Heart of Kent

In the Heart of Kent discover a verdant landscape of rolling hills and wooded valleys dotted with orchards, vineyards and hop gardens, picturesque villages, historic towns, castles, gardens and historic country houses – all set in the beautiful countryside of the Garden of England.

A short break in the Heart of Kent can be relaxing or active as the mood suits – with a wide choice of castles and gardens open to the public, an excellent selection of golf courses, cycling, walking, riding and outdoor activities, and some of the best retail therapy in the South East, everyone can find something to suit their taste and pace. And getting there couldn't be easier: the Heart of Kent is less than one hour from Dover and the Channel Tunnel, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports, or from central London. Eurostar trains from Paris, Lille and Brussels go directly to the region in just 2 hours via Ashford International Station.

Ready to spend some time in the Heart of Kent? There are over 270 places to stay, from traditional bed and breakfast accommodation to luxury hotels, or self catering in holiday cottages or country houses.

Tonbridge and Malling

The borough of Tonbridge and Malling lies in the Heart of Kent, an area with a rich cultural heritage and spectacular scenery. There are castles, stately homes, gardens, animal farms, craft centres and country walks set in beautiful undulating countryside. A wide range of leisure facilities is provided by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council which takes pride in presenting high quality sports, leisure and cultural activities for both residents and visitors. The Angel Centre and Tonbridge Swimming Pool are both located in the main town.

The main town of Tonbridge has been a market town since the Middle Ages when the Normans chose the site to build a splendid motte and bailey castle which dominates the town to this day and is surrounded by 14 acres of lawns and gardens alongside the River Medway, itself at the heart of the town as well.  The long High Street, at one end of which is situated the famous Tonbridge School, offers an interesting variety of architecture as well as a good array of shops and restaurants.

From Tonbridge, visitors can take a gentle walk along the riverbank towards Haysden Country Park, or make use of the Tonbridge to Penshurst cycle route (Regional Cycle Route 12) between Tonbridge Castle and Penshurst Place. This route offers an excellent, almost entirely traffic free ride from the heart of Tonbridge alongside the River Medway, out into the countryside as far as the glorious buildings and gardens of Penshurst Place, some 8km to the west. For a more relaxed view of Tonbridge and its attractive surroundings, enjoy a trip in a rowing boat along the river.

Royal Tunbridge Wells and the Surrounding Area

Royal Tunbridge Wells is surrounded by the High Weald, designated as an Area of Outstanding Beauty and less than an hour’s train journey from central London. Visitors find that the town makes an ideal base, not only for walking and cycling in the miles of open, green countryside, but also for exploring one of the UK’s finest and most concentrated selections of castles, gardens and stately homes open to the public, including Scotney Castle Garden, Groombridge Place Gardens, Penshurst Place and Finchcocks Museum of Music. 

The town of Royal Tunbridge Wells itself has been attracting visitors for over 400 years to its elegant surroundings. As the place to see and be seen in Georgian England, it has retained its charm and popularity today as a place to relax, shop, eat, drink and enjoy the finer things in life. 

The Pantiles, the town’s famous colonnade, is at the heart of the historic part of town and home to the Chalybeate Spring – the spot where it all began for Tunbridge Wells. As the only spa town in Kent and indeed the South East of England, the discovery of the spring water in 1606 was the first step in the town’s colourful history which has continued through the centuries to the present day. A favourite holiday destination of famous people such as Queen Anne, Princess (later Queen) Victoria, Samuel Pepys and Daniel Defoe, amongst others, Tunbridge Wells was finally recognised by royalty itself in 1909 by King Edward VII with the granting of the town’s ‘Royal’ prefix – an honour bestowed on a very few destinations.  

Royal Tunbridge Wells today is full of reminders of its colourful past, yet is still a town buzzing with life. The famous Spring still flows and it is possible to try the iron-rich waters for yourself during the summer when they are served by a traditional ‘Dipper’ in Georgian dress. Alternatively, pop into the Tunbridge Wells Museum to see examples of Tunbridge Wells’ Georgian heyday, or to the Art Gallery next door to catch one of the national travelling exhibitions or displays of contemporary art.  

Small specialist shops selling everything from cooking utensils to wedding dresses, antique clocks to designer jewellery, are tucked away along the pretty Pantiles colonnade, which is complemented by quality, designer and individual shops in the High Street and the modern Royal Victoria Place shopping mall at the top of the town. Food lovers will feel right at home in Royal Tunbridge Wells: traditional English, modern European, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Persian, Mexican and more may be enjoyed. Wine bars featuring live jazz music, bustling brasseries, award winning gourmet eateries, romantic dinners for two and cosy traditional pubs are all to be found in and around the town.

Catch an alternative comedy performance, an off-West End show, ballet, opera or art house film at either the Trinity Theatre or Assembly Hall Theatre in town. If you’re visiting at weekends, use the opportunity to stock up some local Kentish produce at the weekly Farmers’ Markets alternating between the Pantiles and outside the Museum building, or even some French or Italian goodies at special markets held at various times throughout the year.

The pretty nearby town of Cranbrook, just a short drive from Royal Tunbridge Wells, with its windmill and medieval layout of streets, is known locally as the ‘Capital of the Weald’ and makes a charming destination for a day out. It’s just a couple of miles to Sissinghurst Castle Garden, made famous by Vita Sackville-West, and on to a group of small, yet fascinating visitor attractions – the Seven Wonders of the Weald. All within 10 minutes’ driving time of each other, the Seven Wonders make it easy to spend a day or two discovering the area with a real variety of things to see and do, including Bewl Water and its 21km of walking and cycling tracks; Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest and its newly opened off-road cycling, riding and walking facilities; Lamberhurst Vineyard where visitors can sample award-winning English wines; and the beautiful privately owned gardens and art gallery at Marle Place.

Sevenoaks

Few places in the world can match the beauty of the countryside around Sevenoaks, particularly in spring when Emmett’s Garden near Toys Hill is crammed full of bluebells, as is the bluebell wood at Riverhill House Garden. From these hillside settings and many others nearby, you’ll be able to see spectacular views over Kent in all its glory.
 
The stately homes and castles around Sevenoaks are a sight to behold. When you have had your fill of stepping back into an awesome and turbulent history alongside great characters such as Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Winston Churchill, General Wolfe and the Sidney family, escape into the sunshine and traverse the extensive gardens and parklands around Knole House, Penshurst Place, Hever Castle and so many more.

The hidden gems in and around Sevenoaks nestling amongst the villages and in the verdant valleys have to be seen to be believed. Who would have thought that the historic family mansion of Lullingstone Castle could be found rubbing shoulders with a Roman villa, a stone’s throw from the village of Eynsford? Where else in the world would you be able to sit in the grounds of a castle, fishing in their lake (without being chased by the gamekeeper) or picnicking on a summer afternoon other than at Chiddingstone?

The town of Sevenoaks itself has much to offer visitors, with an excellent variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a long history which has left a wealth of heritage. Here you’ll find The Old Vine Cricket Ground, founded in the late 1700s and one of the oldest in the country – bounded by the oaks which give the town its name. Here too, lies the estate of Knole Park with its calendar house and rich history. Famous visitors and residents of the town in the past, many of them literary, include Jane Austen, John Donne (who was rector of St Nicholas Church), Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf, Edith Nesbit and H G Wells

Maidstone

At the heart of the Garden of England, a gentle landscape of orchards and hop gardens, Maidstone is surrounded by picturesque countryside attractions and villages. Highlights include Leeds Castle and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, while Yalding Organic Gardens and Stoneacre appeal to dedicated gardeners.
Kent’s thriving county town Maidstone combines rich history with arts, culture and superb shopping and entertainment facilities. Don’t miss the historical attractions of Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery with its fascinating Earth Heritage Gallery – see the bones of the Iguanodon and look for fossils under your feet. Discover the Maidstone Carriage Museum – this unique collection of horse drawn vehicles is one of the town’s hidden gems, located appropriately in the stables of the spectacular Archbishop’s Palace.

Take a stroll along the Maidstone Millennium River Park, which weaves its way along a 10 km stretch of the River Medway as it rolls through the town. Combine a boat trip along the River Park with a visit to the Museum of Kent Life, where a collection of historic buildings tells the fascinating story of rural life in Kent.

Ashford and Tenterden

Take time to explore the heart of Ashford and you will enjoy the very best of a small market town and all the vibrancy of a modern international gateway. A rich mix of historic buildings, tree lined walkways, beautiful floral displays and plenty of street entertainment creates a welcoming atmosphere, while Ashford’s international Eurostar station and busy street cafés lend a truly continental ambience to the town.  Why not stay in one of Ashford’s excellent hotels or bed & breakfasts then take Eurostar to Paris, Brussels, Lille or Disneyland Paris for a few days?

When in Ashford, follow the town’s heritage trail and discover the narrow alleyways where mediaeval, Georgian and Jacobean houses are to be found. Relax by the fountain that commemorates Ashford’s history as a railway town, or turn a corner to find a rare First World War tank. Enjoy the tranquil oasis of the historic churchyard which is surrounded by pretty weather-boarded cottages and pop into the local museum, built in 1635 to house Ashford’s first grammar school.

By day, visit the two modern shopping centres, or take the shuttle bus to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet where around 70 stores offer designer brands at rock bottom prices. Designed by Millennium Dome and Pompidou Centre architect Lord Richard Rogers, the outlet is an eye-catching building in its own right.
By night, stay in town for ten-pin bowling, or to dine locally; or head out to nearby Eureka Leisure where a 12-screen cinema and wide choice of restaurants will keep you entertained. There are always plenty of exciting events taking place in the town. Equator, a programme of world music, dance and theatre, runs from February to May, and July Summer Sounds caters for lovers of jazz, country and folk. On Sunday 8 July 2007, the Tour de France, the world’s largest annual sporting events comes right through the town centre.

Known as the ‘Jewel of the Weald’, nearby Tenterden offers the best of all worlds – fascinating history, a wealth of architecture and excellent shopping – all within everyone’s idea of a typical country town and surrounded by Kent’s tranquil countryside.

At its centre are the tree-lined greens that distance you from the world going by so you can shop at a relaxed pace, browsing in the wide range of shops, from the unique and unusual, to the familiar and well-known.  With beautiful gifts and craft items, books and antiques, Tenterden is the place where you’re bound to find something very special. Tenterden is also a fascinating town to explore. Georgian buildings share the streets with tall Victorian houses and tiny cottages; brick and stucco blend easily alongside traditional Kent tile and weatherboard, creating a timeless air.

To find out more about the town’s history as a limb of the Cinque Ports, visit the town’s museum, or take a nostalgic ride back in time on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Enjoy the beautiful Wealden countryside slipping by as you steam along to the fairytale Bodiam Castle in East Sussex. Visit the 16th-century half-timbered home of the famous 19th-century Shakespearean actress Dame Ellen Terry and see her sumptuous display of stage costumes and theatrical mementoes. On summer evenings you can enjoy a theatre performance in the gardens or in the intimate Barn Theatre. Take a guided tour and tasting at nearby Chapel Down Winery and relax with a glass of award-winning wine, while admiring the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside from the first floor Bistro Restaurant.