Low Maintenance Living: Retired South Africans Find Their Perfect UK Abode at Hollyfields

Having recently retired, Stuart (77) and Vicki (63), decided it was the perfect time to finally own their dream home in the UK - something Stuart had been passionate about ever since he emigrated to South Africa as a young boy. With Stuart born in Kent - and his son living and working in South Africa, with offices in London - the couple began their property search exploring the different areas of Kent, before coming across Berkeley’s popular development, Hollyfields, situated on the periphery of Royal Tunbridge Wells. 

Stuart says, “We knew we wanted Kent to be our UK base and were adamant it was a new build property. As we regularly visit South Africa to see our family we needed something low maintenance.”  

He adds, “One of the key selling points for us was Berkeley’s 10-year warranty, as well as the security of purchasing in an apartment building within a development., which makes us feel confident that when we are in South Africa the flat will be safe.”  

Stuart and Vicki bought a two-bedroom apartment with a balcony and are thrilled to have a UK bolthole they can call home. Located just 1.2 miles from the town centre, Hollyfields is an established community surrounded by the Kent countryside. The spacious homes are designed in a range of styles, complete with well-equipped modern kitchens featuring integrated appliances, ideal home office spaces, and private gardens. The houses are thoughtfully positioned to maximise views across the surrounding countryside.

Stuart says, “We love the modern interiors of the flat and the open-plan living aspect – it’s great for us knowing everything just works as it should, and we love the social element which open-plan living provides. One of our favourite elements is the spacious balcony, which looks out onto surrounding greenery and the treeline of the woodland beyond – it sealed the deal for us.” 

He adds, “We have also found the community at Hollyfields really welcoming, it’s so lovely how established it already is; it will be such a friendly place to come to and from.”

Situated on the periphery of Tunbridge Wells, Hollyfields has easy access to all the fantastic amenities the town has to offer – from a bustling restaurant and bar scene to historic streets peppered with independent boutiques. 

Stuart says, “Hollyfields couldn’t be better located for us. We have access to everything we could want on the doorstep. We can easily pop into town for a coffee or a nice meal – you can see why Tunbridge Wells is such a popular place for so many. We also love that we are still in the countryside, with lots of lovely walks locally, we are spoilt for scenery.”

He continues, “It was our son’s colleagues who recommended the Tunbridge Wells area, given how safe it is, the quick routes into London and how much there is to do – and they were right. We are the ideal distance from London. The train takes less than an hour and Hollyfields even has its own shuttle bus to and from the station, which is such an added bonus if you don’t want to drive.”

Overall, Stuart and Vicki are overjoyed with their purchase and the wonderful customer service they received from Berkeley. He says, “The Berkeley team were fantastic from start to finish and really guided us through the buying process. We would absolutely recommend them and Hollyfields – we have been blown away.”

For more information or to arrange a private viewing, please visit www.hollyfields.co.uk.