the perfect spot for breakfast, coffee and homemade cake, with twenty acres of historic green space to explore afterwards.
New Community
It doesn’t take long to feel at home in your new neighbourhood.
Within a few weeks, you’ll have a favourite bakery, a go-to coffee shop and perhaps even a favourite bench in The Paddock – Chatham’s town-centre gardens, thoughtfully replanted and reopened in 2024. You’ll discover independent shops, wine bars and creative studios alongside local markets, galleries and live music venues.
With so much to explore close to home, The New Tide places you at the heart of a community that is growing, evolving and full of character.
When you move to Chatham, you will be surrounded by its history.
Mrs Sourdough Bakery
A small-batch bakery and coffee shop on Chatham High Street, known for its freshly baked sourdough, almond croissants and artisan approach. Its handmade buns are also used by Rochester’s Smoqe for their signature burgers, bringing together two local favourites.
The Bohemian
This café and wine bar on Chatham High Street is a favourite from morning to night – serving coffee and pastries by day, then transforming into a relaxed evening spot for small plates, candlelight and live music.
New and Old
The Historic Dockyard, where the Royal Navy built and repaired ships for more than four centuries, is just a 20-minute walk from The New Tide. Recognised as the most complete dockyard of the Age of Sail in the world, it is home to historic warships, a working Ropewalk and the remarkable No. 3 Covered Slip – once the largest wide-span timber structure in Europe.
Above the town, Fort Amherst’s tunnels and ramparts tell another chapter of Chatham’s military history, built to protect the dockyard from a landward attack that never came.
What makes Chatham special is how naturally its heritage sits alongside modern life. An afternoon exploring ships and historic landscapes can lead seamlessly into dinner on the High Street or a drink beside the river. Here, the past isn’t preserved behind glass - it remains part of everyday life.
New Surroundings
Hop on the train at Chatham and discover everything your new surroundings have to offer. Head west to historic Rochester and Strood, or continue straight into London. Travel east through Rainham, Sittingbourne and Faversham towards the Isle of Sheppey and the Kent coast.
Beyond the stations, there are country parks, riverside walks and the bird-rich marshes of the Swale and Oare to explore – much of it easily accessible without needing a car.
Leeds Castle
Often described as the “loveliest castle in the world”, Leeds Castle sits within 500 acres of beautiful parkland, gardens and woodland. Explore its medieval history, wander through landscaped gardens, enjoy seasonal events or simply spend a day discovering one of Kent’s most iconic landmarks.
Kent Downs
Just beyond the town, the Kent Downs provide a stunning backdrop of rolling hills, ancient woodlands and picturesque villages. As an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it offers endless opportunities for walking, cycling and exploring some of the county’s most peaceful and inspiring landscapes.
St Andrews Lakes
A natural spring-fed lake surrounded by countryside, St Andrews Lakes is a place to escape, unwind and enjoy the outdoors. From open-water swimming and paddleboarding to kayaking and peaceful walks by the water, it offers a refreshing way to make the most of Kent’s natural landscape.
Coastal Nature Reserves
The coastline around Medway is home to some of Kent’s most important natural landscapes, where salt marshes, wetlands and open skies create havens for wildlife. Explore peaceful walking routes, spot wading birds and enjoy the changing beauty of the estuary landscapes at places such as the RSPB’s Cliffe Pools and the marshes of the Swale.
St Mary's Island
Once part of Chatham’s historic dockyard landscape, St Mary’s Island has been transformed into a modern waterfront neighbourhood with a strong sense of community. Enjoy riverside walks, open green spaces, waterside views and easy access to cafés, restaurants and leisure facilities, all just a short distance from the town centre.
"If anybody knows to a nicety where Rochester ends and Chatham begins, it is more than I do."
Charles Dickens, 1854
Charles Dickens was writing about the old High Street that runs between the two towns – the stretch now known as Chatham Intra. He could never say quite where one town ended and the other began, and when you walk it today you still can't. What you can say is that this creative and heritage quarter is one of Medway’s most exciting emerging neighbourhoods.