Tunbridge Wells has a long and illustrious history as a popular spa town with King Edward VII bestowing it the Royal prefix. A wealth of Regency and Georgian buildings make for a striking town centre which draws comparisons to Bath and Cheltenham. The spa waters are now just a trickle off the Common but tourists are still drawn to the restaurants, cafes, galleries and designer shops on the historic ‘Pantiles’ and the High Street where The Ivy restaurant has recently opened an outpost.
Many house-hunters in Tunbridge Wells are families looking to move from London seeking better quality of life. The properties, parks and shopping in Tunbridge Wells attracts them to the town as well as the excellent schools and transport links to London. Trains to London Bridge take only 41 minutes and are frequent.
The Common is at the heart of the town and kept in a semi-rural condition with lovely walks criss-crossing it and a fabulous outcrop of sandstone rocks which are millions of years old and their beauty survives despite the families happily clambering across them every weekend. A small and independent music venue called The Forum is unexpectedly located on the Common. Having played host to Adele, Green Day, Oasis, Rag N’Bone Man and others who went on to fame and success, The Forum has proved its music credentials. Calverley Grounds is a sweeping park which links the top of the town to the lower end and is at its busiest when it hosts the Christmas ice skating rink.
Tunbridge Wells residents are fortunate to enjoy a number of free events which take place throughout the year. ‘Jazz on the Pantiles’ takes place throughout the Summer with music played live on a bandstand while the audience of all ages eat, drink and dance around it. ‘Local and Live’, a free music festival runs in August at venues across the town. In the Autumn, a Food and Drink Festival allows local suppliers to show their wares and demonstrate their cookery skills to a crowd eager to try their samples. ‘Heritage Open Days’ in September are a chance to see behind the door of local buildings of historic significance such as the Opera House which is now a pub.
A hot topic in Tunbridge Wells is schooling. The local schools, primary and secondary, win awards for their achievements year after year and people move to the town simply to benefit from the high standard of state schooling. There are also a wide variety of independent schools with excellent reputations for all ages. A specific school blog is available on the Belvoir Tunbridge Wells webpage.
According to current Zoopla estimates, the average value for property in Tunbridge Wells stood at £486,652 in May 2019. This is a rise of 0.87% in the last three months (since March 2019) and fall of 5.41% since 12 months ago. In terms of property types, semi-detached properties in Tunbridge Wells sold for an average of £448,991 and flats for £244,587.
If you think Tunbridge Wells would be the ideal location for you, please contact the team at the Belvoir Tunbridge Wells office for more information. They would be happy to help.
