Nestled in the heart of ‘The Garden of England’, the beautiful Kent town of Royal Tunbridge Wells has so much to offer. Whether it’s the miles of footpaths and cycle trails, stunning castles, local produce, dog friendly country pubs and fantastic transport links that draw you in, this beautiful town truly has something to offer everyone. Voted in 2019 as one of the best Places to Live in the UK. Tunbridge Wells is popular with a real mixed demographic; from young families to retirees and everything in between. Read our guide to living in Royal Tunbridge Wells on to find out exactly why Tunbridge Wells might just be the answer to that burning question, where’s home?
Lifestyle
Due to its picturesque location on the border of East Sussex and Kent High Weald, Tunbridge Wells offers unique and striking scenery with a mix of rolling hills, beautiful buildings and a stunning skyline. The town earns 30% of its income from tourism; tourists primarily coming to visit the iconic Pantiles - a Georgian colonnade now made of up independent shops, artisan bakeries and delicious cafes – but there is also plenty to explore in the surrounding countryside.
Kids would find it hard to be bored here and there’s a huge variety of engaging activities to keep little (and big) minds busy; enjoy interesting, family focussed days completing the Code Breaking Walk or strolling around Groombridge Enchanted Forest. Burn off some energy at Wellgrove Farm Stables or Chimera Climbing Centre or enjoy the arts at Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery.
On that note - Tunbridge Wells is drenched in history, offering plenty for culture buffs to peruse over. No less than 3 historical castles are open to the public (Hever, Scotney and Chiddingstone) and the Spa Valley Steam Railway and Penhurst Palace And Gardens both offer an exciting look at times gone by. Foodies are also very well covered, with a number of 5-star Tripadvisor rated restaurants in the town, including Michelin starred, The Poet at Matfield, top rated Columbian food at Sofias and contemporary European eats at Vittle and Swig.
School
In the state sector, Tunbridge Wells benefits from some of the best state schools in the country. Parents are truly spoiled for choice, with no less than 7 Ofsted ‘outstanding’ primary schools and 4 ‘outstanding’ secondary schools, including Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar. Additionally, Gov.uk advises that all of the mainstream schools in the town perform ‘at or well above’ the national average. However, if you are aiming to utilise the independent sector, you’ll also be well placed here.
The town offers 1 co educational non-religious independent, 3 co-educational Christian schools and 1 all girls Christian school. For those looking at alternative school options, there are Montessori, Steiner and Waldorf options all within a 45-minute drive of the town and a lively home education community in the town and in to the wider county. For pre-school and nursery there are private options attached to the independents, Ofsted ‘outstanding’ state run pre-schools and alternative options including forest school and Montessori pre-schools.
Transportation
Tunbridge Wells really offers the best of both worlds with regards to transport and location. The area borders Sussex and the easily accessible coast there whilst being located in the one of the greenest counties in England with plenty of places to take long rambles and weekend strolls.
But if wider travel is the top of your agenda, you’re still perfectly situated. Bus links in the town are good, with connections into London and over the county border in to East Sussex.
For London commuters, the town is an ideal spot being only a 45-minute train in to London Bridge, with the first train leaving around 5am. For weekend sight-seeing, you could take the A26 and be in Brighton for an ice cream and a bag of chips within an hour.
For those that need to travel internationally, Gatwick is 18 miles away, with the option to take the 40-minute journey by road via the M25 or hop in to London Bridge and take the 20-minute Thameslink journey from there.
Property
The market in Tunbridge Wells is very competitive, fast paced and busy. The rental market in the area is difficult, with a very short supply of properties meaning that what does become available is snapped up quickly.
There are currently only a few 4-bedroom detached properties available in the town on Rightmove, for example and when they are available you can expect to pay over £3,000pm. However, considering all that the town has to offer, the sales market is comparatively reasonable. Large, characterful, detached, family properties with large plots will cost around a million but it’s still very possibly to purchase a large property in need of redecoration for around the £750k mark as long as you’re quick and the area overall offers great value when you consider the transport links, lifestyle and schooling options.
A guide to living in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
As you have probably gathered by now, there isn’t much to dislike about Tunbridge Wells and the town has something to offer most tastes. The surrounding countryside offers great entertainment for outdoorsy types and the town itself has plenty to offer. The housing market is fast paced but fair, schools are fantastic and transport links are ideal. If you’re looking for a commuter town with good schools, great shopping, lovely restaurants and access to a variety of outdoor pursuits and entertainment – you’d be hard pushed to find a better location. If you've enjoyed our guide on living in Royal Tunbridge Wells and it sounds like Tunbridge Wells might just be the place for you, take a look at our Affluent Kent townsstats page or get in contact with us today and let the Whereshome team of experts support you with your move.