From Wikitravel

Ashford is a town in Kent, in the South East of England.

Understand

It is thought that Ashford originates from an original settlement 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 officially became a market town in 1243 and by 1600 had risen to become an important market town, primarily for livestock.

Ashford International is the main local railway station, which operates domestic trains to several major London stations, Victoria, Charing Cross, St Pancras International and international train services to Europe. Ashford International train station was re-opened on 28 February 1996 and first operated international trains departing from Waterloo, London. Ashford International train station was the first stop in England on the Channel Tunnel rail link, allowing trains to link from the UK directly to France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel.

In 2007 a new high-speed rail line was installed at Ashford International called High Speed 1. All International trains now depart from St Pancras International railway station in London, which was reopened in 2007 to replace all services previously operating from Waterloo, London. In 2009 Ashford International train station further improved it's domestic train services with the launch of Britain's first high-speed domestic trains to St Pancras International, London and Ebbsfleet International, Kent. Ashford is in the center of Kent, was one of the first towns in Kent to become developed to high modern standards and drastic change, Ashford also has an airport. The towns name derives from the combination of two words. Ash from Ash Tree. and Ford from ford (river crossing)

Get in

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.

By train

Ashford International Station is located near Ashford, with onsite car parking for over 1000 vehicles. Ashford International has train links to London, Canterbury, Tonbridge, Dover, Folkestone and Hastings.

Ashford International has frequent international train services operating to Brussels, Calais, Paris, Disneyland, Moutiers, Avignon, Lille, Bourg St Maurice.

High-speed Domestic trains are operated by SouthEastern and Southern Railway to London , London Cannon Street, London Charing Cross, London Victoria and coast bound Dover Priory, Canterbury West, Ramsgate, Margate. As of 2009 the new high-speed trains on the St Pancras International - Ashford route will have a full timetableSt Pancras to Ebbsfleet (typical journey time 35 - 37 minutes).

By 2010 trains from Ashford International and Stratford International will run to Ebbsfleet International railway station.

Fare and timetable information is available from South East Trains, tel. +44 (0)8457 484 950.

Eurostar

Ashford International is on the Channel Tunnel rail Link, and Eurostar trains depart regularly for Lille, Paris, Brussels and Disneyland Paris. See the Eurostar website for further information.

By Air

Ashford is soon set to have its own airport 'London Ashford Airport' situated in Lydd, which is set to open in 2009 and is said to handle over 2 million passengers a year. For the time being, the closest major international airport is London Gatwick, approxiamately a 45 to 50 minute drive away up the M20, M23 and M26.

Get around

By bus

Most services are actually run by Stagecoach and timetables can be found on their website. http://www.stagecoachbus.com/eastkent/

• AFM Private Hire tel. +44 (0)1233 333 500
• Arrow Taxis tel. +44 (0)1233 666 666
• Blue Line Taxis tel. +44 (0)1233 666 123
• United Taxis tel. +44 (0)1233 666 999
• Xpress Cars tel. +44 (0)1233 66 66 99

By Mini Coaches & Minibuses

Ashford Mini Coaches http://www.ashford-minicoaches.co.uk

Kent Minibus Hire - Nova Travel http://www.kent-minibuses.co.uk

• Ashford International Europe trains Ashford International station
• Biddenden vineyards for local wine and cider (very good and strong!)
• Local villages - Wye, Bethersden and Tenterden
• Factory shopping outlet near to the International station, located by Junction 9 of the M20, £5 parking a day.
• Ashford Local Tourism - List of tourist attractions in Ashford
• Willesborough Windmill is a a white smock mill built in 1869, open to the public at weekends.
• Ashford Green Corridor, the natural 'green' route through Ashford
• Brockhill Country Park
• Wye Rural Museum
• Godinton House and Gardens
• North Downs Way
• Port Lympne Wild Animal Park & Gardens
• Stour Valley Walk
• Woodchurch Rare Breeds Centre
• Kent & East Sussex Railway Operates between Tenterden and Bodiam in East Sussex, passing through some very attractive countryside in the process. A one day adult unlimited ticket costs £11. Bodiam Castle is at the end of the line. A trip on the train and a visit to the castle make a good day out. There is a pub at the entrance to the castle which provides good food, as well as the castles gift shop and tea room.

• The surrounding countryside, particularly the North Downs, are good for walking, with the Pilgrims' Way, North Downs Way and the Stour Valley Walk all in the area, catering for the long distance walker or the day tripper.
• Port Lympne Wild Animal Park is a 600 acre estate with Mansion House and Zoo.
• Cineworld Cinemas is a 12 screen multiplex cinema, on the Eureka Leisure Park, near Junction 9 of the M20 motorway in Ashford.

Buy

Ashford is a hotspot in the southeast for shopping, having over 200 stores across the town. Over 100 in the main town centre, and 100 in the modern designer outlet.

Eat

Ashford is well served by many different restaurants. A short walk around the town centre will find most varieties of cuisine.

• Hoodeners Horse, The Street Great Chart +44 (0)1233 625583 Mexican English, cosy pub eaterie fresh food cooked to order and a range of real ales.
• Pizza Express, 14 North Street, +44 (0)1233 637 700. Typical Italian, Pizzas, Pasta dishes and salads. Pizzas upto £8.25 Menu
• The Royal Spice, Ashford Rd, Bethersden. +44 (0)1233 820280. Good Indian food served in a very modern environment, in a converted public house on the A28, towards Tenterden. The Royal Spice restaurant. The Royal Spice is closed until 14th October 2008 because of a fire.
• Trattoria Romana Restaurant, 32 Bank St. +44 (0)1233 638033. Italian food in a friendly atmosphere.
• Yeung's, 6-10 North Street, +44 (0)1233 613 813. Open seven days, 12noon - 3.00pm and 6.00pm - 11.00pm. Oriental Buffet restaurant with over 40 freshly prepared dishes to choose from, eat as much as you like. £5.80-£10.80 per person.
• Zarin, 31 Bank Street, +44 (0)1233 620 511. Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week (including Bank Holidays). Lunch: Mon - Sat 12noon - 2:30pm, Dinner: Mon - Thurs 6pm - 11:30pm, Fri & Sat 6pm - 12 midnight, Sunday: 12noon - 11pm. Smart, modern Indian restaurant. Zarin restaurant

Further out of town, pubs offer good food at reasonable prices. Wye also has some good restaurants.

• The New Inn, Canterbury Road, Etchinghill, (jnc 11, M20), +44 (0) 1303 862026. [1]A 16th century coaching inn, village pub and highly popular restaurant. Fantastic reputation for fine cuisine, open seven days a week for lunches and evening meals. Terrific food, real ale, oak beams & cosy atmosphere. The New Inn website
• The Swan, A20 Charing (Maidstone side) (From roundabout in Charing, take Maidstone turn. On left after 100m), ☎ 01233 712357, [2]. 3 restaurants in one. Thai, steak bar and sushi bar - all are highly recommended and reasonably priced. Well decorated in an unusual style. Booking is advisable at the weekend.  edit
• Riverside Inn, Torrington Road (Opposite the Designer Outlet. Off Asda roundabout then right into Beaver Road and then 2nd right again into Torrington Road), ☎ 01233 633404. Just a five minute walk from the International Station this country feel family pub has a high reputation for food. Two beer gardens. Open 7 days a week Lunch:- 12-2pm, 12-4pm Sundays. Evenings 6-9pm Monday-Saturday. Tuesday Steak Night and Wednesday Mexican Night. Find us its worth it.  edit

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.

• Bar 27, 27 High Street. Very friendly bar with great food, nice interior and outside seating in Summer.
• The County Hotel, 10 High St. A large Wetherspoons pub serving food and drink busy from Thursday to Saturday.
• Riverside Inn, Torrington Rd. Small pub located in South Ashford. (From the designer outlet shopping centre, walk across the foot bridge over the road and you are there.
• William Harvey Inn, Church Rd, Willesborough. A 350 year old traditional pub. From Ashford town centre travel out along the A292, Hythe Road towards Hythe, with the windmill on your left turn right at the traffic lights in to Church Road
• The Hare & Hounds, Maidstone Rd. An old pub just a couple of miles out of the town along the A20, heading towards Maidstone.
• The Hoodeners Horse, The Street, Great Chart.+44 (0)1233 625583 Serving Mexican style food, located in the village, near the A28 on the way to Tenterden.
• The Flying Horse Inn, Boughton Lees. An old pub on the Pilgrims Way, adjacent to the village cricket field in Boughton on the A251 heading towards Faversham.
• The Tickled Trout Public House, Bridge St, Wye. A busy country pub adjacent to Wye railway station and the River Great Stour.

• Broadhembury Caravan & Camping Park, Steeds Lane. Tel: +44 (0)1233 620859 - Follow Romney Marsh Road through Kingsnorth and turn left into Steeds Lane. 3.7 miles from Ashford. broadhembury.co.uk
• Dunn Street Farm. Tel: +44 (0)1233 712 537 - Head North-West along the A20 and then right to Westwell. 4.9 miles from Ashford.

• Travel Inn, Orbital Business Park, Sevington. Tel: 0870 197 7305
• Travelodge, Eureka Leisure park, near M20 junction 9. Tel: +44 (0)1233 213 000

• Holiday Inn, Maidstone Rd, Tel: +44 (0)1233 713333
• The Conningbrook, Canterbury Road conningbrookashford.co.uk, Tel: +44 (0)1233 636 863

• Ashford International Hotel, Simone Weil Avenue, near M20 junction 9. Tel: +44 (0)1233 219 988
• Eastwell Manor, Boughton Aluph. An old manor house that must be seen. It is expensive to stay, but lunch is available by booking for £10 for 2 courses or £15 for three. OS map 189 - TR016475 GPS: 51° 11.501 N 000° 53.061 E for those arriving by helicopter! Tel: +44 (0)1233 213 000 eastwellmanor.co.uk

• Liquid & Life Nightclub, The Flour Mill, East Hill. Tel: +44 (0)1233 613 333

A nightclub based in the Flourmills 5 minutes walk downhill from the town centre. 'Life' plays cheesy music from 70's, 80' and nineties, 'Liquid' opts for dance orientated music and R&B.

Over 21's, Smart Shoes and Collar on Saturdays.