Kent Staycation 2019 | Page 14

Town Besides architectural splendour, shopping and a booming social scene, Kentish towns are well known for their quaint, cobbled streets, a side of the county’s character that is nowhere better represented than in Sandwich and Tunbridge Wells. One of the best preserved English medieval towns, the former is an ancient Cinque Port and home to countless historical highlights from listed Tudor buildings to the remains of an ancient wall that once protected it from invasion. Pick up a self-guided trail map from the Guildhall Museum and while away an entire weekend reliving its surprising past. The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells Likewise, and needing little introduction, Tunbridge Wells is an affluent, elegant town that’s repeatedly listed as one of the cheeriest places to live across the entire country. A standalone community in its own right, the royal spa town is accessible via lots of little villages that seem to lead to their mecca; a red-brick haven of Georgian architecture, dreamy countryside, massively successful schools and a modern, urban vibe delivered by the Pantiles – a sanctuary of fine food and café culture, and the ultimate people-watching spot. Maidstone 14