Why move to... Tunbridge Wells?

When it comes to the best places to live in Kent – or the happiest – Tunbridge Wells is a top contender. If you’re looking for a prestigious postcode with plenty of history, Wards can help you find your new home in Tunbridge Wells.

Tunbridge Wells

What’s in Tunbridge Wells?

Royal Tunbridge Wells is an attractive up-market town in west Kent that’s thirty miles from central London. Tunbridge Wells gained popularity thanks to its chalybeate spring, which brought the upper-middle classes from far and wide to bathe in the mineral-rich waters. It soon became a spa town and has been a popular tourist destination since the Victorian times, which you’ll see in its local architecture.

What are Tunbridge Wells’ nearest towns?

Tunbridge Wells is a self-contained town in the stunning North Weald area. Its nearest larger towns are Tonbridge and Sevenoaks to the north. Maidstone is to the northeast and Eastbourne on the coast is directly south of Tunbridge Wells.

Surrounding villages and sought-after smaller towns include:

  • Crowborough
  • Pembury
  • Frant
  • Southborough

Transport links from Tunbridge Wells

The town has two stations; Tunbridge Wells station and High Brooms station, and are served by Southeastern Railway. You can be in central London between forty minutes and an hour, depending on the route. Either way, Tunbridge Wells is a great commuter town.

Arriva Kent & Sussex connects Tunbridge Wells with local bus services to Tonbridge, Paddock Wood and Sevenoaks, as well as Bromley and Maidstone. Stagecoach buses connect Tunbridge Wells to Eastbourne and Brighton, with Metrobus providing links to Crawley and Gatwick airport.

Getting around by car means that you’ll rely on the A26 which runs through the town from Newhaven to Maidstone. The nearby A264 connects Tunbridge Wells to Crawley and East Grinstead, whereas the A21 heads towards London.

Eating and drinking in Tunbridge Wells

Casa da Claudia is one of Tunbridge Wells best places to grab a quick coffee and a pastry. It’s also a wonderful venue to stop by for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Come dinner time, Zorba is an authentic Turkish meze grill near the town centre. Guests on TripAdvisor note the friendly atmosphere and fantastic food as well as its delicious cocktails. If you’re looking for a new local pub when you move, be sure to check out The Guinea on Calverley Road. It’s a gastropub and a great place to grab a bite to eat. If that’s not your scene – The Bedford on the hand snubs the gastro vibe and offers craft beers without the fuss.

Things to do in Tunbridge Wells

Scotney Castle and Gardens provide a great day out if you’re after some history and inspiration for landscaping your new garden, as do Calverley Grounds and Dunorlan Park. Tunbridge Wells’ natural geology means that companies like Nuts 4 Climbing and Extreme Ventures provide outdoor rock climbing, as well as indoor facilities. If the great outdoors is too strenuous, then The Pantiles and Royal Victoria Place shopping centre make for great places to indulge in retail therapy. Not to mention the many independent bars and restaurants to explore on a night out.

Tunbridge Wells schools

Ofsted ranks several primary schools in Tunbridge Wells as ‘outstanding’. The best are Speldhurst C of E and St Peter’s C of E. Naturally, this makes them incredibly popular and placements very competitive, so do your research if catchment area will determine where you buy your new home.

Tunbridge Wells has both a girls grammar school. For the boys there is the boys grammar school or The Skinners to choose from. Finally, if you want a mixed comprehensive school then the Bennett Memorial is Tunbridge Wells’ nearest.

House prices in Tunbridge Wells

  • Large detached houses: £500,00-£750,000+
  • Detached houses: £275,000-£500,000
  • Semi-detached: £200,000-£450,000
  • Terraces and cottages: £200,000-£400,000
  • Flats: £120,000-£450,000

Renting in Tunbridge Wells

  • £600-£700pcm for a flat.
  • £750-£1,300pcm for a 2-3 bedroom house.

Best Fish and Chips

Downtown Fish Bar on Little Mount Sion is loved by locals and tourists alike.

Entertainment

Knights Park hosts your nearest Odeon cinema, as well as a bowling alley and a Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing Gym.

Local Supermarkets

When it comes to your weekly shop, expect Waitrose, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s in Tunbridge Wells.

Famous residents

The likes of Sid Vicious from The Sex Pistols and Jo Brand have lived and worked in the area. What’s more, BBC South East’s headquarters are in the town centre, so keep an eye out for various celebrities going about their business.

Blue plaques

Tunbridge Wells is rich with notable historical figures – Queen Victoria at Hotel du Vin, novelists William Makepeace Thackeray and EM Forster, and Air Chief Marshal, Lord Dowding to name a few. You can see the full list here.

What you may not know about Tunbridge Wells…

The Wetherspoons used to be an opera house and shuts for several nights a year to return to its musical roots by putting on performances.

Do you see yourself living here in Tunbridge Wells? Have a chat with our local Tunbridge Wells branch or take a look at current Tunbridge Wells properties.