Difficult to believe now, but this landlocked place was part of the Cinque Ports, England's medieval system of maritime defence. Dover remains a major port but the others silted up in the Tudor era.
Get in
[edit]
By road from London follow M2 past Maidstone then branch south via Headcorn. From Canterbury or the Channel ports head for Ashford, then follow A28 south to Tenterden; this road eventually leads to Hastings.
Headcorn is the nearest railway station, with trains from London Charing Cross every 30 min. These take 65 min via Waterloo East, London Bridge, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, Marden and Staplehurst. They continue to Ashford, then either to Canterbury West, Minster and Ramsgate, or to Folkestone and Dover (for Channel ferries).
The bus from Headcorn to Tenterden takes 20 min. That's Arriva Bus 12 from Maidstone, running every 30 min M-Sa and hourly on Sunday.
Stagecoach Southeast Bus 2A runs from Ashford (Park Street) every two hours M-Sa, taking an hour via Kingsnorth, Shadoxhurst and Woodchurch.
Bus 2A runs from Ashford four times M-Sa, taking 45 min via Designer Outlet, Great Chart, Bethersden and High Holden.
1 Vine Inn is the main bus stop, corner of High St and Station Rd.
Get around
[edit]Most attractions are within walking distance of the centre.
Taxi firms are St Michael's (+44 1580 762277), Aero Cars (+44 7739 462590) and Tenterden Cars (+44 1233 666777).
See
[edit]
- High Street is broad and lined with Georgian and Victorian buildings, but carrying the A28 it's usually busy with traffic. Tenterden Town Hall at 24 High St is under restoration in 2025: the town council has limited powers as most local government functions are exercised by Ashford Borough Council.
- St Mildred's Church dates back to the 12th century, with the 130-ft tower added in 1461. It remains active Anglican, but the church building is closed for restoration until Aug 2025.
- Tenterden Museum is on Station Rd 50 yards north of Vine Inn. It's open April-Nov M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1-4PM.
- 1 Smallhythe Place, Smallhythe Rd TN30 7NG, ☏ +44 1580 762334. Mar-Nov W-Su 11AM-5PM. Tudor half-timbered house probably built after the village fire of 1514. From 1899 it was the home of Ellen Terry (1847-1928), in her day the leading Shakespearean and comic actress in Britain. After her death, her daughter Edith Craig (herself a director - producer) maintained it as a museum of theatrical memorabilia, and The National Trust has run the property since 1947. Adult £12, child £6, NT free.
- St John the Baptist Church is 100 yards north of Smallhythe Place and probably built about the same time.
- 2 Appledore is a small village that like Tenterden was a "Cinque Port", until 13th storms altered the river course and blocked up the harbour. The Church of St Peter & St Paul was built around then. Appledore is the closest access to the Royal Military Canal, built from 1804 and successfully deterring Napoleon from invading by canal barge.
- 3 Hole Park Gardens, Benenden Rd, Rolvenden TN17 4JA, ☏ +44 1580 241344. Apr-June daily 11AM-6PM, July-Oct W Th 11AM-6PM. Stately parkland and gardens. The mansion is not open to the public: it was built in 1720 but refashioned in pseudo-Elizabethan style in 1837. Adult £12, child £2.50.
- Sissinghurst Castle Garden is 8 miles northwest, see Cranbrook.
- Bodiam Castle is 12 miles west, see Robertsbridge.
Do
[edit]
- Theatre: The Sinden is on Ashford Rd.
- 1 Kent & East Sussex Railway, Station Road, Tenterden, TN30 6HE, ☏ +44 1580 765155. Feb-Oct Sa Su. Re-built section of a standard gauge light railway, opened in 1900 but always making a loss and closing to passengers in 1954 and for freight in 1961. Heritage trains run four times a day from Tenterden via Northiam to Bodiam, for the castle. Adult £32.50, child £15.
- Tenterden Leisure Centre has a sports hall, gym, fitness classes and a pool. It's on Recreation Ground Rd, open daily.
- Golf: Tenterden GC is on B2067 Woodchurch Rd half a mile east of town. White tees 6001 yards, par 70, visitor round £40.
- Skydive at Skydive Headcorn, with tandem jumps available for beginners.
Buy
[edit]- Several independent stores and gift shops along High St.
- Tenterden Market is held in Market Square on High St, Friday 7AM-1PM.
- Tesco is on Smallhythe Rd, open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
- Waitrose is on High St, open M-Sa 7:30AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
Eat
[edit]
- Montalbano is an Italian at 75 High St, open M-Th noon-2:30PM, 6-9PM, F-Su noon-9PM.
- Hoof & Hook is trad British at 43 High St, open Tu-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-5PM.
- The Woolpack serves trad pub grub at 26 High St and has rooms.
- Nutmeg Deli is at 3 Sayers Lane next to Waitrose, open M-Sa 8:30AM-5PM, Su 9:30AM-3:30PM.
- Artisserie is a patisserie at 53 High St, open Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM, Su 10AM-2PM.
Drink
[edit]- Vine Inn at the town crossroads is open daily noon-11PM.
- Old Dairy Taproom is at K&ESR railway station, open Th-Su.
- Gusborne Estate is a vineyard on Kenardington Rd a mile north of Appledore, tours available.
- Biddenden Vineyards make wine and cider, tours available. They're on Gribble Bridge Lane a mile south of Biddenden.
Sleep
[edit]
- White Lion, High St TN30 6BD (opposite Vine Inn), ☏ +44 1580 765077. Quirky old pub but slick and friendly. B&B double £110.
- 1 Print House Inn, 11 West Cross TN30 6JL, ☏ +44 1580 231103. Great reviews for this charming inn. B&B double £150.
- 2 Little Silver Hotel, Ashford Rd, St Michael's TN30 6SP, ☏ +44 1233 850321. Welcoming but some rooms tired and thin-walled, dog-friendly. B&B double £110.
- London Beach Hotel, Ashford Rd, St Michael's TN30 6HX (behind Little Silver), ☏ +44 1580 766279. Efficient spa & golf hotel, dog-friendly. B&B double £110.
Connect
[edit]Tenterden and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Jan 2025, 5G has not reached this area.
Go next
[edit]- In Maidstone the stand-out is Leeds Castle.
- Canterbury is a must-see cathedral town.
- Hastings is a rather run-down seaside resort, Rye is much more attractive.
- London is only an hour away.
| Routes through Tenterden |
| Hastings ← | SW  NE
|
→ Ashford → Canterbury |