Visit Tonbridge Places

Welcome to Visit Tonbridge Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Tonbridge

  

Tonbridge Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Tonbridge

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Tonbridge history

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The town was recorded in the Domesday Book 1087 as Tonebrige, which may indicate a bridge belonging to the estate or manor. Another theory suggests that the name is a contraction of “town of bridges”, due to the large number of streams the High Street originally crossed. Until 1870, the town’s name was spelt Tunbridge, as shown on old maps including the 1871 Ordnance Survey map and contemporary issues of the Bradshaw railway guide.

Normans and Tonbridge Castle

Tonbridge stands on a spur of higher land where the marshy River Medway could be more easily forded. A motte and bailey castle was built here in the 11th century by Richard Fitz Gilbert, son of the murdered guardian of William the Conqueror in his infancy. For much of its existence, the town remained to the north of the river, since the land to the south was subject to extensive seasonal flooding.

Medieval

Tonbridge was taken by King John after the signing of the Magna Carta. The town was besieged by Prince Edward, son of Henry III, who burnt it rather than see it fall. The castle became an official residence and records repository of Edward II. During Queen Mary’s reign the town was involved in an uprising against the Queen’s marriage to Spain.

17th and 18th centuries

In 1740 an Act of Parliament was passed to make the River Medway navigable to Tonbridge by the Medway Navigation Company. During the Civil War the town was garrisoned by the Parliamentarian side who refortified the castle. Later, the town and its surroundings became famous for the production of finely inlaid wooden cabinets, boxes and other objects called Tunbridgeware.

19th century to present

During the March 1880 parliamentary election, Tonbridge was the scene of a riot. During World War II a prisoner of war camp was built at the junction of Tudeley Lane and Pembury Road. Ruth Ellis, the last woman in the United Kingdom to be hanged, was married at the registry office in Tonbridge on 8 November 1950.

Securitas depot robbery

Tonbridge was the location of the largest cash theft in British criminal history. On 22 February 2006, over £53.1 million was stolen from the Securitas cash-handling depot in Vale Road to the east of the High Street. Five people were convicted at the Old Bailey in 2008.

You can visit Tonbridge places with Walkfo Tonbridge to hear history at Tonbridge’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Tonbridge has 20 places to visit in our interactive Tonbridge map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Tonbridge, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Tonbridge places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Tonbridge & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 20 audio facts unique to Tonbridge places in an interactive Tonbridge map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Tonbridge Places Map
20 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Tonbridge historic spots	Tonbridge tourist destinations	Tonbridge plaques	Tonbridge geographic features
Walkfo Tonbridge tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Tonbridge

  

Best Tonbridge places to visit

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Tonbridge has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Tonbridge’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Tonbridge’s information audio spots:

Oast Theatre, Tonbridge The Oast Theatre is based in an old oast house in Tonbridge, Kent. It is home to the Tonbridge Theatre and Arts Club. The theatre seats 112 people.

Corn Exchange, Tonbridge The Corn Exchange is a former chapel, trading facility and military installation at Bank Street in Tonbridge, Kent. It was a former military installation and trading facility at the Corn Exchange.

Tonbridge Castle Tonbridge Castle is situated in Tonbridge, Kent, England. The castle is located in the town of Tonbridge in the middle of Kent.

Lullingstone Country Park Lullingstone Country Park is a former deer park of a large estate. It was later sold to become an open-space and woodland park. The park is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest Kent.

Haysden Country Park Haysden Country Park is a 64-hectare (160-acre) country park and Local Nature Reserve. It is owned by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, the Highways Agency, Network Rail and the Environment Agency.

All Saints’ Church, Tudeley All Saints’ Church in Tudeley, Kent, England, is the only church in the world that has all its windows in stained glass designed by Marc Chagall.

Visit Tonbridge plaques