About Tunbridge Wells

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Hamptons offers you a warm welcome to the charming and picturesque town of Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Dating back to 1606, Tunbridge Wells is known for its stunning countryside, rich heritage and is the second oldest Spa Town in the UK. Situated approximately an hour on the train from Central London, this town offers the rare combination of an idyllic lifestyle with the convenience of the city.

HISTORY

Ever since the discovery of the Chalybeate Spring in 1606, Royal Tunbridge Wells has grown in size and popularity due both to its equidistance between London the south coast and for its elegant Pantiles shopping parade, green spaces and stunning Regency architecture.

The natural spring was said to have medicinal properties due to the high iron concentrations within the water, subsequently making it a hot-spot for the gentry and nobility. Famous visitors include Queen Victoria, Margaret, the widow of Viscount Purbeck, Charles II and Queen Henrietta Maria and various members of fashionable society who needed accommodation and wanted places of entertainment.

Featured in The Sunday Times 2019 in its list of best places to live, Tunbridge Wells rated highly based on employment, schools, culture, community spirit and shops.

The Grove is the oldest park in Tunbridge Wells. In 1703 it was given to the towns-people to provide “a shady place or walk” and seclusion from the hustle and bustle of the town. A deed of endowment was drawn up to ensure that the trees in the Grove were protected. To this day The Grove continues to provide a haven of tranquillity for local residents and visitors.

TODAY In 2019 The Sunday Times featured Tunbridge Wells highly in its list of best places to live, the list which considered a range of factors, from employment, schools, broadband, culture, community spirit and shops.

Beyond the town itself, the surrounding area has some of Kent’s most picturesque countryside. Head out and explore part of the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk. The adventurer’s playground of Bewl Water and Ashdown Forest, aka Winnie-thePooh’s Hundred Acre Wood.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to cosy pubs where you can kick back with a pint of local ale, but if craft beer is more your bag, try Fuggles Beer Café. It offers more than 120 different European beers – as well as a gin and whisky selection that’s hard to beat.

For those still undecided about moving here another reason this area has appealed to so many for so long is an abundance of high performing schools, many rated Excellent by Ofsted, stunning public parks, and low local crimes rates. Head into town and take advantage of the abundance of independent shops and restaurants. Culture vultures can feed off the local theatres, live music venues and festivals, more about these within. Did we mention the fabulous housing stock? Contact Hamptons, we’re waiting for your call.

Live close to stunning public parks, enjoy the profusion of high performing schools and town centre’s vast choice of independent shops and restaurants. And let’s not forget live music venues, theatres and festivals.

FAMOUS RESIDENTS

Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area has been a home to rockstars, celebrities, athletes, academics, artists and common or garden members of the upper-crust for generations. Here are a few notable names you may or may not know..

DAME KELLY HOLMES JEFF BECK

Jeff Beck (1944– ), musician Jo Brand (1957– ), comedian David Gower (1957– ), cricketer Sarah Grand (1854–1943), suffragist and “New Woman” writer Dame Kelly Holmes (1970 -) Double Gold medal winning Olympic Athlete and Middle-Distance Runner. Danny La Rue (1927–2009), entertainer Enid Lakeman (1903–1995), political reformer Richard (Beau) Nash (1674–1762), celebrated dandy and leader of fashion Tim Page (1944– ), photojournalist Sir David Lionel Salomons (1851–1925), scientist Sarah Sands (1961– ), journalist Henry Albert Seymour (1861–1938), secularist, anarchist and gramophone pioneer William Temple (1833–1919), recipient of the Victoria Cross Sid Vicious (1957–1979), musician Virginia Wade (1945– ), tennis player Frank Weare (1896–1971), World War I flying ace