Rochester West & Borstal sits on the southern fringes of Rochester within the Medway area, occupying slopes down towards the River Medway and the small village of Borstal. The neighbourhood mixes Victorian terraces and post‑war housing with pockets of green space and provides pleasant views back across the river to Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral.
The area has a strong local identity - Borstal famously lent its name to the early 20th‑century youth detention system - and benefits from being a short hop to the historic High Street with its Charles Dickens associations. Day‑to‑day life is largely residential, with small shops, community groups and good commuter links into central Rochester and London, giving it a quiet but well connected character within Medway.
Postcode districts covering Rochester West & Borstal
Most populated places nearby
- Southend-on-Sea 15.8 miles25.4 km
- Bexley 16.1 miles25.9 km
- Croydon 24.6 miles39.6 km
- Basildon 13.5 miles21.7 km
- Maidstone 7.1 miles11.5 km
- Gillingham 3.9 miles6.2 km
- Grays 10.2 miles16.5 km
- Chatham 2 miles3.3 km
- Royal Tunbridge Wells 18.8 miles30.3 km
- Ashford 23.1 miles37.1 km
- Barking and Dagenham 20 miles32.2 km
- Dartford 12.8 miles20.6 km
Neighbouring places
- Rochester Built-up area 0.7 miles1.1 km
- Rochester East & Warren Wood Ward 0.7 miles1.1 km
- Fort Pitt Ward 1.3 miles2 km
- Cuxton, Halling & Riverside Ward 1.4 miles2.2 km
- Strood West Ward 1.5 miles2.4 km
- Cuxton Built-up area 1.5 miles2.4 km
- Wouldham Parish 1.6 miles2.6 km
- Fort Horsted Ward 1.8 miles2.8 km
- Strood North & Frindsbury Ward 1.9 miles3 km
- Chatham Central & Brompton Ward 1.9 miles3.1 km
- Chatham Built-up area 2 miles3.3 km
- Wayfield & Weeds Wood Ward 2.1 miles3.3 km
Example postcodes in Rochester West & Borstal
ME1 1HP, ME1 3JB, ME1 2FB, ME1 3JL, ME1 3DN, ME1 1PS, ME1 1XY, ME1 3LQ, ME1 1SL … See all
Transport links
- London Southend Airport 16.3 miles26.3 km
- London City Airport 20.8 miles33.5 km
- Cuxton Railway Station 1.2 miles1.9 km
- Rochester Railway Station 1.3 miles2.1 km
Hotels in Rochester West & Borstal Ad
Schools in Rochester West & Borstal
- King's School, Rochester Independent - all ages
- Ripplevale School Rochester Independent - special
- Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School Secondary
- St Andrew's School (Rochester) Independent - primary
- St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary School Primary
- The Pilgrim School (A C of E Primary With Nursery) Primary
Local points of interest
- University for the Creative Arts - Rochester University 1.2 miles1.9 km
- Spotlites at Kings Theatre Theatre 1.9 miles3 km
- University of Greenwich - Medway University 2.8 miles4.5 km
- MidKent College - Medway College 2.9 miles4.7 km
- Priestfield Stadium Stadium 3.2 miles5.1 km
- Boxley Hills Hill 4.5 miles7.3 km
- Boxley Abbey Historic site 5.3 miles8.5 km
- University for the Creative Arts - Maidstone University 7 miles11.3 km
- Brands Hatch Recreation 9.8 miles15.7 km
- Blue Water Shopping centre 10.4 miles16.8 km
- Yantlet beach Beach 10.5 miles16.9 km
- Canvey Island Heritage Centre & Museum Museum 10.7 miles17.2 km