Ashford is a railway town which grew up around the locomotive works of the South Eastern Railway. This close link with the railway continues today with the International Passenger Station opened in 1996.
TI 18 Church Yard. Tel. 01233 629165.
A varied collection illustrating Ashford's history, housed in the old Grammar School of 1635.
Open Apr-Oct, TWThFS 1100-1400.
www.ashfordmuseum.org.uk
A 400 acre park with elephants, tigers, lions, black rhinos and gorillas.
Safari trailer rides. Mansion and formal gardens. Restaurant.
Tel. 0844 842 4647.
Open Daily 0930-1800, last admission 1500 (1430 winter).
www.aspinallfoundation.org
Bus 10 from Rail Station to entrance, about 50 minutes journey.
M-S hourly, Sun & BH 2-hourly. Operated by Stagecoach.
Buses also operate from Sandling.
Friendly farm animals, Play Barn and animal encounters, woodland walks, aerial runways and trailer rides.
Restaurant. Tel. 01233 861493.
Open Apr-Oct, Daily 1030-1730. Nov-Mar, please see website.
www.rarebreeds.org.uk
Bus 2A from Rail Station (stop D) to Rare Breeds Centre, about 35 minutes journey.
Sun & BH only, about 2-hourly. Operated by Stagecoach.
Tenterden is a traditional Kentish town with a picturesque wide High Street lined with weather-boarded shops. If you are happy to travel by bus (and steam railway) it makes a good base for exploring Kent and East Sussex.
TI Town Hall, tel. 01580 763572.
Bus 2/2A from Rail Station (stop D) to Tenterden.
M-S both routes 2-hourly, Sun & BH 2A only about every 2 hours, 40-50 minutes journey.
Operated by Stagecoach.
Buses to Tenterden also operate from Headcorn
and Rye.
Accomodation in Tenterden:
A 10½ mile preserved steam railway from Tenterden to Bodiam.
Tel. 01580 765155, timetable 01580 762943.
Open please see website for details.
www.kesr.org.uk
Bus see Tenterden above.
Buses to Bodiam (the other end of the Railway) operate from Hastings
and Wadhurst.
This museum at Tenterden station tells the story of the man who built and ran the K&ESR and
many other Light Railways. Admission free, donations welcome.
Open Apr-Oct, afternoons when K&ESR trains are running.
www.hfstephens-museum.org.uk
Bus see Tenterden above.
The Museum covers local history with maps, models and exhibits of Tenterden, local buildings, industries and agriculture.
The Museum is housed in a weather-boarded industrial building, a type once common in the area. Tel. 01580 764310.
Open Easter-Sep, Daily 1330-1630, opens 1100 Jul-Sep.
www.tenterdenmuseum.co.uk
Bus see Tenterden above.
