Between Worthing And Margate Is 'The Jewel Of The Weald' With A Charming High Street, Shops, And Scenic Views

The Weald, a landscape of dense woods, gentle hills, and farms scattered across the horizon, is tucked into South East England. Imagine yourself in the midst of this medieval setting, then stumbling upon a thriving English market town filled with historic architecture, restaurants, and tree-covered thoroughfares. You've found "The Jewel of the Weald," the town of Tenterden, between the seaside getaways of Worthing and Margate. Sitting on the border of the U.K.'s High Weald National Landscape, Tenterden invites visitors to explore its bustling high street, local shops, and surrounding countryside.

In the Middle Ages, Tenterden was a port city, with a busy wool trade and sea access via nearby rivers, although it's now landlocked due to shifting coastlines. The town is most known for its historic high street, where medieval halls are interspersed with local businesses and the 500-year-old tower of St. Mildred's Church that rises in the background. The community hosts a market with fruit, vegetables, seafood, and baked goods available in Market Square every Friday. When visiting, be sure to stop by Tenterden Gateway, which serves as the town's library and post office, as it keeps travel brochures on hand for curious visitors. 

Tenterden's High Street is the town's main draw. The renovated Tenterden Town Hall was originally constructed in 1792 and boasts Georgian architecture. However, unlike the largely Georgian high street in the market town of Andover, Tenterden's High Street displays a mix of architectural styles spanning several centuries.

Stop by the 15th-century inn The Woolpack which is now a modern pub, or visit the Art Deco Embassy Cinema, which is now home to a cocktail lounge. The Lemon Tree, meanwhile, in a timbered hall built in the 1300s, serves classic English dishes such as fish and chips and baked potatoes with Coronation chicken. Some of the buildings on High Street hold a surprising structural secret: while they appear to have brick exteriors, the walls are actually hung with brick-like "mathematical" tiles. 

The shops are what truly adds local character to Tenterden's High Street. For example, Rising Star hosts a quirky collection of clothing, accessories, and eclectic gifts — like chocolate lobsters and felt toys from Turkey — while Re-Memories Antiques offers bargain hunters vintage objects. Several visitors mention its lovely antique jewelry. Stop in Bill Skinner Studio to browse delightful costume jewelry featuring hedgehogs, owls, and foxes, or browse WUD Menswear to find caps, coats, and cravats. Blossom Home carries boutique clothing and homeware, and Ethel Loves Me has a selection of creations from local artisans and craftspeople. Several High Street restaurants offer outdoor dining during the warmer months, including Peggotty's Tea Shoppe, which serves afternoon tea and a scrumptious array of sandwiches, as well as The Nook, a café that serves brunch.

One of the best ways to enjoy the area's loveliness is by taking a train ride on the Kent & East Sussex Railway, where vintage steam trains depart from Tenterden Town Station for Bodiam Castle, a medieval fortress surrounded by a moat. Cyclists can discover the beauty of the nearby Kent Downs National Landscape by following the nearly 12-mile Wealden Cycle Trail from Tenterden and through villages and countryside to the town of Ashford, while travelers can ramble through the area on parts of the High Weald Landscape Trail as it winds south of town. Visitors looking for untamed English country gardens will want to visit the grounds of nearby Sissinghurst Castle, home to one of the travel writer Rick Steves' favorite European gardens. 

Tenterden is about a two-hour drive from London. The town's railroad station is limited to the route to and from Bodiam, but visitors seeking to arrive via train can buy tickets to Ashford International Station then connect via the No. 2 or No. 2A bus to Tenterden. For lodging, visitors can stay right in the center of town at a High Street pub, as The Woolpack and White Lion offer rooms. For travelers hoping to add a beach stop to their itinerary, Tenterden is only 30 minutes' drive north of Camber Sands, one of the U.K.'s least crowded beaches.