Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks in Kent is an historic market town with a 1,000-acre deer park at its heart. A shopping destination, filled with high quality and often quirky independent shops, coffee shops, restaurants and inns. Situated perfectly for commuters with direct links into the city, there is also easy access onto the M25.

Education

Sevenoaks has a reputation for its outstanding schools, both state and independent. The town is home to Sevenoaks School, the second oldest non-denominational school in the UK and the top co-educational independent school in the country. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and has a superb 100-acre campus with state-of-the-art facilities.

Other notable independent schools in Sevenoaks include Walthamstow Hall, a girls' school with a strong academic record and a wide range of co-curricular activities, and The New Beacon, a boys' preparatory school with a focus on pastoral care and character development.

The state schools in Sevenoaks are also highly regarded, such as Trinity School, a co-educational secondary school with a Christian ethos and a specialism in performing arts. Knowle Academy is an all-ability co-educational school with a grammar stream and International Baccalaureate candidate school. Lady Boswell's Church of England Primary School, which was rated outstanding by Ofsted and has a nurturing and inclusive environment.

Local Attractions

Sevenoaks has plenty to offer for culture, leisure and entertainment. The town boasts several historic landmarks, such as Knole House, a magnificent 15th-century mansion set in a 1,000-acre deer park that was once the home of the Sackville family and visited by royalty, and Ightham Mote, a medieval moated manor house with beautiful gardens and fascinating stories.

For nature lovers, Sevenoaks has some of the best green spaces in Kent, such as Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, which features exotic plants, sculptures, woodland trails and a children's adventure playground, and Emmetts Garden, a hillside garden with spectacular views, colourful flowers and rare trees. There is also Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve, which is a haven for birds, insects, mammals and reptiles and has several trails and hides for wildlife watching.

For arts and culture enthusiasts, Sevenoaks has a vibrant scene with venues such as The Stag Community Arts Centre which hosts theatre, cinema, music, comedy and community events, and Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Gallery, which showcases contemporary art by local and national artists. There are also regular festivals and markets in the town centre that celebrate the local heritage, produce and talent.

Entertainment

Sevenoaks has a range of options for dining out, from cosy pubs and cafes to fine restaurants and bistros. Some of the popular places to eat include Rafferty's Cafe, which offers delicious breakfasts, lunches and cakes in a friendly atmosphere. During the day Life on High is a cosy coffee shop and at night becomes a vibrant bar & restaurant.

For nightlife, Sevenoaks has several pubs and bars that cater to different tastes and moods. Some of the favourites are The Chequers Inn, which is a traditional pub with live music, quiz nights and real ales, The Anchor, which is a trendy bar with cocktails, craft beers and DJs, and The White Hart, which is a cosy pub with a beer garden, pool table and karaoke. Lime Tree Workshop is a stunning co-working space in an old derelict warehouse, which at night hosts many events from wine tasting to learning how to DJ.

Transport

Sevenoaks is well connected to London and other destinations by road and rail. The town has a mainline railway station that offers frequent services to London Charing Cross, London Bridge, London Cannon Street and London Blackfriars, with journey times of around 30 minutes. There are also direct trains to Ashford International, Tunbridge Wells, Hastings and Dover.

By car, Sevenoaks is easily accessible from the M25, M26 and A21, which provide links to London, Gatwick Airport, Maidstone, Canterbury and the south coast. The town also has several bus routes that connect it to local villages and towns such as Tonbridge, Orpington, Bromley and Dartford.