Ashford, Kent
From medieval market town to London's fast-growing neighborA market town in southeast England with a 15th-century parish church and high-speed rail links to London and Paris. The Designer Outlet draws shoppers from across Kent.
Ashford sits 61 miles southeast of London in central Kent, with direct trains to Paris via the Channel Tunnel. The town grew from its medieval center around St Mary's Church and now extends to include contemporary developments like the white-canopied Designer Outlet. You can walk through Victoria Park's tree-lined paths, explore the 1869 Willesborough Windmill, or take a short drive to taste wines at Biddenden Vineyards.
Getting to Ashford
The high-speed rail line connects Ashford International station to London St Pancras in 35 minutes and to Paris Gare du Nord. You can drive to London via the M20 motorway, which also leads to the Channel Tunnel. Local buses run every 15-30 minutes throughout the town and to surrounding villages.
Shopping at Designer Outlet
The white-canopied outlet center, designed by architect Richard Rogers, houses over 100 stores with discounted luxury brands. About 3 million people visit annually to shop at stores like Nike, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger. You can take regular shuttle buses from the town center and railway station every 30 minutes.
Parks and Green Spaces
The Ashford Green Corridor creates a natural path through the town center along the Great Stour River, where you can spot kingfishers and water voles. Victoria Park, dating from 1898, contains tennis courts, a children's playground, and walking paths lined with oak and lime trees. From the town's northern edge, marked trails lead into the chalk hills and beech woodlands of the Kent Downs.
Medieval and Tudor Buildings
St Mary's Church dates to the 13th century, with its 15th-century tower rising above the town center. The church hosts concerts and exhibitions alongside regular services. Middle Row preserves several timber-framed buildings from the 1400s, while Godinton House displays Jacobean architecture with curved gables and rooms furnished in period style, open Tuesday to Sunday from March to October.
Museums and Culture
The Borough Museum occupies a 17th-century schoolhouse in the churchyard, displaying Roman coins, medieval pottery, and photographs of Victorian Ashford. At Willesborough Windmill, open weekends March to October, you can see the original grinding machinery and climb to the cap. The Stour Centre includes three swimming pools and a gym, with regular art exhibitions in its gallery space.
Day Trips from Ashford
At Biddenden Vineyards, planted in 1969, you can tour the vineyard and taste Kent wines and ciders, with tours running daily except Sundays. The South of England Rare Breeds Centre in Woodchurch lets you see endangered farm animal breeds like Gloucester Old Spot pigs and Bagot goats. Port Lympne Reserve, a 15-minute drive away, spans 600 acres where you can see gorillas, rhinos, and tigers in large enclosures.
