Beautiful little town with a world-class vineyard as good as anything in France

A beautiful little UK town has a world-class vineyard as good as anything in France.

Tenterden, a small market town in Kent, has a population of just over 8,000 and is located just 30 minutes from the seaside and county town Maidstone.

Often included on best places to live lists, the town is known as the Jewel of the Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that was once covered with forest. 

The wide and historic high street is lined with broadleaf trees alongside Victorian and Georgian homes and businesses set back from the road and made with Kent tile and weatherboard.

The area is also jam-packed with independent shops dotted along the road including jewellers, gift shops, a florist and more with views of the 12th-century tower at the 15th-century parish church of St Mildred.

It stands on the edge of the Weald, overlooking the valley of the River Rother. Established in the 12th century, Tenterden was a port where the sea crept up the valley.

The area is home to much of the UK’s wine industry with a number of vineyards in the area including Biddenden, Sandhurst, Gusbourne and Harbourne.

Set amidst the rolling hills a short way from Tenterden is Chapel Down Winery, a 750-acre vineyard and England’s leading wine producer.

Producing both still and sparkling wines, Chapel Down is known for supplying popular events like Royal Ascot as well as 10 Downing Street and The London Stock Exchange.

The vineyard offers a range of different experiences to choose from, ranging from bespoke wine tasting for £20 to a guided tour with tasting and a three-course meal for £130 a person.

There are 13 grape fields to explore, growing various types of grapes for red, white and sparkling wines, as well as a herb garden and a picnic area if you fancy bringing a picnic after a walk around the vineyard.

Along with the vineyards, there’s an on-site restaurant with 2 AA rosettes, offering bespoke tasting and fine dining experiences.

Among the area’s attractions are Hole Park, St Nicholas Church, Bodiam Castle & Kent and East Sussex Railway. There are also walking and cycle trails through the High Weald countryside and Stillwater trout fishing at Tenterden Trout Waters.

Among Tenterden’s other attractions are Colonel Stephens Railway Museum, Kent & East Sussex Railway Museum, Smallhythe Place, Tenterden Family Fun Trail, and Tenterden Museum

It also has several seasonal events including the Chrismas Market, the Folk Festival, the Spirit of Tenterden Festival and Tributes in the Park.