Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks is a fairly traditional market town, although these days, given its proximity to London, it is known largely as a commuter town.
Contrary to popular belief the town isn't named after the seven oak trees that stood alongside the cricket pitch (six of which were destroyed in the great storm of 1987); the town's name is instead derived from the Saxon word seouenaca, the name given to a small chapel in Knole Park around 800 AD.
The district of Sevenoaks consists of 29 villages and small towns including of Chiddingstone, Edenbridge and Hever.
Otford is a quintessential village, nestled in the Kent countryside. It was mentioned in the Domesday book and was the site of an old Saxon battle.
It is the perfect place to explore the Darenth Valley, especially if you like gentle country walks with plenty of rustic pubs along the way.

By car

Sevenoaks is very near Junction 5 of the M25 where the M26 meets the M25. The M26 (or A25) leads to Maidstone, and the A21 heads south to Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Hastings.

By train

Sevenoaks station is fairly near the centre of town, to the north. It is on the Main Kent Coast Line, which runs from London Charing Cross to Hastings. London is 20-30 minutes away, depending on whether the train is direct or a stopper service. Trains also run on First Capital Connect to Bedford, Luton and St Albans.
is a 5–10 minute walk from the village centre. Be careful not to let train sales staff confuse the place with Oxford. There are regular trains from London Victoria as Otford lies on the main Ashford and Maidstone lines. The ticket office is often closed, but there is a side gate to let you onto the platform. There is a bike shed and a large carpark at the station, which gets busy during the week as many residents commute into London.
Tonbridge station is the main train station in West Kent; any destination other than those on the London–Hastings mainline will require a change here. It is 10 minutes by train from Sevenoaks.
Fare and timetable information is available from South East Trains or by telephoning +44 8457 484950 (premium number).

Sevenoaks is not a large town, and the centre can easily be travelled on foot. As with most other towns in England, the town is well serviced by buses and taxis.

By bus

Arriva is the bus company that operates in Sevenoaks. Timetables and fares are available on their website. Buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus.

By taxi

The main taxi rank is at the train station, although you can order a taxi by telephone to pick you up from anywhere.
For pre-booked journeys, try:

• Streamline

  phone: +44 1732 459990
  iPhone App and Textbooker available.

• Space Travel

• MS Executive Chauffeurs

  phone: +44 1892 513042

• Kent Chauffeurs

• Knole House

  phone: +44 1732 462100
  address: TN15 0RP
  One of the great treasure houses of England, set in a magnificent deer park. Built in the 15th century and altered only in 1603, it has remained untouched since.

• Sevenoaks Museum and Art Gallery

  phone: +44 1732 453118-452384
  address: Buckhurst Lane

• Lullingstone Roman Villa

  phone: +44 1322 863467
  address: Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, DA4 0JA

• Quebec House

  phone: +44 1959 567430
  address: Quebec Square, Westerham, TN16 1TD

• Ightham Mote

  phone: +44 1732 810378
  address: Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, TN15 0NT

• Emmetts Garden

  phone: +44 1732 868381
  address: Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, TN14 6BA

• Chartwell

  phone: +44 1732 868381
  address: Mapleton Road, Westerham, TN16 1PS
  Family home of Sir Winston Churchill, with magnificent views over the Weald of Kent. Car park (for countryside access) open daily 8AM-5PM.

• Bough Beech reservoirfor walking, sailing and fishing. Includes a wildlife reserve

• Hever Castle

  phone: +44 1732 861710
  address: Hever, near Edenbridge
  A 13th-century castle once home to Anne Boleyn. Superb example of a Tudor manor house with plenty of history related to Henry VIII. Well maintained landscaped Italian style garden restored by William Waldorf Astor in the early 1900s. There are also special events from March to October.

• Chiddingstone VillageIt is described as being the most perfect surviving example of a Tudor village in the United Kingdom. Much of the village is owned by The National Trust. The Chiding Stone from which the village derives it's name is a large sandstone rock formation, and tradition asserts that the stone was used as a seat of judgement, mainly to remonstrate overbearing local wives.

• Church of St. Mary's

  address: Chiddingstone
  This parish church is a beautiful Grade II* listed sandstone church and is, perhaps, the fourth built on the site. In the churchyard is a mausoleum dating from 1736 built by Henry Streatfeild; leading down into the family vault beneath which has a through flow of air provided by vents in two false altar tombs. The church was almost destroyed by a lightning fire in 1624.

• Chiddingstone CastleOpen to the public and houses Buddhist, Egyptian and Japanese artefact collections - the Japanese collection is exceptionally fine. The house dates back to the early 1500s, owned by the Streatfeild family and in the early 1800s was Gothicised by Henry Streatfeild with a new ashlar castellated exterior. The castle was sold to Lord Astor in 1938, and then served as a base for military forces during the Second World War. It then became Long Dene school until 1954 when the school was closed. The collections were assembled at startlingly low cost by Denys Eyre Bower, who bought the Castle with a bank loan, and was subsequently imprisoned on an absurd charge of attempting to murder his fiancee, who claimed Italian nobility but was in fact from Balham. The extraordinary story is told by Mary Eldridge in her book "Beyond Belief".

• Knole Park

  phone: +44 1732 462100
  See the deer

Otford is a waypoint on the North Downs Way, the Pilgrims Way and the Darenth Valley footpath. All of which are highly recommended, especially in summer. Paths get muddy in winter and after long periods of heavy rain.

There are a few antique shops in Otford.

• The Forge

  address: Otford
  very good restaurant

• The Bull

  address: Otford
  specialising in seafood (and long waiting times). Don't be put off by this as you will always be told how long it will take for your food to arrive before you order. It is usually worth the wait.

• Ellenor's

  address: Otford
  a local charitable cafe, serve amazing homemade ice-cream with new flavours every week.

• The Bull

  address: Otford
  once famed for its quiet, dimly lit atmosphere and good ales is now a Chef & Brewer chain pub/restaurant

• The Woodman

  address: Otford
  is generally full of a younger crowd of locals. It regularly shows sporting events on television.

• Rising Sun

  address: Twitton
  a really local pub, where you will be greeted by the local farmers, dogs and families enjoying everything from their own beer festival to a bit of folk singing.

• Premier Inn Sevenoaks

  phone: +44 1732 496392
  Set a little outside the Town Centre, this newly built casual budget hotel is just 2-minute walk from Sevenoaks train station