Tunbridge Wells
From World travel guide
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in West Kent on the border with East Sussex, in the South of England.
Contents |
Understand
Tunbridge Wells was founded in the 17th century following the discovery of the Chalybeate Spring in 1606. The waters from the spring were said to have restorative properties, and so Tunbridge Wells grew into a thriving spa resort town. Queen Victoria regularly travelled down from London to "take the waters", and in 1909 King Edward VII officially granted the town its "Royal" prefix (although this is rarely used by the inhabitants any more).
Get in
By car
The main roads into Tunbridge Wells are the A21, which runs from the M25 down to Hastings, and the A26, which goes to Brighton. The A264 runs through East Grinstead to Crawley and Gatwick Airport.
By train
Tunbridge Wells station is situated very near the centre of town. It is on the Main Kent Coast Line, which runs from London Charing Cross to Hastings. London is between 30 and 45 minutes away, depending on whether the train is direct or a stopper service. Tickets cost about £12.
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 Tunbridge Wells.
Fare and timetable information is available from South East Trains, tel. 08457 484950.
Get around
The centre of Tunbridge Wells is fairly small, and 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 Tunbridge Wells. 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.
- County Cars - +44 1892 541666
- Crown Cars - +44 1732 368111
- Starline Taxis - +44 1892 531191
See
- Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, Civic Way, tel: +44 1892 554171, e-mail: museum@tunbridgewells.gov.uk. Open Monday-Saturday, 9.30-17.00 (closed bank holidays and Easter Saturday). From Victorian oil paintings and archaeology to historic fashions and toys. Admission free. http://www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/museum
Do
- Walk along The Pantiles, the oldest part of the town, and sample the waters from the Chalybeate Spring (open daily from Easter to September)
- Take a walk in the High Rocks, impressive sandstone outcrops linked by eleven bridges that provide scenic walks in acres of peaceful woodland
- Go swimming, play tennis or have a game of squash at Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, St Johns Road, tel: +44 1892 540744. http://www.tunbridgewellssportscentre.co.uk/
- Ride the Spa Valley Railway from Tunbridge Wells to Groombridge. Tel: +44 1892 537715. Carefully restored steam trains operate through 3.5 miles of glorious countryside. Goes via the High Rocks. Operates from April to October (2004). Admission: Adult £4.00, Child & Over 60s £3.00, Family £12.00. http://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk
Eat
All the major fast food chains are represented, mostly in the town centre, and the Royal Victoria Place shopping mall has a fairly large food court, although it is generally noisy and crowded.
Apart from some in Camden Road, most restaurants can be found in the centre, on Mount Pleasant and in the High Street area. There are also many pubs in and around Tunbridge Wells that offer good food.
Specific restaurants (cost assumes starter, main course, one drink, tip):
- Hotel du Vin, Crescent Road, tel +44 1892 526455. A bistro in the middle of town, near the town hall, that offers excellent food and a wide selection of wines. £~40.
- Wagamama, Mount Pleasant Road. One of the Japanese noodle bar chain restaurants. Quite affordable. £~14.
- The Tagore, 4 Neville Street, The Pantiles, tel +44 1892 615100. Gourmet Indian cuisine. £~25. Now closed down :(
- Sankeys, 39 Mount Ephraim, tel +44 1892 511422. Consistently high quality seafood from the British Isles, as well as some game. £~30.
Drink
Wetherspoons, 88 Mount Pleasant Rd, tel +44 1892 511770, TN1 1RT
Sleep
Spa Hotel, Mount Ephraim, tel +44 1892 520331, TN4 8XJ
Get out
Other places of interest in the Tunbridge Wells area
- Penshurst Place, Penshurst, tel: +44 1892 870307, e-mail: enquiries@penshurstplace.com. Open daily from 27 March to 31 October (2004). House open from 12:00-17:30, gardens from 10:30-18:00. One of the oldest gardens in England. Includes a 100 metre long peony border, the Union Jack garden and many fruit trees and borders. There is a large adventure playground for children. Admission: Grounds only £5.50, House & Grounds £7.00. http://www.penshurstplace.com
- Groombridge Place, Groombridge, tel: +44 1892 863999, e-mail: office@groombridge.co.uk. Open daily from 1 April to 5 November (2004), 9:30-18:00. Winner of the Top Garden Attraction in the UK by Good Britain Guide 2000. Admission £8.50. http://www.groombridge.co.uk
- Bewl Water, nr Lamberhurst, tel: +44 1892 890661. Open daily, all year except 10 July and 25 December, 9:00-sunset. The largest man-made body of water in the South East, for walking and cycling, sailing, windsurfing and fishing. Admission £4.00 per vehicle (£5.00 on bank holidays). http://www.bewl.co.uk
- The Hop Farm Country Park, Paddock Wood, tel: +44 1622 872068, e-mail: info@thehopfarm.co.uk. Open from 10:00–17:00, 7 days a week (except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day). Once a working hop farm, it now offers a wide variety of attractions and events. £7.50 for adults, £6.50 for children. http://www.thehopfarm.co.uk/
External links
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