Ashford (England)

Ashford is a town in Kent on the River Great Stour at the southern or scarp edge of the North Downs in the South East of England. In 2021, it was home to 83,000 people.

Understand
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.

By car
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.

International
Eurostar high-speed trains running from Paris (Gare du Nord), Lille (Europe), Calais (Fréthun) and Brussels (Zuid-Midi) stop at Ashford International. 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 at 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 at 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).

Local
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 1,000 vehicles.

By air
Ashford's closest airport is (London Ashford Airport). A small airport with its own airline LyddAir which offers charter flights.

The closest major airport is London Gatwick, approximately a 45–50 minute drive away (depending on traffic congestion) using the M20, M26, M25 and M23 motorways. Alternatively, there are trains to Gatwick Airport from London Bridge and London St. Pancras stations, also the Gatwick Express train departs from London Victoria.

London Heathrow is 90 minutes away.

By bus
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.

Buy
Ashford is a hotspot in the southeast for shopping.

Eat
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.

Drink
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.

Go next

 * Local villages - Wye, Bethersden and Tenterden
 * Hythe (Kent)