Tunbridge  Wells: Kent’s top-rated place to live steeped in history

Tunbridge Wells, a popular Kent town in the district of Sevenoaks just 30 miles from south east London, was ranked as the number one location to live by Muddy Stilettos for 2024.

The town, with its historic architecture and local attractions, was rated as the top spot on account of its location near Kent’s scenic views, otherwise known as the Garden of England, and its “best of both worlds” commuter lifestyle.

The town, with its historic architecture and local attractions, was rated as the top spot on account of its location near Kent’s scenic views. (Image: Visit Tunbridge Wells) Tunbridge Wells is just a 45-minute train ride from London Bridge, offering would-be commuters a scenic location to live whilst still being within easy reach of the city for work.

According to RightMove, houses in Tunbridge Wells had an overall average price of £541,244 over the last year, with flats making up the majority of sales selling for an average of £295,262.

Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £561,473, with terraced properties fetching £434,466.

In the last year the cheapest one-bedroom house was sold in Tunbridge Wells for £271,500, whilst the cheapest price for a two-bedroom house was revealed to be £220,000 and the cheapest price for a three-bedroom house was £280,000.

Tunbridge Wells offers commuters a scenic location to live whilst still being within easy reach of the city for work. (Image: Visit Tunbridge Wells) The town was first established as a spa town in 1606, after a medicinal spring that contained chalybeate water was discovered, and from there the town soon became a popular spa destination for people looking for a countryside retreat.

Today the town keeps its links to rejuvenation and health, with many wellness, yoga and fitness studios vying for your attention.

The town also boats four schools that received an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, with a further 20 schools rated as good, among those rated Outstanding was St Peter’s Church of England Primary School and Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School.

The town was first established as a spa town in 1606, and soon became a popular spa destination for people looking for a countryside retreat. (Image: Visit Tunbridge Wells) For places to eat, the town is full of popular local restaurants, with 23 named winners in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2024, including Sofia’s Columbian Kitchen and LagodiComo Bar & Restaurant, that both hold 5-star ratings on TripAdvisor.

Within the town you can find many historic attractions such as the historic Spa Valley Railway that is situated opposite Sainsbury's.

Here visitors can ride aboard vintage carriages dating back to the 1940s for a train ride through the Spa Valley landscape, before finishing with an exploration around the museum, containing historic engines and artefacts from the railway's 180-year-long history.

Visitors can ride aboard vintage carriages dating back to the 1940s for a train ride through the Spa Valley landscape. (Image: Spa Valley Railway) The area also has its fair share of greenspaces, with six that have received highly coveted Green Flags including Dunorlan Park, Calverley Grounds, and Grosvenor and Hilbert Park.

But if you fancy travelling further afield, Tunbridge Wells is situated within driving distance of some of Kent’s most stunning walking spots, from Bedbury Forest - known for its scenic walks and cycling paths, and hosting a popular Christmas light trail running from November - to Ashdown Forest with plenty of woodland trails to explore.

Tunbridge Wells is also situated within a short distance of National Trust properties like Scotney Castle and Gardens. (Image: Visit Tunbridge Wells) Aside from country walks, Tunbridge Wells is also situated within a short distance of many local National Trust properties, from Scotney Castle and Gardens where you can see the remains of an 12th century castle, to Knole in Sevenoaks which is the UK’s largest medieval deer park dating back to the 15th century.