subject: Royal Tunbridge Wells – Kent [print this page] Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a quaint English town in west Kent, around 30 miles south east of London. The town combines modern day conveniences with the charm from the olden days. With quaint cottages existing hand in hand with modern high rises.
Tunbridge Wells officially became a town in the early 1600s when Lord Dudley North suffering from some ailments decided that the Kent country air might do him some good. While in the area, he discovered a Chalybeate spring and drank from it. When his health started to improve, he was convinced that it was the water from the spring and persuaded his rich city friends to travel to the region to try the water. Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of King Charles the first visited in 1630 and by this time, it had been established as a spa retreat.
So many people were visiting that in 1636 2 houses were built adjacent to the spring to cater for visitors.
The Kent town is separated into 2 distinct areas, the new town and the old town. The old part of town is situated at the bottom of the hill, south of the railway station and the newer part of town is at the northern end of Tunbridge Wells at the top of the hill.
The new part of Tunbridge Wells contains all the modern conveniences found in many towns and cities around the UK, mobile phone shops, chain clothing stores, bars and chain restaurant. There is also the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre. Nothing out of the ordinary.
The real charm of Tunbridge Wells however, can be found in the old part of town where the buildings remain unchanged from the 1800s. The spring, mentioned above can be found in the touristy area of the Pantiles. The Pantiles is the oldest part of Tunbridge Wells and was the first to be developed around the spring. Here you can find independent restaurants, bars and shops. There is quite often live music and other entertainment so this is a great place to spend those long summer evenings.
