Ashford (England)
Discover Ashford (England)
Ashford is a town in Kent on the River Great Stour at the southern or scarp edge of the North Downs in the South East of England. In 2021, it was home to 83,000 people. It is thought that Ashford originates from a settlement that was established around 893AD, which became large enough to have a mention in the doomsday book, listed with a church and two mills under the name "Essetesford" in 1086. Ashford was designated a market town in 1243, and by 1600 had risen to become an important market town, primarily for livestock.
What to Experience in Ashford (England)
Taste of Ashford (England)...
Ashford is well served by many different restaurants. A short walk around the town centre will find most varieties of cuisine. Further out of town, pubs offer good food though many have gone the gastro-pub way with prices to match. Wye also has some good restaurants. Locally produced Biddenden wine and cider are high quality. The cider at 8% ABV is only sold by the half-pint in some pubs. There is no shortage of good pubs and bars although the best tend to be in the villages around the town. 51.149030.875211 The County Hotel, 10 High St, TN24 8TD, ☏ +44 1233 646891. A large Wetherspoons pub serving food and drink busy from Thursday to Saturday. 51.138740.875812 Riverside Inn, Torrington Road (opposite the Designer Outlet, off Asda roundabout then right into Beaver Road and then 2nd right again into Torrington Road), ☏ +44 1233 633404. Daily: food served M-Sa noon-9PM, Su 2-6PM. A 5-minute walk from the International Station this country-feel family pub has a reputation for homecooked food with daily specials and an extensive menu. Two beer gardens. Tuesday Steak Night and Wednesday Mexican Night. 51.137410.899813 William Harvey Inn, Church Rd, Willesborough, Ashford TN24 0JG (from Ashford town centre travel out along the A292, Hythe Road towards Hythe, with the Willesborough Windmill on your left turn right at the traffic lights in to Church Road), ☏ +44 1233 624287. A 350-year-old traditional pub 51.167430.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe main roads into Ashford are the M20, which runs from the M25 via Maidstone and on to Folkestone, and the A2070, which connects Ashford with Hastings in the south and the A28 to Canterbury in the north. Eurostar high-speed trains running from Paris (Gare du Nord), Lille (Europe), Calais (Fréthun) and Brussels (Zuid-Midi) stop at Ashford International. Passengers travelling by Eurostar to the UK from Paris (Gare du Nord), Lille (Europe), Calais (Fréthun) and Brussels (Zuid-Midi) stations undergo UK passport/identity card checks in France/Belgium before boarding, rather than on arrival in the UK. The UK passport checks take place after the French/Belgian passport/identity card exit checks at the stations. However, UK customs checks take place on arrival in the UK....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
A hire car is a good investment to explore the surrounding country. For example Canterbury is a few pleasant miles away and the "Park and Ride "bus service to the center of Canterbury is tremendous and saves many hassles parking. 51.16060.87341 Cineworld Cinemas, Eureka Leisure Park (near Junction 9 of the M20 motorway). 12-screen multiplex cinema. You can also find many restaurants here and a hotel. Short-term parking in Sainsbury's car park, on the other side of the motorway, is possible. 51.170060.969832 Devil's Kneading Trough. A beautiful area on the North Downs and North Downs Way. It claims to have the best view in Kent, overlooking Ashford District. You can see as far as Beachy Head in Sussex. There is also an easy 1.5km walk to Wye Crown. (updated Jun 2020) 51.181270.962313 Wye Crown. The crown is best viewed from a distance, however it is a good walk and is on the North Downs Way. The view over Kent is stunning.
Money & Budget
Ashford is a hotspot in the southeast for shopping. Ashford is well served by many different restaurants. A short walk around the town centre will find most varieties of cuisine. Further out of town, pubs offer good food though many have gone the gastro-pub way with prices to match. Wye also has some good restaurants. Locally produced Biddenden wine and cider are high quality. The cider at 8% ABV is only sold by the half-pint in some pubs. There is no shortage of good pubs and bars although the best tend to be in the villages around the town. 51.149030.875211 The County Hotel, 10 High St, TN24 8TD, ☏ +44 1233 646891. A large Wetherspoons pub serving food and drink busy from Thursday to Saturday. 51.138740.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Ashford (England)
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime
green trees beside gray concrete road during daytime