A commuter hotspot offering ‘Country in the town’ living with green spaces, excellent schools and a vibrant culture all on your doorstep. Much of today’s Tunbridge Wells is attributable to Lord Dudley North’s discovery of the Chalybeate Spring in 1606, making the town a popular destination for more than 400 years.
Building booms have left an eclectic mix of period buildings including the Georgian colonnaded Pantiles, the original hub of the town. The town sits in the heart of the High Weald, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and was granted Royal Borough status by King Edward VII in 1909 and twinned with Wiesbaden in Germany, one of the oldest spa towns in Europe, in 1989.
Local Life
With over 200 cafés, bars, traditional pubs and restaurants you can find it all in Tunbridge Wells. For foodies visit The Ivy, Thackeray’s and Bill’s in the town centre, Sankey’s at the Old Fishmarket in The Pantiles, Juliet’s vintage themed café on the High Street, The Mount Edgcumbe on The Common or The Black Pig gastro pub minutes from the High Street. Drinks at The Common Rooms and Fuggles Beer Café in the town centre, Chapel Place Wine & Gin Bar and Framptons in The Pantiles, or head to The Duke of York if you want a traditional tavern. Visit the regular farmers market for locally sourced food, drink and artisan produce, Trevor Mottram’s shop for all thing’s kitchen and cookware, and Peter Speaight traditional butchers, the Bicycle Bakery and Flossie’s ice cream parlour.
For those who love to shop we have variety of independent specialist shops, family owned businesses, art galleries, interior and antique shops. Fashion independents like Anna Poulsen, Ilse Jacobsen, Bod & Ted and the Changing Room, or for art lovers visit Fairfax Gallery and Beumee Contemporary Art. The High Street is also home to high end stores like The White Company, Mint Velvet, Jack Wills and two department stores Fenwicks and Hoopers, and the Royal Victoria Centre for high street retailers.
Entertainment haunts include Assembly Hall Theatre, Trinity Theatre and The Forum, Thursday nights Jazz on the Pantiles (May – September) and The Grey Lady music lounge where you will often catch local The Paul Dunton Orchestra and guests.
If you want to get outdoors visit Calverley Park for a spot of croquet, tennis, netball or basketball and their Winter Wonderland and ice rink is a festive delight. Dunorlan Park is home to a boating lake, lawns, café and holds events like 5K weekly park run, Tom Kerridge’s food and music festival ‘Pub in the Park’, Bonfire night fireworks to name a few. Woodland walks around the Common and Wellington Rocks or take the Spa Valley steam train to the historic High Rocks. The hidden Grosvenor & Hilbert Park is also worth a visit.
The town caters for all manner of sports and fitness there are simply too many to mention. A few favourites Flow Yoga, The Yoga House, or try The Freestyle Yoga Project for studio or online classes, Sandrines and Studio One for Pilates. Southborough & District Wheelers for keen cyclists are based in Frant Road, there are several gyms Pure Gym, Energie Fitness, Halo Gym to mention a few. There are local tennis, rugby and football clubs for all ages and several local scouts, girl guiding and brownie clubs.
Travel
Less than 1 hour by train from London Charing Cross, Gatwick Airport and Ashford International rail stations. M25 and M20 motorways are less than a 30-minute drive, the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone is less than 1 hour, and Channel ports at Dover a little over 1-hour drive. Gatwick airport is 40 minutes and Heathrow airport 1 hour by car.
