Why Tunbridge Wells?
A unique slice of old England mixed with the dynamic sense of vitality.
Great Communication
Tunbridge Wells is situated within 50 minutes of London via train to London bridge, Waterloo East, Cannon Street and Charing cross, with regular services from both Tunbridge Wells main line station and high brooms station. Tunbridge wells also offers great access via the A21 to M25 and A2, and the south coast via the A21 and A26.
Beautiful Countryside
This corner of Kent certainly lives up to its reputation as the Garden of England. The Tunbridge Wells area not only has more than its fair share of the UK's top gardens, it also provides easy access to Ashdown Forest the largest area of open access land in the south-east of England. Alternatively travel to the East of Tunbridge Wells and you will find some of the finest countryside including hop farms, orchards and some of the prettiest Medieval villages in the Kentish Weald.
Close To The Coast
Tunbridge wells is close to some of the most historical coast lines in England, with access from the A21 to 1066 country and along from there east to many of the Cinque Port towns and west to the fashionable and bustling towns of East Bourne and Brighton.
Travel Abroad
Travel Abroad – Tunbridge Wells is perfectly situated for travel to foreign destinations. Gatwick is within 30 miles and Heathrow and Stansted are both within 60 miles. Trips to the continent are catered for with Ashford's Eurostar for foot passengers, Folkstone's Eurotunnel which provides car crossings and Dover ferry terminal.
Close To Local Towns
With easy links to major local towns such as Crawley, Tonbridge, Maidstone and Bromley our town is ideally situated to a variety of towns.
History
Royal Tunbridge Wells has been attracting visitors for 400 years, ever since the chance discovery of the Chalybeate Spring by young Nobleman Lord North.
Word of the newly discovered spring water soon spread, and visitors from London and elsewhere flocked to 'the Wells' to try the waters. Coffee houses, lodgings, shops, taverns and gaming houses soon sprang up in one continuous line near the Spring joined by a covered colonnaded walkway which Later became know as The Pantiles, named after the type of tiling used for paving.
In Georgian times particularly, Tunbridge Wells became a well-known and popular spa resort, a rival to nearby Brighton. The lively social scene in Tunbridge Wells was famously organized by the dandy, Richard Beau Nash and made sure that residents and visitors alike adhered to the 'rules' of social behavior.
In the early 1800s Tunbridge Wells became a very desirable place for rich business and professional people not just for a holiday but also in which to live. A great deal of building was undertaken to the north of the small spa as large villas and family houses were built - many of them by the architect Decimus Burton. Evidence of this grand period of new architecture in Tunbridge Wells still survives today.
King Edward VII officially recognized the popularity of Tunbridge Wells with its many royal and aristocratic visitors over the centuries by granting the town its "Royal" prefix. In 1909 the town became known, as it is to this day, as Royal Tunbridge Wells, one of only two towns in England to be granted this title.
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