8 Great Reasons To Visit, Live & Work In Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is rich in heritage, arts and culture, yet it is also vibrant town with delightful places to eat and drink, shops to explore and lots of exciting events – making it a town that really offers something for everyone.
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Whether you are looking to move to the town, simply want to explore what Tunbridge Wells has to offer on a day or weekend away, or are already a resident, there is much to discover about the past and present of this Kent tourist spot.
1 History: Soak up its rich past
Steeped in history, Royal Tunbridge Wells has the distinction of being one of the few towns in England to be given a royal title. The town itself was born in the 17th century when, looking to improve his health by getting some country air in the local area, King James I’s courtier Dudley Lord North came across the Chalybeate spring. Having seen his health improve following drinking the water, he believed that it had healing properties and convinced his friends to visit and try for themselves – which then saw the area established as a spa retreat.
But it was not until the 1680s that the town really began to form with the construction of The Pantiles and from there it went on, in 1889, to gain the status of being a borough. It was in 1909 that the town was named ‘royal’ by King Edward VII because of his mother Queen Victoria's patronage of the spa.
Alongside the spring, the town is also well known for its crops of sandstone rocks – you can take a stroll at High Rocks, Harrison Rocks, across the town’s common or a little further afield at Eridge Rocks on the edge of town.
2 Entertainment: Arts and Culture
Famous for its cultural offerings, Tunbridge Wells has several venues at which to enjoy music, theatre, art and of course the annual panto!
Located in the heart of the town, the Assembly Hall Theatre is a 1,000-seat, multi-purpose venue offering an exciting and eclectic variety of theatre, music, comedy, family and entertainment. The theatre collaborates with local, national and international organisations, with a vision “to entertain, educate and enrich”.
Just across the road you will find Trinity Theatre – a vibrant cultural hub, with community at its front and centre, offering a varied seasonal programme, inspiring all age groups. It has been established as an arts hub since 1982. Having welcomed 90,000 people through its doors each year, it is best known for theatrical productions, stand-up comedy, live music and cinema. However it has even more to offer, for example its art gallery supports local artists and is used by colleges and art schools alike for their end of year shows.
The Forum, situated next to The Pantiles, has had many a famous face perform on stage as their careers started to take off, such as Oasis, Coldplay and Adele. An independent music venue which opened in 1983, it has the rather unusual history of being a former public toilet. The brainchild of four friends – Michael Oyarzabal, Peter Hoare, Jason Dormon, and Mark Davyd – in 2012, NME voted the venue as Britain's Best Small Venue.
Every summer the popular Live on The Pantiles (formerly Jazz on The Pantiles), offers the opportunity to dine outdoors while listening to live music in an amazing atmosphere. Music fills the air with performances from numerous acts every Thursday. You can either book a table at one of the participating venues and enjoy a delicious meal as you listen to the acts perform, or you can buy a spectator space and get yourself a drink from the pop-up bar. There is also an annual Boules on the Pantiles event, offering businesses the chance to network while enjoying the traditional French game.
3 What’s On: Upcoming events in Tunbridge Wells in 2025...
Pantiles Markets: Running on Saturdays and Sundays enjoy the wares of local traders selling food & drink, jewellery, art, flowers, gifts, fashion and vintage. Visit thepantiles.com
Returning from Monday 5th May, Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival is set to “enthral and engage whether you love books or simply have a curious mind”. Events will be staged at various locations across town (Council Chamber, The Amelia Scott, Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells Forum and Trinity Theatre) with names including Martin Clunes, Shaparak Khorsandi, John Suchet, Louise Minchin and Richard Ayoade.
Live at The Pantiles will take place every Thursday evening from 15th May to 11th September, running from 7pm to 10pm. This annual event filled with a diverse line-up of great live music, has been a staple in the local community, drawing crowds of music enthusiasts from far and wide. Live at The Pantiles: Soul Train will also be taking place periodically through the season, on the 14th June, 26th July and 30th August, while The Pantiles are also partnering with Essence for a Live at The Pantiles: Bollywood evening on 28th June.
The popular Local & Live festival, which saw its early years being homed on The Pantiles is coming back to Calverley Grounds this year. Now a charity, Local & Live’s mission is to help more people discover local, grassroots music as well as their own voices. It takes place over the August Bank Holiday and is a four-day celebration of the best live music and culture.
Enjoy live music featuring Reef and One Night In Nashville, plus the UK’s best tributes and very special guests Big John Bosh! and Barrioke at the Sausage and Cider Festival in Eridge Park, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 19 July, from 2pm to 11pm. There will also be an eating competition, festival market, silent disco, axe throwing, plus of course 30 ciders and 20 sausage flavours. There will also be a children’s stage with character meet and greet, glitter artist, kids disco, drum workshop, circus workshop and bubble fun. There will be a great range of independent outlets, but if sausage isn’t your thing there will be a number of vendors offering other tasty food selections.
Summer in Nashville will be coming to town on 20th July. For more details, visit summerinnashville.com
Tunbridge Wells Food and Drink Festival will this year be held on 27th-28th September in Calverley Grounds For mnore information on this free event, visit facebook.com/TunbridgeWellsFoodandDrinkFestival
4 Moving With The Times: An Evolving Tunbridge Wells
As well as having a rich history, there have been many new developments recently in Tunbridge Wells, most notably the new apartments you pass as you enter the town from the south. Pantiles 1887 is made up of two-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom mews homes ideally located on the edge of the iconic Pantiles just a five-minute walk from the train station.
The former site of the Kent & Sussex Hospital has also been developed, becoming Royal Wells Park, a sought-after neighbourhood at the top of town. And the Knights Wood development on the edge of Tunbridge Wells saw all its homes reserved highlighting the popularity of the town. Work is also underway on the site of the former ABC cinema at the crossroads of the town.
The The Amelia building in the town centre opened in 2022 and houses a range of arts heritage, culture and wellbeing services with the aim becoming recognised as a centre for high quality cultural experiences. It is also the new home for the town’s library. The building is named after social reformer and campaigner for women’s suffrage Amelia Scott, who lived and worked in Tunbridge Wells.
Events at The Amelia include Story Time, which is held every Monday at 11am. These sessions are aimed at three to four-year-olds – listening to stories is a great way to encourage young children to read books. Bounce & Rhyme is held every Tuesday at 10am or 11am and Thursday at 10am, offering a fun and noisy singing session for those aged up to four with their parents/carers.
The Amelia is one of the locations in the town for events taking place during Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival.
5 Days Out: Top Places To Visit In Tunbridge Wells
The town centre is home to a great spot to get some fresh air – Calverley Grounds. There you will find landscaped gardens, a café, playground and sports courts, as well as it being home to the town’s croquet club. It has also been the venue of the annual ice skating rink to celebrate Christmas festivities. And this summer will also once again host Local & Live.
The town’s first public park, Grosvenor Recreation Ground, was opened in 1889. Now called Grosvenor and Hilbert Park, the Green Flag Award-winning venue is home to play areas, a skate park, bowling green, wetland and brass rubbing trail. Historic features include Marnock Lake and dripping wells.
For train enthusiasts, head to the Spa Valley Railway, which runs across the wonderful High Weald Countryside from Tunbridge Wells, through High Rocks and Groombridge and on to Eridge station. With a host of themed days out there is plenty to experience, from afternoon tea or fish and chip suppers to real ale and cider trains or even A Taste of Faulty Towers.
Tunbridge Wells is also home to Royal Victoria Place shopping centre which offers a variety of outlets, as well as cafes. A stroll down to the High Street, through Chapel Place and on to the Pantiles offers even more variety of shopping opportunities. Even more shopping facilities can be found on the edge of town on North Farm Industrial Estate.
On the edge of town is RSPB Broadwater Warren Nature Reserve. Enjoy a walk through the reserve's heathland and woodland, where you might just get to see a variety of wildlife including previously threatened bird species, butterflies and wild ponies.
For those looking for a cultural day out, The Fairfax Gallery on the Pantiles exhibits original contemporary paintings and sculptures from established, award-winning, and emerging artists. Visitors can view original artworks in the spacious listed building, creating a perfect setting to see paintings and sculptures.
Also make a trip to where the town itself began at The Chalybeate Spring which is situated on the Pantiles and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After your visit you can ‘Take the waters’ from a selection of infused or naturally bottled water.
6 Eating Out: Food & Drink In Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells has a wide variety of options when it comes to eating and drinking in the town. There is a relaxed vibe on The Pantiles, where in warmer weather revellers sit out on the walkway enjoying drinks from The Duke of York, The Pantiles Tap or The Sussex Arms, or a bite to eat at La Casa Vecchia, Kirthon or The Grey Lady.
Moving nearer to town up the High Street there is The Ivy, Coco Retro, and Soprano Tapas and Wine Bar. Meanwhile, in the town centre you will find places such as Giggling Squid and Cote. And then heading down Camden Road at the top of town there is Hattusa, The Spice and Kitsu. While further afield there is also the delights of The Mount Edgcumbe and The Beacon.
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7 Landmarks: Places of Significance
With a history going back nearly 450 years, The Parish Church of King Charles the Martyr, which can be found in the town centre of Tunbridge Wells, was designed by Thomas Neale and opened in 1676. It was the first substantial building in Tunbridge Wells, built as a chapel of ease for those visiting The Pantiles.
This Grade I listed building is one of the finest examples of early English Baroque architecture and is noted for its “spectacular ornate ceiling, festooned with fruit, cherubs’ heads and palms, plasterwork of the highest quality”. Other points of interest are the stained glass in the east window which dates from 1901 and shows the Easter scene with the three Marys at the tomb, the 17th-century oak-panelled galleries on three sides of the chapel and the sundial on the south wall of the church.
The Church of England Parish Church for the Broadwater Down area of Tunbridge Wells, St Mark’s is a Grade II listed building built in the 19th Century by Robert Lewis Roumieu. The building has a French Gothic Revival style with a 130ft spire and its stained glass windows were a memorial to the Earl of Abergavenny who instigated the building of the church. The church had a set of chimes and bells installed in the clock tower, funded by public donations in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria which were first used in 1898. Although it has no cemetery, there are cenotaphs and lots of plaques and memorials in the church including WWI and WWII memorials.
Whether you are looking to shop, eat, drink or soak up some of the town’s rich history, The Pantiles is a key draw for tourists and locals alike. With a relaxed vibe and beautiful architecture you can make a visit to the Chalybeate spring and try its water, head there on market day for some local or international wares, or enjoy one of the many events it hosts such as Live on The Pantiles, the Food Festival or celebrate New Year’s Eve in style.
8 Accommodation: Where To Stay In Tunbridge Wells
There are a variety of lovely places to stay in Tunbridge Wells, whether you are looking for overnight accommodation for a holiday, business trip or somewhere for your visitors to spend the night.
The Royal Wells Hotel blends Victorian charm with the contemporary and famously hosted Queen Victoria in her younger years as a princess. Located in the heart of the town, the elegant hotel has recently undergone extensive refurbishment offering the latest facilities without losing its lovely period style.
The Spa Hotel can be found on the edge of town set in 14 acres of picturesque grounds. Originally a country mansion, the historic 4-star venue was built in 1766 and offers contemporary comfort and elegance on a stay in one of its 70 individually-designed bedrooms. Take the chance to relax at the spa or dine in the restaurant on a visit to explore historic Tunbridge Wells.
Set on The Pantiles you will find the beautifully restored Georgian building housing The Tunbridge Wells Hotel. In an ideal location to soak up the culture of the town, it is also a great spot for accessing the town’s other points of interest. You can enjoy a meal in its relaxed informal dining room – The Eating House – open for English and continental breakfasts, light lunches and afternoon tea to romantic formal dining experiences.
A stay at One Warwick Park Hotel in Tunbridge Wells offers the chance to be based in the heart of the town with a choice of 39 beautiful bedrooms at the venue which also has an Art-Deco style bar and stylish restaurant. There is also the option to book a stay in its self-catering townhouse, which is set over three floors offering lots of home comforts. For a bite to eat head to The Brasserie, a warm and inviting restaurant whose menus change with the season using ingredients from local suppliers.
A converted Grade II Listed mansion, Hotel Du Vin is “one of this beautiful spa town’s architectural landmarks”. A stone’s throw from the centre, it makes a great base from which to explore Tunbridge Wells. With 34 timelessly styled bedrooms and suites to choose from, once you have settled in you can enjoy a delicious meal in the calming French-styled Bistro Du Vin, either before or after wandering around the town.
There are also a plethora of other hotels to choose from as well as B&B and Airbnb options throughout the town.
These are just a few ideas for things to see and do in Tunbridge Wells. With so much more to discover, whether it’s a day out or a break away, there is lots to explore in Tunbridge Wells.
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