Since moving from Dublin to Tunbridge Wells in 2007, I have grown to love the place I live in and count my lucky stars that I am bringing up my family in such a beautiful part of the UK. Here are five reasons why I think Tunbridge Wells is such a terrific place to live in:
1. The Pantiles
For me, The Pantiles is the heart of the town. It was one of the first places I visited when we were thinking about moving here and it’s somewhere I always take my friends and family to when they come to stay.
There is a distinctly European feel to The Pantiles and there’s no better place to be when the sun is shining, than relaxing on the terrace of one of the cheerful cafes, glass of Prosecco (!!) in hand, catching up with friends.
For a decadent evening, Sankey’s Champagne & Seafood Bar is a real treat along with newly opened Indian restaurant, Essence by Atul Kochhar. As a couple, we used to wander down to The Pantiles from our little flat for a drink or a meal in many of the places there – the Ragged Trousers is one of our favourites for its chilled out atmosphere, and it is always welcoming, whether you visit with or without the kids.
A visit to Trevor Mottram is essential for any first-time visit too. It’s a treasure trove with everything anyone could need for their kitchen. Whenever I take friends or family there, they almost always leave with something to remind them of their visit to Royal Tunbridge Wells!
2. The Cafe Culture
There are some real gems spread across the town, whether you have a free afternoon, need somewhere with wi-fi to work or are venturing into town with the kids.
Juliets is hands-down my favourite café when I am dining without the children. With its mismatched china, delicious selection of wholesome food and cakes and a distinctly vintage vibe, Juliets ticks all of the boxes for me. I had a lunch with my sister-in-laws there and had an important ‘wedding planning session’ with my bridesmaid where she treated us to a couple of much needed raspberry bellinis!
Sometimes I like to work remotely and find Fenwick Café really good for this. There’s plenty of space, a steady stream of customers (but not overly busy) and good wi-fi there. Other favourites include St Kilda (on Camden Road) for its flat whites and Basil Café for its amazing cakes and super selection of salads.
3. Parks & Walks
Tunbridge Wells has such a great choice of parks, many of which have playgrounds and cafes. We often visit Dunorlan Park, which is relaxing as it’s a ‘shortish’ walk with plenty to keep us all occupied. Harry learned how to use his scooter there, though there were a few near misses with the lake! In summer, you can hire a boat and enjoy the natural playground, though it does get a bit muddy in winter! The café there isn’t particularly fancy but it’s really good value and has a pretty view over the park.
Calverley Grounds in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells is the perfect place to visit on a sunny afternoon. There’s a great adventure playground there – bring a change of clothes for the summer when they turn the water feature on! The Tunbridge Wells Ice Rink is a must-do activity here in Winter – there are special toddler sessions in the mornings which I have really enjoyed taking my kids to in the lead up to Christmas.
Grosvenor & Hilbert Park has some fantastic facilities including a new playground, cafe (The Hub) and a skate park for the older kids. They host regular events there too, many of which are free and there is free parking around there too, which is always a bonus in my opinion.
On a Sunday, we often like going on a family walk – Birchen Wood is immersed in woodland and an interesting place to go in both Summer and Winter as the path is pretty smooth. The Ashdown Forest is just a short drive away and I think it’s fantastic to have the heart of Winnie-the-Pooh land almost on our doorstep. Last year we visited Pooh Corner Shop and Tearooms (where A.A Milne used to visit as a child) before going on a stroll to find Pooh Sticks Bridge. It’s somewhere I know we will visit over the years and take family to when they come to stay.
4. Country Houses and Estates
Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas have an abundance of beautiful country estates and houses. It’s so difficult to choose which ones I like the best!
We have a season ticket for Penshurst Place and spend lots of time there, especially during the warmer seasons. The adventure playground there is awesome and when the weather is good, we visit at least once a week. They also have a toddler friendly woodland trail and a maze maize in summer which normally follows a different theme each year. The kids like feeding the chickens while there and during school holidays there are often craft-related events taking place which are definitely worth going to as well.
Hever Castle is an absolute favourite too – known for being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, it is steeped in history and has so many things for visitors to do – including a tour of the castle (has to be done!), a trip to the adventure playground, a splash-about in the water maize or getting lost in the yew maize – been there, done that! There is a packed schedule of activities taking place at Hever Castle throughout the year – I have really fond memories of visiting Hever at both Christmas and Easter and it’s something we will do for many years to come.
There are a huge number of National Trust properties nearby and some personal favourites include Scotney Castle, Ightham Mote, Chartwell, Emmett’s Garden, Bodiam Castle and Knole. They are so beautifully maintained and full of history and they do often host activities for families in the holidays.
5. Family-friendly activities
Now where do I start with this? I think Tunbridge Wells and the sunny South-East has an amazing amount of activities to keep a growing family entertained. Not only is there an excellent choice of parks and playgrounds, there are super sports facilities and lots of free family events at places including The Amelia Scott, Grosvenor & Hilbert Park and Royal Victoria Place.
Family days out which we have loved include a Day out with Thomas on the Spa Valley Railway, Diggerland near Maidstone, Aspens, Wilderness Woods, the Gruffalo trail at Bedgebury, Bewl Water and a trip to Godstone Farm. Slightly further afield, we have Port Lympne, Drusillas and the Rare Breeds Centre to name a few.
Family days out to Brighton and other coastal towns including Hastings and Margate are easily done and if you fancy a country pub lunch, there are plenty of pubs with play areas too. One of our favourites is The Vineyard in Lamberhurst where they have an outdoor bar and grill and seating in the summer and an enclosed play area for the kids.
There are some good indoor options as well including Odeon Tunbridge Wells and of course Hollywood Bowl. We also visit Minor Mania and Langton Pavilion Cafe regularly, which has been life-savers on cold and rainy days!
Your local guide
Clare Lush Mansell
Founder & Editor
Meet Clare Lush-Mansell, the creative force behind My Tunbridge Wells. Having spent a decade working in PR and communications, Clare founded My Tunbridge Wells in 2015. Clare enjoys sharing her experiences & local life exploring the beauty of Tunbridge Wells and beyond while she navigates parenting three children!
A globetrotter at heart, Clare grew up in Ireland and lived in Australia and Russia before settling in sunny Kent. These experiences have infused her passion for travel, and she also loves meeting new people, singing and her cats.
© Portrait image by Mollie Manning
