Hotspot

HOTspot Royal Tunbridge Wells

Royal Tunbridge Wells feels a million miles from the city, but is in fact located just 30 miles from the capital. Combining striking scenery with a convenient commute, it is little wonder so many first time buyers are looking to relocate to this picturesque spa town

5 REASONS WE LOVE… TUNBRIDGE WELLS

1. Its majestic title! 2. The historic Pantiles 3. Excellent schools 4. Incredible countryside 5. Fast, reliable transport links

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town of around 56,000 people, located in Kent, the Garden of England, close to the border with East Sussex.

Tunbridge Wells (the town didn’t earn its “Royal” pre x until 1909) owes its existence to Dudley Lord North and his discovery of the Chalybeate Spring. He was returning from his Abergavenny Estate on horseback to London when he noticed the reddish-brown waters of the Spring foaming from the ground. He felt so rejuvenated from drinking the cool, iron-rich water that he declared it to be health-giving. He recommended it to his friends and soon visitors from London and beyond ocked to "take the waters". Since it wasn’t far from Tonbridge (then Tunbridge), it became Tunbridge Wells.

Royal Tunbridge Wells is on the Southeastern railway line from London Charing Cross to Hastings, making it perfect for commuters. Direct services depart at least every half hour reaching London Bridge in 45 minutes, London Waterloo East in 50 minutes and London Charing Cross in under an hour. The line also conveniently serves Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, and offers connecting services to Gatwick airport. The area is well served by buses. By car, Royal Tunbridge Wells is located where the A26 and A21 roads meet, both of which run between London and the south coast, and is easily accessed from the M20 and M25.

Royal Tunbridge Wells has a strong appeal for families as schools in the area are well regarded. It also entices Londoners, attracted by the high quality of life, and security of its close proximity to their former stamping grounds.

Its most prestigious roads are to the south east of town, off the common, where large houses have been converted into apartments offering phenomenal views. However, "The Village", centring around Grove Park and only a few minutes from the high street and station, is the most popular with young professionals. Many families settle in Hawkenbury or, if walking the children to school is a priority, St Johns. High Brooms station is also a reasonable walk from St Johns, meaning it is still easily commutable. Southborough is an affordable option.

OUT AND ABOUT

only a few minutes from the high street and station, is the most popular with young professionals. Many families settle in Hawkenbury or, if walking the children to school is a priority, St One of the biggest draws of Royal Tunbridge Wells is its proximity to the countryside. Wells is its proximity to the countryside. In fact, you don’t even need to leave the In fact, you don’t even need to leave the town to enjoy plentiful green spaces. These town to enjoy plentiful green spaces. These range from wild woodland to beautifully range from wild woodland to beautifully maintained grounds and parks, including the maintained grounds and parks, including the handsomely landscaped 78-acre Dunorlan handsomely landscaped 78-acre Dunorlan Park and the historic Calverley Grounds Park and the historic Calverley Grounds in the town centre. Out of town, the nearby in the town centre. Out of town, the nearby High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is criss-crossed with cycle routes, Beauty is criss-crossed with cycle routes, including The Cuckoo Trail and Forest Way including The Cuckoo Trail and Forest Way which follow regenerated, disused railway which follow regenerated, disused railway lines. Bewl Water, Ashdown Forest (aka lines. Bewl Water, Ashdown Forest (aka AA Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood) and the AA Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood) and the delightful Groombridge Place are local too. delightful Groombridge Place are local too.

Tunbridge Wells is a shopping hotspot, especially the historic quarter. From the especially the historic quarter. From the Victorian feel of the old High Street to the Victorian feel of the old High Street to the famous Georgian Pantiles, shopping here famous Georgian Pantiles, shopping here feels a little more special than your typical feels a little more special than your typical town. There is a delightful range of small, town. There is a delightful range of small, independent shops, many retaining their independent shops, many retaining their original frontages. The old stepped original frontages. The old stepped walkways down to the road walkways down to the road and iron railings also hint and iron railings also hint at times of horse-drawn at times of horse-drawn vehicles, and add to vehicles, and add to the town’s charm. the town’s charm. The Pantiles is The Pantiles is a unique al fresco a unique al fresco area linked to the area linked to the High Street by the High Street by the cobbled Chapel cobbled Chapel Place, and is a Place, and is a tourist destination tourist destination in its own right. in its own right.

Average property price in Tunbridge Wells (June 2021) – £401,580 Property breakdown*

Detached – £779,063

Semi-detached – £430,102

Terraced – £361,306

Flat – £250,775

*According to the Land Registry House Price Index

HOMES ON THE MARKET...

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Holly elds

FROM £580,000

FAMOUS RESIDENTS

• Actress Emma Corrin • Paralympian Will Bailey • Suffragette Amelia Scott • Writer William Nicholson • Podcaster Helen Zaltzman

While the apothecary and shoemakers may be confined to the history books, the Pantiles continues in the tradition of highquality independent specialist shops, family owned businesses and exceptional service. Highlights include The Zero Waste Company and Collared, a shop for dogs and dog lovers.

There is also Royal Victoria Place (RVP); a shopping centre with over 50 top brands under one roof. Out of town, you are spoilt for choice with the usual offerings at a series of retail parks; TK Maxx, Argos, Halfords, B&M and Hobbycraft to name just a few!

After all that shopping, you need some sustenance. Thankfully the town is rich in foodie offerings too. Firm favourites with locals including Juliets, a daytime restaurant offering a fresh seasonal menu that changes daily, and Thackeray’s, set in the 300-year-old former home of author William Makepeace Thackeray. The town and nearby villages boast some outstanding pubs and there are over 90 bars to choose from in Tunbridge Wells, with craft ale and local gin particularly popular. Fuggles Beer Café alone boasts 25 ever-changing draught lines!

The town’s largest theatre, with a capacity of over a thousand, is the Assembly Hall. Nearby is the Trinity Arts Centre, a converted church, and The Forum, a 250-capacity live music venue where many famous bands played their early concerts. Every summer, residents also enjoy the weekly Jazz on the Pantiles concerts with live bands and al fresco dining. A £13m cultural centre – named after Amelia Scott, a notable suffragette from Tunbridge Wells – is in development and will soon house the town’s art gallery, library and museum. Holly elds is just 1.2 miles from the town centre and offers two, three, four and ve bedroom houses with views across the Kentish countryside. Green spaces like Hawkenbury Recreation Ground are adjacent to the development for those who enjoy the outdoors and Hawkenbury village provides the everyday essentials at the village store and post of ce. Royal Tunbridge Wells offers many high street and independent boutiques as well as a plethora of pubs and restaurants. Commuters are well catered for with a private shuttle bus connecting residents to the main station in Tunbridge Wells in just six minutes, running at peak hours Monday to Friday. From there, trains take just 42 minutes to arrive at London Bridge.

holly elds-hawkenbury.co.uk

PADDOCK WOOD

Foal Hurst Green

FROM £255,000

The development comprises three, four and ve bedroom houses as well as a limited number of one and two bedroom apartments and is designed to complement the adjacent 29-acre Foal Hurst Wood next door. In addition, a newly created ve-acre nature reserve that connects to the woodland gives residents a feeling of proximity to country life. A duck pond, bandstand and play areas form the centrepiece of the site. Homes feature open-plan living spaces with high-speci cation kitchens and full-height windows that allow the natural light to ood in. Less than a mile away is Paddock Wood town centre, which offers a range of farm shops, a local butcher and a supermarket, but for more extensive options, Royal Tunbridge Wells is just an 18-minute drive away. There are direct rail services to London Bridge in 41 minutes. Help to Buy is available on selected properties.

foalhurstgreen.co.uk

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Regency Grange

FROM £350 ,000

Regency Grange offers a stylish selection of three, four and ve bedroom homes plus two bedroom apartments and duplexes available with Help to Buy. Surrounded by farmland and woodland, Regency Grange offers high-quality interiors and the duplexes also feature gardens. The high street in the town centre provides all the usual favourites, and the area boasts several sports clubs. There are excellent transport links by rail, road and bus with Tunbridge Wells station offering regular services to London Charing Cross and London Bridge.

countrysideproperties.com/all-developments/kent/regency-grange