Ashford is a town in Kent, in the South East of England.
It is thought that Ashford originates from a settlement that was established around 893AD, which became large enough to have a mention in the doomsday book, listed with a church and two mills under the name "Essetesford" in 1086. Ashford was designated a market town in 1243, and by 1600 had risen to become an important market town, primarily for livestock.
Ashford is in the centre of Kent, and was one of the first towns in Kent that drastically changed into a highly developed town with modern standards. Ashford International railway station was opened on 28 February 1996 and received trains from France terminating at London Waterloo. Now trains terminate at London St Pancras International. The town also has an airport with regular flights to France. The town's name is derived from "ash tree" and "ford" (meaning "river crossing").
To the north east of Ashford is the smallest town in Britain - Wye.
The main roads into Ashford are the M20, which runs from the M25 via Maidstone and on to Folkestone, and the A2070, which connects Ashford with Hastings in the south and the A28 to Canterbury in the north.
No Eurostar at Ashford: Eurostar no longer stops at Ebbsfleet, Ashford or Calais-Fréthun. This will apply at least until Jan 2024.
Eurostar high-speed trains running from Paris (Gare du Nord), Lille (Europe), Calais (Fréthun) and Brussels (Zuid-Midi) stop at Ashford International railway station 📍 (AFK, IATA: QDH). Passengers travelling by Eurostar to the UK from Paris (Gare du Nord), Lille (Europe), Calais (Fréthun) and Brussels (Zuid-Midi) stations undergo UK passport/identity card checks in France/Belgium before boarding, rather than on arrival in the UK. The UK passport checks take place after the French/Belgian passport/identity card exit checks in the stations. However, UK customs checks take place on arrival in the UK.
Passengers travelling to France/Belgium from Ashford International go through French passport/identity card checks in the station before boarding the train, whilst selective customs checks take place on arrival in France/Belgium following disembarkation.
Ashford International is also served by domestic trains from several major London stations (see below).
Domestic trains to Ashford station are operated by Southeastern and Southern Railway from London St Pancras (typical journey time 35 – 37 minutes), London Cannon St, London Charing Cross, London Victoria Ebbsfleet, Dover Priory, Canterbury West, Ramsgate, and Margate. The high speed trains from London St Pancras cost significantly more than the slower trains from other London stations. The slower trains will take 80 minutes and stop at several intermediate stations.
Ashford International has onsite car parking for over 1000 vehicles.
Ashford's closest airport is Lydd Airport 📍 (London Ashford Airport) (IATA: LYX). A small airport with its own airline LyddAir which offers charter flights.
The closest major airport is London Gatwick (IATA: LGW), approximately a 45- to 50-minute drive away using the M20, M26, M25 and M23 motorways. London Heathrow (IATA: LHR) is 90-minutes away.
Most services are run by Stagecoach.
A hire car is a good investment to explore the surrounding country. For example Canterbury is a few pleasant miles away and the "Park and Ride "bus service to the center of Canterbury is tremendous and saves many hassles parking.
Cineworld Cinemas, Eureka Leisure Park (near Junction 9 of the M20 motorway), 51.16060°, 0.87340°. 12-screen multiplex cinema. You can also find many restaurants here and a hotel. Short term parking in Sainsbury's car park, the other side of the motorway is possible.
Devil's Kneading Trough, 51.17006°, 0.96983°. A beautiful area on the North Downs and North Downs Way. It claims to have the best view in Kent, overlooking Ashford District. You can see as far as Beachy Head in Sussex. There is also an easy 1.5km walk to Wye Crown. 2020-06-12
Wye Crown, 51.18127°, 0.96231°. The crown is best viewed from a distance, however it is a good walk and is on the North Downs Way. The view over Kent is stunning.There is no car parking above or below the crown, so the best way is to walk from the Devils Kneading Trough (1.5 km) or up hill from Wye following the North Downs Way (2.5 km). 2020-06-14
Ashford is a hotspot in the southeast for shopping.
Ashford is well served by many different restaurants. A short walk around the town centre will find most varieties of cuisine.
Further out of town, pubs offer good food at reasonable prices. Wye also has some good restaurants.
Locally produced Biddenden wine and cider are high quality. The cider at 8% ABV is only sold by the half-pint in some pubs. There is no shortage of good pubs and bars although the best tend to be in the villages around the town.
There are many good pubs around the town.
The County Hotel, 10 High St, TN24 8TD, 51.14903°, 0.87521°, +44 1233 646 891. A large Wetherspoons pub serving food and drink busy from Thursday to Saturday.
Riverside Inn, Torrington Road (opposite the Designer Outlet, off Asda roundabout then right into Beaver Road and then 2nd right again into Torrington Road), 51.13874°, 0.87581°, +44 1233 633404. Daily: food served M-Sa noon-9PM, Su 2-6PM. A 5-minute walk from the International Station this country-feel family pub has a reputation for homecooked food with daily specials and an extensive menu. Two beer gardens. Tuesday Steak Night and Wednesday Mexican Night.
William Harvey Inn, Church Rd, Willesborough, Ashford TN24 0JG (from Ashford town centre travel out along the A292, Hythe Road towards Hythe, with the Willesborough Windmill on your left turn right at the traffic lights in to Church Road), 51.13741°, 0.89981°, +44 1233 624 287. A 350-year-old traditional pub
The Hare & Hounds, Maidstone Road,TN25 4NR (a couple of miles out of the town along the A20, heading towards Maidstone), 51.16743°, 0.84746°, +44 1233 621 760. An old pub
The Flying Horse Inn, Wye Rd, Boughton Lees, TN25 4HH (adjacent to the village cricket field in Boughton on the A251 heading towards Faversham), 51.18930°, 0.89287°. An old pub on the Pilgrims Way.
The Queens Head, Ashford Rd, Kingsnorth, TN23 3EN (295 from Ashford International Station or on the A2070 Ashford Road), 51.11895°, 0.85829°, +44 1233 620769. 8AM-11PM. Local village pub just outside Ashford serving cask ales, home-cooked food. Breakfast, and lunches. Take-aways also available on bar food.
The George, Dragon House, The St, Bethersden, TN26 3AG, 51.12906°, 0.75508°.
Curious Brewery, Unit 1, Victoria Rd,TN23 7HQ (Close to Ashford International Station), 51.14407°, 0.87251°, +44 1233 552 525. Ashford's first proper brewery. It has a restaurant on site offering gourmet burgers and similar fare. 2020-06-14
The New Flying Horse Inn, Upper Bridge St, Wye, TN25 5AN, 51.18279°, 0.93979°, +1233 813 414.
The Tickled Trout Public House, 2 Bridge St, Wye, TN25 5EB (from Wye railway station cross the River Great Stour bridge), 51.18484°, 0.93061°. A busy country pub on the bank of the River Stour.
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