Tonbridge

United_Kingdom

The Big Bridge on Tonbridge High Street. Tonbridge is a town in West Kent, in South-East England.

Situated on the banks of the river Medway, Tonbridge has been a market town since the Earl of Gloucester was granted the right to hold a weekly market in 1259. A castle was built there in the 11th century by Richard Fitzgilbert, a nobleman in William the Conqueror's invading army, and rebuilt in the 13th century.

The town and its surrounding areas became famous for the production of finely inlaid wooden cabinets, boxes and other objects, which were called "Tunbridgeware".

Tonbridge was spelt "Tunbridge" until 1870, but the spelling of the name was changed in an effort to avoid confusion with nearby Tunbridge Wells, a larger, but considerably newer, town about five miles to the south.

  • Tonbridge Castle.
  • Ightham Mote, Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, TN15 0NT (6 miles north of Tonbridge, +44 1732 810378.

Tonbridge Castle.

Ightham Mote, Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, TN15 0NT (6 miles north of Tonbridge, +44 1732 810378.

  • Hop Farm Country Park, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 6PY, +44 1622 872068. Daily 10AM–5PM, except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Once a working hop farm, it now offers a wide variety of attractions and events. Admission £7.50 for adults, £6.50 for children.
  • Hire a boat and potter about on the Medway
  • Take a walk or go fishing at the lakes in Hayesden Country Park
  • Take a visit to Source of Sound nightclub (abbreviated to 'SOS' or 'Source' by locals) which is a fine establishment and not one bit dodgy.

Hop Farm Country Park, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 6PY, +44 1622 872068. Daily 10AM–5PM, except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Once a working hop farm, it now offers a wide variety of attractions and events. Admission £7.50 for adults, £6.50 for children.

Hire a boat and potter about on the Medway

Take a walk or go fishing at the lakes in Hayesden Country Park

Tonbridge High Street offers the standard blend of chain and grocery stores. Unusually good charity shops.

  • Uskudar, 150-152 High Street, TN9 1BB, +44 1732 351261. Turkish restaurant.

Uskudar, 150-152 High Street, TN9 1BB, +44 1732 351261. Turkish restaurant.

  • The Humphry Bean (on the high street) or the wharf are good places to drink.

The Humphry Bean (on the high street) or the wharf are good places to drink.