The Wells on the Bus
 Apr 28th, 2002
Advantages:
Pleasant surroundings, the best part of the country
Disadvantages:
Hustle and bustle, traffic
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
more
  Nolly
About me:
Oh my god! I am now 38. Then again I am a happily divorced man with a lovely partner and 2 lovely d...
Member since:27.04.2001
Reviews:128
Members who trust:17
Review rated by 14 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
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Sorry about the title. I have just been singing this to my two-year old daughter, and a slight perversion of the title is fitting for this opinion. Okay, here we go. I was born in the picturesque town of Royal Tunbridge Wells (hereafter referred to as RTW) 33 years ago. I was born in a village on the north-western edge called Rusthall. When I was two I moved (well, my parents moved and I went with them) to a village on the eastern edge called High Brooms, where my father had grown up. I spent the next 24 years, more or less, living in that village.
So where should I start... Well, why not at the beginning?
THE BEGINNING
The town of Royal Tunbridge Wells is a spa town resort located in the middle of the High Weald of the South East of England. It has been around as a settlement since around
1620, when Lord North, a fabled hypochondriac, claimed that the iron-laden waters made him feel better. This water is called the Chalybeate spring. So why is the water full of iron. Well, legend has it that St Dunstan had a forge at the nearby village of Mayfield, and one day the Devil came to tempt him in the guise of a beautiful woman. The good saint realised, took his red-hot tongs out of the fire, and pinched the Devil's nose. The Devil then hot-footed it (or should that be hot-nosed it?) and soothed his nose in a nearby stream.
Anyway, the first royal connection was when Queen Henrietta Maria came to the town after the birth of her son, who later became Charles II. The town grew in fashionability, and soon started to rival Bath. The Master of Ceremonies from Bath, John 'Beau' Nash, came to work at Tunbridge Wells.
In the early 19th century Princess Victoria came to stay at what is now the Calverley Hotel, years before she became Queen. The town was granted a Royal Charter in the early 20th Century.
LOCATION
RTW is located roughly halfway between London and the coast. It is 35 miles south of the Capital and 25 miles north of Hastings and Eastbourne. Road access is reasonable. The A21 is the main road down from the M25, and teh other roads are the A21 / A22 / A26 / A267 from the South, and the A264 from the West. You will kow that you are in the area of RTW when your average speed hits 15mph! Traffic can be a nightmare, and the one-way system that they have introduced is weird and enigmatic. By rail the town is reachable in 45 minutes from London Charing Cross.
THE SIGHTS In the south of the town, the most definite attraction is The Pantiles, the Regency Arcade that was built around the spring. At the old Corn Exchange is a visitor attraction called 'A Day at the Wells'. As we move north, we reach Chapel Place and the breathtaking Church of King Charles the Martyr, which is a must see. Then we move up through the High Street, with its selection of old shops and modern bars.
We wre now nearing the station, which is located on teh picturesque Mount Pleasant. There is a small shopping arcade called the Great Hall directly opposite the station. Up the hill and the old 'Classic' Cinema is on the left. I'm sorry I don't know what it is called now, but when I was a little boy it was called the Classic, so that what I call it. There is now an Odeon multiplex out of town so the cinema is struggling. Up through the town we head through and eventually reach the main shopping centre, the Royal Victoria Place. This contains the usual stores plus a reasonable average and expensive food hall which also has a couple of expensive restaurants. That isn't to say that you can't eat well in town, but there are some places better than the usual chain restaurants.
The Calverley Road precinct is quiet since the centre opened, and Monson Road and Camden Road have some nice surprises, you just need to look for them. THE PARKS
RTW has quite a few. Dunorlan, with it's large boating lake, is situated 2 miles out of town on the Pembury Road, but there are the Calverley Grounds, the Grove, and the Grosvenor Rec. The latter was a particular favourite of mine, as when I was a little boy my Nan used to live right next to it, so feeding the ducks and going on the swings was a regular event.
NIGHTLIFE
Pretty much the usual. Quiet pubs are generally found outside the town. The clubs and pubs can be a bit brash. But some of the outlying villages have really good drink or food. I can recommend the folowing: George and Dragon, Speldhurst
The Hare, Langton Green
Brown Trout, Lamberhurst Quarter
OVERALL
Anyway, I hope what I have written will help you decide if you want to visit. I loved the place, but the pace of life is very suburban now, and house prices are lunatic. A 3 bed house is around £175000. I now live in Lincoln where life is quieter and not quite so expensive.
In spit eof its negative aspects, I would still recommend a trip to RTW, even if only as a daytrip from another holiday destination. Neil
x
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28.04.2002 12:13
I have often pass through, your op certaintly has given me food for thoughts! Thanks for sharing this. I am delighted to know. Avril
28.04.2002 10:57
I have never been to RTW, however after reading your opinion, I'll be sure to stop if I'm in the area. Good op. Kate
28.04.2002 09:09
Excellent opinion. I like the title...I think we went to same "title writing school" LOL! :)