Explore rural hidden gem: Cranbrook

Explore this hidden rural gem which is increasingly popular for families who want a small, but strong community town in an idyllic rural setting.

Think weather boarded houses, a windmill and a line of shops disappearing towards a pretty church. Cranbrook is a bustling, popular, small town smack bang in the middle of the beautiful High Weald area of Kent, lying roughly halfway between Maidstone and Hastings on the A229 and about midway between Tunbridge Wells and Ashford on the other axis (if we’re going to get technical about it). Here you are literally surrounded by beautiful Kent countryside and quintessential Kentish villages.

SUMMER FUN

There’s lots of summer fun to be had in town with annual events you won’t want to miss! 

Good news is that you haven’t missed Cranfest ’23 on Fri 8 and Sat 9 Sep. Live music will be hosted in several different venues in town ranging from intimate acoustic venues, such as Larkins’ Alehouse to the large open-air stage at The George Hotel. Plus it’s completely free!

The annual Cranbrook Apple Fayre, usually held in October, is to celebrate Kent’s apple orchards. It’s a big free day out where the main High Street is closed to allow for music, market stalls, street food, cider, entertainment and some quirky additions.

Be sure to mark your diary for next year and make sure you pop by. Cranbrook Goes Nuts in May, the Chelsea Fringe street festival with garden-themed activities, stalls and entertainment.

Cranbrook on the Green is the perfect day out for family and Classic Cars enthusiasts. Expect a variety of market stalls offering lots of lovely produce and street food. A Children’s Corner with activities, rides and fun entertainment. The combination of Stalls, Dog Show and Classic Cars means there is fun for everyone – you’ll find us in the Gin Tent!

EAT & DRINK

Cranbrook has a strong community feel and if you like to support local when you buy your food and produce, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Try one of the amazing selection of local farm shops on your doorstep, we’d recommend Hartley Coffee House & Farm Shop (pictured) or for cafés there’s the dog friendly Arthur’s or nip into The Wendy House for coffee, cakes or ice-creams.

Sitting at the end of a stretch of small independent shops, pubs and cafés that run on Cranbrook High St, you’ll find Stone Street and lovely restaurants perfect for a romantic date night or a get-together with friends.

Go see Kypseli (pictured), an authentic Green taverna on Stone Street in Cranbrook. It’s a traditional greek kitchen, deli, patisserie, coffee bar and licensed bar with a beautiful all-weather decked terrace. We hear they’re expanding to The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells really soon, we can’t wait!

Or there’s The Cloudberry with a handsome Georgian façade, we love their relaxed setting and ever-changing seasonal menu, take a peek and book their 4-course set menu asap.

If you’re after a fab gastropub for drinks and dining, there’s 16th century country pub, The Great House (pictured) just a stone’s throw away from Bedgebury Forest in Hawkhurst. Or The Goudhurst Inn right in the heart of the village of Goudhurst, near Cranbrook. There’s even a family run micropub, Larkins’ Alehouse.

Cranbrook is a great place to base yourself to visit the various vineyards and wineries with some of England’s leading wine producers right on its doorstep.

Making over 400,000 bottles of still and sparkling wines each year there’s Balfour Winery (pictured), perfect for a special occasion that includes fine dining, tasting, tours and a shop so you can stock up at home.

For a more rustic experience there’s Kent’s original vineyard, Biddenden Vineyard. Family-run since 1969 and producing award-winning – and much loved – wines, ciders and juices. 

Why not arrange a tour with Wine Tours of Kent? This brilliant local business offers guided and bespoke wine tours of English wineries in the Kent Countryside, plus tutored wine tastings and lunch. They can even pick you up from your accommodation so no need for a designated driver – we’re in!

SHOPS

Cranbrook is a gorgeous place to shop ’til you drop with a wonderful High St where almost every business has a flower box in front of their shop to contribute to the Cranbrook in Bloom effort.

Odyl fashion boutique Cranbrook Gemma Holmes

But where to head to first? We’ve long been fans of Odyl, Cranbrook’s fashion boutique (and the online store) – a go-to style gem owned by Gemma Holmes. She offers free style consultations either in store or on a Zoom call and is ace at boosting your confidence through clothing – whatever your shape or size. (We have it on good authority that she dresses some well-known TV celebs).

Another fashion store worth a visit is Maisie K and for all things interiors you’ve got a decent amount of choice. Try Oast & Rye (for home scents), Duck & Dog (for home and lifestyle), Ms T. Potts (for a sweet treat), The Glasshouse Project (for beautiful plants), Blighty’s (for British made gifts) plus lots more gorgeous boutiques in nearby Hawkhurst and Goudhurst, we love Huddle Collection for their quintessential British patterns and homeware.

CULTURE VULTURES

No shortage of culture here! There’s The Queen’s Hall Theatre with a whole roster of regular events from plays, musicals, live music, cinema, The Cranbrook Comedy Club and coming soon is Fambrook, the mini family festival on Sat 16 Sep.

Or go see the brand new Benenden Theatre comprising a 300-seat main auditorium with flexible staging and an Orchestra Pit for musical productions. This summer they have a fabulous programme of events from open-air theatre with A Midsummer’s Night Dream, a cinema screening of A Little Life starring Happy Valley’s James Norton to ballet with Sleeping Beauty and Live at the Apollo’s sell-out sensation Gary Delaney.

For the historic sights, explore St Dunstan’s Church, the Cathedral of the Weald with the same mechanism as Big Ben, climb to the tower for the best view.

Open on selected days is Union Mill (pictured) which is an iconic site locally, this pretty windmill is the tallest ‘smock mill’ in the UK (so called due to its sloping weatherboarded sides). Grade I listed and fully restored to working order it stands very proudly at the end of the High Street. Free to enter but accept donations.

Cranbrook Museum has an enormous collection that covers the walls from floor to ceiling, hundreds of exhibits covering the history of Cranbrook and The Weald of Kent from artists and artisans to birds, coinage, costumes, local trades, family life and schools. All set in a beautiful historic building dating from 1480 (pictured). Free to enter.

OUTDOORS & WALKS

Surrounded by the beautiful Kent countryside, Cranbrook has an amazing selection of places to visit close by, try the beautiful gardens at Sissinghurst Castle (pictured) or Hole Park. The amazing forests, bike trails and children’s rustic play areas at Bedgebury National Pinetum – not to mention the Go Ape zipline and aerial adventure. Or rent a bike and walk around the reservoir at Bewl Water.

Or take yourself back in time to the moated 14th Century Bodiam Castle or the equally lovely moated ruins and parkland of Scotney Castle.

STAY

Need a place to rest your head after a busy day of exploring? We got you! Stay in one of Cranbrook’s most historic buildings, The George Hotel, located in the centre of the town. Dating back to 1300, The George has played host to King Edward I in 1299, and Queen Elizabeth I in 1573. It’s packed full with character and period features.

Looking for a more modern stay? Travel slightly further out to the small village of Sissinghurst and you’ll find The Milk House, a stunning gastro pub with rooms. There are four bedrooms upstairs, aptly named Churn, Dairy, Buttery and Byre.

Or stay at Sissinghurst Castle Farmhouse, a gorgeous Victorian Farmhouse on the Sissinghurst Castle estate. A luxury nine-bedroom bed and breakfast, all rooms individually furnished with spectacular views towards the Elizabethan tower. Breakfast included with all stays!

EXPLORE

Just outside the town of Cranbrook itself you’ve got a wonderful choice of picturesque villages to explore. Such as Goudhurst with boutique shops and Star & Eagle pub, the perfect pit stop for lunch, and the quaint village of Lamberhurst with Kentish architecture and the River Tease running through. So get out there and get discovering.

For more information go to visittunbridgewells.com

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