Located in between Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge is a historic market town in Kent, 29 miles south east of London and is situated in the Tonbridge and Malling District. The town was first recorded in the Domesday Book 1087 as Tonebrige, and was not until 1870 that the name was changed by the GPO because of the confusion with nearby Tunbridge Wells. At the heart of the town is its very own 11th century castle, Tonbridge Castle on the banks of the River Medway.
Most of your shopping will be done on the High Street, where you will find a mixture of well known high street retail brands and local independent stores.
There is a mixture of cafes, pubs and restaurants in Tonbridge, all looking for your business. So where should you try. Here are a selection of local places to eat. If you just want a cup of coffee, pot of tea or some lunch, you can’t go wrong with The Bakehouse, an artisan bakery, coffee house and tea room located on the High Street. At The Bakehouse, it is all about creating simple baked foods with great flavour.
If you are looking for a pub lunch, then you have to try the beautiful, privately owned, Kentish pub, The Grey Hound. They offer the feel of a traditional pub but with great food, as well as local beers. All ingredients are sourced locally from the owners own farm. How many pubs, even restaurants can say they do that?
Should you be looking for Asian cuisine, Tonbridge has you covered. Firstly, there is the award winning Gurkha Planet,  run by Michelin star trained chefs, offering homemade Nepalese styled food using authentic ingredients. Secondly, you have another Gurkha and Nepalese restaurant, the Kathmandu Valley. This fine dining restaurant is owned and run by a Nepalese family, whose aim is to bring the wonderful food of the Katmandu Valley to Tonbridge.
If you are looking for the fresh flavours of the Mediterranean with the mix of the Middle East, then you need to try the Havet Turkish Restaurant., offering genuine, fresh Turkish cuisine and a great dining experience.
Last but certainly not least, we have the award winning Verdigris, a restaurant offering contemporary British and European food. Owned and run by Scott Goss, who recently featured on BBC Great British Menu.
Obviously, the first place you should visit in Tonbridge is its very own 11th century castle, Tonbridge Castle, and is probably the UK’s best example of a motte and bailey castle. Not only is it a great place to visit, but it is also a great venue to host your wedding.
To the west of the town, in the Medway Valley, you have Haysden Country Park, that covers about 160 acres. With its freshwater lakes, woodlands and marshland, it is a great place to go for a walk and get some fresh air or have a picnic with the family.
Do you have children that have too much energy? If so, take them along to Rock UK Carroty Wood, where they have over 40 different outdoor activities from zip-wiring to kayaking.
Another great day out with the kids is Mr Mulligans Dino Golf is an 18-hole dinosaur inspired crazy golf course.
The town has one of Kent’s business railway stations with a yearly passenger use of over 4.1 million. Operated by Southeastern Railways, Tonbridge station is an important junction to London, Hastings, Ashford and Redhill. Tonbridge is served by a number of bus routes, most of which are run by Arriva Southern Counties.
Tonbridge, like Royal Tunbridge Wells, is well known for its independent school, Tonbridge School, and super selective grammar schools, The Judd School, Weald of Kent Grammar School and Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls.
For further information about other local Tonbridge businesses, you can find them via the link.
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