ROYAL Tunbridge Wells has been voted one of the top places to live in the UK.
The town in Kent was listed by Garrington Property Finders as the 17th best place to live in the UK.
It scored highly for natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs as well as value for money.
Royal Tunbridge Wells was formerly called Tunbridge Wells and is still commonly known as that today.
The prefix “Royal” was granted to the town in 1909 by King Edward VII; it is one of only three towns in England with the title.
It was awarded the title to celebrate its popularity over the years among members of the royal family.
One popular spot in Royal Tunbridge Wells is The Pantiles walkway. It’s a Georgian colonnade formerly known as ‘The Walks’ and the ‘Parade’.
It’s a popular shopping area for locals and tourists with lots of independent shops, from jewellery boutiques to galleries, pubs and cafes.
The area was developed following the discovery of a Chalybeate spring in 1606.
The fresh, clean mineral-rich spring water contains exceptionally high levels of iron, magnesium, zinc and calcium.
Visitors to Tunbridge Wells can enjoy a glass of water from the ‘dipper’, a person who historically served the water, which was used as a medical remedy.
For any train enthusiasts, Royal Tunbridge Wells is home to Spa Valley Railway.
Throughout the year, steam and heritage trains operate through the town to Eridge.
You can hop onboard the trains that host various themed journeys from murder mystery evenings to fish and chip trains, or the wine train that stops at local vineyards.
Surrounding the town are six vineyards, and Kent is the perfect place to produce wine because a portion of Wealden soil mirrors that of the Champagne region in France.
History buffs can stop in at Scotney Castle. It’s a ruined medieval castle with rolling parks and gardens.
The Natural Trust property sits on its own moated island and welcomes visitors through the grounds and inside too.
Royal Tunbridge Wells is also home to an incredible looking Wetherspoons pub.
It’s found in the Opera House, which was built in 1902, before being converted to a cinema in 1931 and a bingo hall in the 70s.
Inside are lots of its original features from grand chandeliers and booths, as well as the stage.
Guests can even choose tables that are right on the stage, surrounded by the opera boxes. Once a year, it remembers its roots with a live opera show inside.
For anyone wanting to visit Royal Tunbridge Wells, you’ll find it on the Hastings line.
It’s 34 miles down the line from London Charing Cross– which you can get to in one hour.
Plus, another Kent town nicknamed the ‘jewel of the region’ with seven beaches and award-winning pubs.
And from historic Canterbury to cultural Margate, here are Kent’s most appealing towns and attractions.
The Kent Town That Is One Of The UK's Top Destinations To Visit
Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey says she’s not surprised Folkestone is a top destination in the UK…
Folkestone has been named the top destination to visit by Time Out. The Kent town featured on their 15 best places to visit in the UK in 2025 list.
Citing it as a “once under-the-radar” seaside town, it since undergone a huge revamp in recent years.
Time Out said: “In recent years the Kentish town has cemented its rep as a top-tier seaside spot, delightful for its colourful, cobbled Old High Street of indie shops, its ever-growing culinary scene, its balmy, sweeping beach and surrounding areas of natural beauty.”
There are some exciting new changes coming to the seaside town, which as someone who lives there, am excited about. There is the long awaited Leas Lift, one of the UK’s last funicular railways, which is undergoing a huge renovation.
Having closed back in 2017, it hopes to reopen this year and connect tourists from the clifftop to Folkestone Beach.
The Lower Leas Coastal park – one of the largest free adventure parks in the UK – is also laying the groundwork for a huge renovation.
And returning this year is the Folkestone Triennial for the first time since 2021. The three-month event, running from July 19 to October 19, will see international artists create new structures and artwork to the town.
