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13 brilliant things to do in Royal Tunbridge Wells

From cosy pubs to country walks, this the best way to spend a day in Royal Tunbridge Wells

Joe Minihane
Written by
Sarah Gibbons
&
Joe Minihane
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Tunbridge Wells became a much-loved spa town during the Restoration period in the late 17th century, thanks to the discovery of a chalybeate springs. While the boom in sea bathing 100 years later saw its popularity wane a little, it still attracted aristocratic visitors – including Queen Victoria among them. It secured ‘Royal’ status in 1909. Found within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, its beautiful centre and the idyllic countryside close by make it a firm favourite among day-trippers and those keen on a weekend away from the bustle of the city. Here are the best things to do in Royal Tunbridge Wells right now.

RECOMMENDED: Visit nearby Whitstable, Canterbury or Margate

Best things to do in Royal Tunbridge Wells

First up

First up

Walk along The Pantiles, the historic heart of Tunbridge Wells. There’s no better way to soak up the grandeur of the town’s Georgian heyday than exploring these colonnaded walkways, lined with boutique shops and cute bars and cafés.

Soak up the vibes

Soak up the vibes

Go for a stroll around the elegant, 78-acre Dunorlan Park, landscaped in the 1860s by Robert Marnock, a prominent Victorian gardener. If the sun is shining, row or pedalo around the boating lake, before taking in the countryside vistas from its grassy slopes with a picnic.

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Stop for lunch
Mark Gray

Stop for lunch

If cake is calling, make a beeline for vintage-themed Juliet’s Café on the High Street – it has the most drool-worthy selection around, as well as plenty of vibrant salads and hearty sandwiches. Feeling fancy? Check out RendezVous, a classic French brasserie that uses the best local ingredients. The Ivy also has an outpost here.

Go on an adventure

Go on an adventure

Tunbridge Wells is surrounded by 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-the-Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood, are both nearby too. The nearby High Weald AONB is criss-crossed with cycle routes, including The Cuckoo Trail and Forest Way, both following regenerated, disused railway lines.

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Drink like a local

Drink like a local

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to cosy pubs where you can kick back with a pint of local ale. Our top pick is The Guinea for a truly old-school experience. If craft beer is more your bag, try Fuggles Beer Café. It offers more than 120 European beers – as well as a gin and whisky selection that’s hard to beat.

If you only do one thing

If you only do one thing

Explore Scotney Castle, a short drive away. It’s as fairytale-esque as they come, with a turreted Elizabethan manor house and crumbling fourteenth-century moated castle, enveloped in wisteria and roses. It’s also full of secrets and stories: you can spot the ‘priest hole’ where a Catholic priest hid from persecution for seven years during the late 1500s.

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And if you stay the night, wake up here

Holidaymakers may not head to Tunbridge Wells to ‘take the waters’ these days, but if it’s peace and relaxation you’re after you’ll find it at The Spa Hotel. At this eighteenth-century country mansion, a short walk from The Pantiles, you can find bright rooms, high ceilings and plush interiors, plus 14 acres of verdant grounds and a secluded lake where you can really get away from it all. Grab a deckchair and get stuck into a book or head to the spa for a steam or sauna, before enjoying a sundowner and a pizza from the outdoor oven on the terrace. From £80 a night. 

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