Sevenoaks

From World travel guide

Sevenoaks is a town in Kent, in the South of England.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By car 2.2 By train 3 Get around 3.1 By bus 3.2 By taxi 4 See 5 Do 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out 10 External links

Understand

Sevenoaks is a fairly traditional market town, although these days, given its proximity to London, it is known largely as a commuter town.

Contrary to popular belief the town isn't named after the seven oak trees that stood alongside the cricket pitch (six of which were destroyed in the great storm of 1987); the town's name is instead derived from the Saxon word seouenaca, the name given to a small chapel in Knole Park around 800 AD.

Get in

By car

Sevenoaks is situated very near the junction where the M26 meets the M25. The M26 (or A25) leads to Maidstone, and the A21 heads south to Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Hastings.

By train

Sevenoaks station is situated fairly near the centre of town, to the north. It is on the Main Kent Coast Line, which runs from London Charing Cross to Hastings. London is between 20 and 30 minutes away, depending on whether the train is direct or a stopper service.

Tonbridge is the main train station in West Kent; any destination other than those on the London-Hastings mainline will require a change here. It is 10 minutes by train from Sevenoaks.

Fare and timetable information is available from South East Trains, tel. 08457 484950.

Get around

Sevenoaks is not a large town, and the centre can easily be travelled on foot. As with most other towns in England, the town is well serviced by buses and taxis.

By bus

Arriva is the bus company that operates in Sevenoaks. Timetables and fares are available on their website. Buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus.

By taxi

The main taxi rank is at the train station, although you can order a taxi by telephone to pick you up from anywhere.

For pre-booked journeys, try Space Travel http://www.spacetravel.co.uk

See

• Knole House, tel: 01732 462100, e-mail: knole@nationaltrust.org.uk. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 27 March to 31 August (2004), 11:00-16:00. One of the great treasure houses of England, set in a magnificent deer park. Built in the 15th century and altered only in 1603, it has remained untouched since. Admission: £6.00. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/places/knole/

• Sevenoaks Museum and Art Gallery, Buckhurst Lane, tel: 01732 453118/452384. http://www.kent.gov.uk/e&l/artslib/MUSEUMS/sevenoaks.html

Do

• See the deer in Knole Park - open daily all year, admission free to pedestrians

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Get out

Other places of interest in the Sevenoaks area

• Bough Beech reservoir - for walking, sailing and fishing. Includes a wildlife reserve

• Chartwell, Westerham, tel: 01732 868381, e-mail: chartwell@nationaltrust.org.uk. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 20 March to 7 November. House open 11:00-17:00. Family home of Sir Winston Churchill, with magnificent views over the Weald of Kent. Admission: £7.00. Car park (for countryside access) open daily, 09:00-17:00. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/places/chartwell/

• Hever Castle, Hever, nr Edenbridge, tel: 01732 861710. Open daily from 1 March to 30 November. Gardens open from 11:00-18:00, Castle open from 12:00-18:00 (both close at 17:00 during November). A 13th century castle once home to Anne Boleyn. Admission: Castle & Garden £8.80, Garden only £7.00. http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/

External links

Sevenoaks District Council Tourist Board

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