Bidborough

Funeral Directors Welham Jones Finalists in London & South East Category of The National Family Business of the Year Awards 2025

A Snapshot of Bidborough

Bidborough. Small ridge-top parish just north-west of Royal Tunbridge Wells. Census 2021: about 914 residents [1] spread over 0.64 km². That’s busy for open countryside yet quiet compared with the towns either side. Quick facts you actually need:

B2176 runs straight through.
A21 trunk road five minutes away.
High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so green space stays green.

Enough scene-setting. Let’s get into the bits people ask about.

Where is Bidborough

People pick Bidborough for the balance. High ground keeps it clear of flood alerts; the B2176 delivers a straight run to work, school, or shops in bigger towns.

Living here means:

Commute flexibility. Tonbridge rail station is five minutes by car. High Brooms and Tunbridge Wells only slightly farther.
Noise levels. Traffic passes, but birds still win the sound battle most days.
House prices. Generally lower than Tunbridge Wells, higher than more remote Wealden villages. That middle spot attracts families who want countryside without losing modern services.

Mistake some newcomers make: assuming “village” equals zero rush-hour queues. The ridge road backs up near Vauxhall Lane on school mornings. Plan extra time. [source]

Getting Around Bidborough b Road, Bus, and Rail

Good transport is half the reason the village thrives. Quick run-down first, then details.

By car

Leave the A21 at the Tonbridge/Pembury interchange and follow signs to Southborough; the route climbs the ridge into Bidborough. Normal traffic: ten minutes. Heavy Saturday shopping? Add five minutes [2].

Winter tip: ignore sat-nav shortcuts down single-track lanes. They ice early and lack passing bays.

By bus

Most locals rely on two weekday services. Nothing fancy, but dependable when timetables are checked.

Route	Main stops in village	Mon–Fri	Weekend	Notes
Autocar 230 [3]	The Kentish Hare, Bidborough Corner	Early morning to early evening	No Sunday run	Holiday timetables shrink—double-check PDFs.
Metrobus 233 [4]	Bidborough Corner, Bidborough Stores	Hourly	Runs Sat, no Sun	Miss the last return and you walk from Southborough.

An eccentric extra: Go-Coach TW4 [5] on Tuesdays and Thursdays for Westerham market.

By rail

No station in the parish, so pick your best fit [2].

Tonbridge: fastest London trains, biggest car park.
High Brooms: cheaper parking, still London line.
Tunbridge Wells: handy if you need shops, hospital, or appointments the same day. 230 bus stops nearby. Leigh station shows as “close” on maps. Reality: nearly an hour on foot across fields. Most residents never use it.

More help?

Bidborough’s Daily Life: Shops, Services, and Meeting Spots

A short preamble: Bidborough runs on a handful of core amenities. Lose one and everyone feels it, so locals support them hard.

Bidborough Stores. Doors open 07:00, shut 18:00 (13:00 Sundays). Stocks local milk, bread from Rusbridge, and Mr Masrani’s homemade curries. Not fancy, just vital [6].
Village Garage (99 Bidborough Ridge, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0XB). MOTs, tyre swaps, basic repairs. Small workshop, book ahead [7].
Bidborough Village Hall. Heart of club life. Nursery mornings; badminton Monday nights; drama society Thursdays. Room hire is £12 an hour—chairs included, but bring your own mugs for tea urn [8] [9].
Arthur Nicholson Recreation Ground. Cricket square, three tennis courts, bowls, pirate-ship play kit. Good overflow parking after 18:00 [10] [11].
The Kentish Hare. Michelin-listed pub. Bar pies start at £14, mains nearer £30. Book Friday nights or be ready to perch at the bar [12] [13].

Common slip-up: parking on the blind crest outside the pub. Safer to use the lay-by 40 m east or the rec-ground car park.

Schools and Early Years in Bidborough

Families stay because the education ladder is solid.

A quick lead-in: one primary inside the village, grammar choices close by, nurseries within a mile.

Bidborough C of E Primary [14] [15] [16]
- One-form entry, 205 pupils.
- Ofsted “Good.”
- 77 percent hit expected reading-writing-maths in 2024.
- Oversubscribed, so check catchment and apply on time.
Village Hall Nursery [17] [18] [19]
- 09:00–15:00, term-time.
- Uses hall garden for outdoor play.

Need wrap-around hours? Southborough has two Bright Horizons sites; Tonbridge offers Adventure Club.

Analogy: think of placing a child here like booking a holiday cottage, best choices go eleven months out.

Things to do in Bidborough

Bidborough won’t drown you in attractions, but what’s here is well-used.

First, in-village picks:

St Lawrence Church: Norman porch, registers from 1593. Open most afternoons for reflection [20] [21].
NGS open gardens: Six private plots fling their gates open one weekend each June. Buy the map at Boundes End; take cash because the card reader often cuts out [22].

Clubs, Societies, and Community Activities:

Bidborough boasts a remarkably active community, with a wide variety of local clubs and societies catering to diverse interests. Many of these groups utilise the Bidborough Village Hall as their meeting place. The list of active groups includes:

Bidborough Dramatic Society [23]
Bidborough Gardening Association
Women’s Institute (W.I.)
Badminton Club
Sports clubs: Bidborough Bowls Club, Bidborough Cricket Club [24], Bidborough Tennis Club [25], Bidborough Stoolball Club [26]
Youth groups: Brownies, Rainbows
Community groups: St Lawrence & St Peter’s CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) Lunches, St Lawrence Tots and Co, Birch Wood Association, Friends of Bidborough Play Park.25 The sheer number and variety of these clubs and societies point to a highly engaged community with a strong sense of civic participation.

Walks: Footpaths radiate into the High Weald. A two-hour loop can take you through Penshurst parkland, then back via the ridge.

Nearby extras: Penshurst Place (2.4 miles), Tonbridge Castle events, Tallow in Southborough for another Michelin plate.

Supporting Bidborough Families: How Welham Jones Can Help

Welham Jones is an independent, family-run funeral director with a long-standing history of serving communities across West Kent. From our branch in Tunbridge Wells, we extend our compassionate, professional, and understanding funeral services to families in Bidborough and the surrounding areas.

Welham Jones Funerals & Memorials is about 20 minutes away at 39 Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells.

What we bring:

24/7 first-call team.
Options from simple direct cremation to full church service.
Eco-friendly coffins, cardboard, bamboo, wicker, wool.
Staff who already know St Lawrence Church schedules, parking quirks, local florists.

Comprehensive Funeral Services Offered by Welham Jones:

We provide a comprehensive range of funeral services, ensuring that families in Bidborough can make choices that are right for them and their loved ones. Each service is delivered with care and professionalism:

Funeral packages & prices: Welham Jones offers a variety of funeral packages to suit different needs and budgets, from straightforward options like the Purely Cremation or Direct Package, to more comprehensive arrangements such as the Classic Package, and fully personalised Bespoke services. Transparency in costs is a key principle, with clear details on what each package includes.

Pre-paid funeral plans: These plans allow individuals to arrange and pay for their funeral in advance. This fixes the cost of the funeral director’s services at today’s prices and provides peace of mind for family members by easing future emotional and financial burdens. The funeral plans are provided through Ecclesiastical Planning Services and offer flexible payment options.

Coffins & caskets: A wide selection of coffins and caskets are available. This includes our ‘Green Collection’ made from environmentally friendly materials like cardboard, bamboo, wicker, and wool. Personalised designs, traditional solid wood coffins, and various veneer options are also offered, with an emphasis on sourcing sustainable materials where possible. This detailed range offers more specific choices than often seen.

Care after death: The deceased is treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Services include washing, embalming (if chosen as part of a package or requested), and dressing in their own clothes or a gown provided. Viewings can be arranged at the chapel of rest, or we can help facilitate the deceased resting at home or church, always respecting family faith and customs.

Repatriation: We have extensive experience in arranging the repatriation of a loved one to or from the UK. We manage all necessary documentation and liaise with relevant authorities, both domestically and internationally, to ensure a smooth process.

Items of remembrance: To help Bidborough families create a unique and personal funeral service, a variety of remembrance items are offered. These can include Avant-garde coffins with personalised images, service flags or medals, symbolic mementos placed with the loved one, and a range of floral tributes such as wreaths, posies, and sprays. Options for professional photography or videography of the service can also be arranged.

Memorials & after-funeral arrangements: After the funeral, support continues with guidance on the interment of ashes and a selection of memorials. This includes various urns and caskets for ashes, as well as headstones, plaques, and kerb surrounds suitable for cemeteries or crematorium gardens of remembrance.

Obituaries: Welham Jones provides a dedicated section on our website for funeral notices, obituaries, and tributes. This allows families to share service details and create a lasting online space to honour their loved ones.

Directions in plain English

Sometimes GPS overcomplicates. Text directions help.

Driving from Bidborough (TN3 0XD) to our Funeral Home in Tunbridge Wells

Start on Gate Farm Road and head south, easing only a few metres to meet Bidborough Ridge (the B2176). Turn left onto the ridge and stay with it for roughly four-fifths of a mile. At the T-junction with London Road (A26) swing right, this is the main route into Tunbridge Wells, then follow the A26 for about 2½ miles.

As you reach the common, a small roundabout appears: take the first exit to stay on the A26, now called Mount Ephraim. Continue downhill for just under half a mile. When you see the green of Tunbridge Wells Common fall away, turn left at the lights into Church Road (A264). Keep along Church Road for another 400 yards; Crescent Road is the first right. Welham Jones Funerals & Memorials sits a short way down on the left at number .

Bus

Board Autocar 230 or Metrobus 233 at The Kentish Hare or Bidborough Corner.
Get off at Tunbridge Wells War Memorial.
Walk downhill on Mount Pleasant, left on Church Road, right on Crescent Road. Five-minute walk.

FAQs

Short questions, short answers.

Is Welham Jones set up for Bidborough families?

Yes. Staff know the village and St Lawrence Church, and the branch is ten minutes away.

Do they offer green funerals?

Yes, with cardboard, wicker, bamboo, or wool coffins.

Can I reach them at night?

Phone line is live 24/7.

What’s the main transport snag?

No Sunday buses. Arrange a lift or taxi.

Final takeaway

Bidborough keeps life straightforward: one shop, one standout pub, a “Good” primary, and swift links to bigger towns. Respect the bus timetables, plan school places early, and look after the few amenities that hold the community together. That’s really all there is to living here, and, when the hard times arrive, knowing a family-run funeral team is just down the road takes one worry off the list.

References

[1] Bidborough Parish Council website https://www.bidboroughpc.org.uk/

[2] Bidborough Area Guide | Kings Estates, accessed on June 5, 2025, https://www.kings-estates.co.uk/about/area-guides/area-guide-bidborough/

[3] Bus 230 – Schedule and route, accessed on June 5, 2025, https://en.busti.me/royal-tunbridge-wells/bus-230/

[4] 233 – Edenbridge – Tunbridge Wells – Metrobus, accessed on June 5, 2025, https://www.metrobus.co.uk/services/MB/233

[5] TW4 – Go Coach, accessed on June 5, 2025, https://www.go-coach.co.uk/bus-routes/tw4/

[6] Bidborough Stores (14 Bidborough Ridge, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0XD), Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/3XQyDnYakHAMutrB6

[7] Bidborough Garage (99 Bidborough Ridge, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0XB), Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/4SPnU14BbKeQ1VFCA

[8] Bidborough Village Hall website https://bidboroughvillagehall.com/

[9] Bidborough Village Hall (Bidborough Ridge, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0XD), Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/CMMx2pA2Y9uxBko97

[10] Arthur Nicholson Recreation Ground, Bidborough Parish Council website, https://www.bidboroughpc.org.uk/Arthur_Nicholson_Recreation_Ground_34778.aspx

[11] Arthur Nicholson Recreation Ground (Arthur Nicholson Recreation Ground, Spring Ln,, Spring Ln, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0UE), Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/fdVVKAHTSGJZMaw87

[12] The Kentish Hare website https://www.thekentishhare.com/

[13] The Kentish Hare (95 Bidborough Ridge, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0XB), Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/wTTCsTM19ZRTvxbd9

[14] Bidborough Primary School, Tunbridge Wells – The Good Schools Guide, accessed on June 5, 2025, https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/uk-schools/profile/bidborough-church-of-england-voluntary-controlled-primary-school

[15] Bidborough Church of England Primary School – Home, accessed on June 5, 2025, https://www.bidborough.kent.sch.uk/

[16] Bidborough Church of England Primary School (Spring Ln, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0UE), Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/E95BWvhWVDHiaBQ77

[17] Bidborough Village Nursery School – NHS, accessed on June 5, 2025, https://www.nhs.uk/services/service-directory/bidborough-village-nursery-school/N10894700

[18] Find Childcare in Bidborough | 854 Reviews – Day Nursery, accessed on June 5, 2025, https://www.daynurseries.co.uk/day_nursery_search_results.cfm/searchtown/Bidborough

[19] Bidborough Village Nursery School (Bidborough Village Hall, Bidborough Ridge, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0XD), Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/5oMNNr1hzSmKGnHB7

[20] St Lawrence Church, via the Church Near You website, https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16957/

[21] Saint Lawrence Church Bidborough (5 High St, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0UJ), Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/hNMCC8Ya6wQ44tGJA

[22] Bidborough Gardens – Tunbridge Wells | NGS Gardens, accessed on June 5, 2025, https://ngs.org.uk/gardens/bidborough-gardens-tn4/

[23] Bidborough Dramatic Society website https://bidboroughdrama.org/

[24] Bidborough Cricket Club (Arthur Nicholson Recreation Ground, Spring Ln,, Spring Ln, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0UE), Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/fdVVKAHTSGJZMaw87

[25] Bidborough Tennis Club, https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BidboroughTennisClub

[26] Bidborough Stoolball Club, https://www.stoolball.org.uk/clubs/bidborough