18 of the most picture-perfect Kent villages you’ll want to move to right away

Stunning rural backdrops, acres of land, large beautiful houses and a tight community spirit. Those are almost-guaranteed aspects of life in one of Kent’s gorgeous villages.

Our beautiful county has dozens of pretty settlements to choose from – some coastal, others closer to London. And some you may never have heard of.

They will undoubtedly be steeped in history with clues of its past scattered around – perhaps in the form of beautiful churches or even simply old stone walls lining the way.

What these 18 villages have in common is they are so picture-perfect that once you see them, you’ll want to move there straight away. But don’t take our word for it, take a look for yourself.

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Goudhurst

Goudhurst is a delight with its village high street tumbling down the steep hill from the church to the village pond.

The village grew in prosperity in the 1330s, as Flemish weavers expanded from their base in Cranbrook to create the Kentish broadcloth industry

Their preference for drinking hopped beer, rather than the existing ale, led to the establishment of the Kentish hop industry, which shaped the agricultural landscape around the village, and provided a great many livelihoods in the area.

Sissinghurst

Sissinghurst is a small village near Tunbridge Wells which packs oodles of charm.

But the jewel in the crown of this stunning Kent village is probably the castle and its gardens – probably the most famous in the UK

Sissinghurst Castle Garden was created by Vita Sackville-West, poet and writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson, author and diplomat. It is among the most famous gardens in England and is designated Grade I on Historic England’s register of historic parks and gardens.

The garden is designed as a series of “rooms”, each with a different character of colour and/or theme, divided by high clipped hedges and pink brick walls.

Wingham

Just off the ancient coastal road, between Sandwich and Canterbury lies Wingham.

The stunning village offers a range of amenities including a doctors surgery, post office, village shops, the highly regarded public house/restaurant ‘The Dog’ and the popular Wingham Wildlife Park.

That’s a hell of a list for a small village right?

Biddenden

A typical English village, set in the picturesque countryside near Ashford.

It is also home to one of Kent’s only Michelin star restaurants.

Latticed windowed weavers cottages stretch the full length of the high street, which is flanked on both sides by stone quarried long ago from nearby Bethersden.

The village is not just famous for its pretty streets but on the green stands a most attractive sign, carved and painted by a local crafts man, of a pair of twins, known as the Biddenden Maids.

The story describes how Elisa and Mary Chulkhurst who lived in this condition for 34 years, when one of them died.

The other, refusing, or more likely, it being impossible for her to be separated from her sisters body, died shortly afterwards.

Bethersden

Speaking of Bethersden, we couldn’t really miss this stunning village a few miles out of Ashford from our list.

The village has two pubs– The Bull and The George. It also has a beautiful church, built in the early 15th century, and a Baptist church.

It also has a small but very friendly community with a surprisingly wide range of leisure facilities.

Shepherdswell

Village social life centres on the local Grade I listed church ‘Church of St Andrew’, and the village hall which hosts events including charity jumble sales and a pre-school playgroup.

The village pub is the Grade II listed Bell by the village green, near to the church.

And there’s even a Co-Op nestled away in this quaint village – what more could you want?

Chilham

Nestled between Ashford and Canterbury in the valley of the Great River Stour, Chilham is one of the most charming villages in the Kent Downs.

Full of Tudor and Jacobean houses, Chilham is centred on a historic market square with the gates of Chilham Castle at one side and of the square and a 13th century church on the other.

Much of the village is designated a heritage conservation area, which has led to its use as a location in television and film.

High Halden

This beautiful village is on the A28 road between Ashford and Tenterden, three miles north of the latter town.

The expansive green is the perfect place to take stock of the village’s breathtaking surroundings.

The large pub The Chequers on the Green, circa 1620, is known to have been used by smugglers and the various gangs such as the “Hawkhurst and Cranbrook gangs” that were active in the mid-18th century.

Kilndown

Technically Kilndown is a hamlet and not a village but that only makes its quaint charm more inspiring.

It is nestled within acres and acres of gorgeous countryside and not too far from equally pretty Goudhurst.

And it is even home to one of the county’s top restaurants, The Small Holding.

Fordwich

If you’re driving around the pleasant countryside around Canterbury, you may find yourself stumbling across a hidden gem of Kent.

But don’t blink too hard, or you’ll miss it – it’s Fordwich, the tiniest town in the UK.

Perhaps though, the one thing you couldn’t say about it is that it’s modest.

As soon as you enter the town you’re hit with a sign announcing it’s “Britain’s smallest town”. Just in case there’s any debate.

Sure, Forwich isn’t technically a village, but it has all of the charms of one.

From the town hall – supposedly also the smallest in the UK – to the 16 century Watergate House, there are plenty of interesting things to look at.

And that’s not least the stunning bridge over the River Stour, which is a delight to walk over and take photos of.

Alkham/Temple Ewell

You will find the Alkham Valley and Temple Ewell on a long stretch of road between Folkestone and Dover North.

The Alkham Valley is recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and boosts ancient wooded areas, cottages and stunning views across large areas of countryside.

A few miles up the road is Temple Ewell, where you will find Grade II listed Russell Gardens and neighbouring country estate Kearsney Abbey.

Pluckley

Famed for being the most haunted village in England, there is far more to Pluckley than just ghosts and gouls.

A traditional Wealden village in the Ashford district, the village is blessed with many old, listed properties and was the film location for the popular television series The Darling Buds of May.

Ightham

Between Tonbridge and Sevenoaks lies the beautiful village of Ightham.

The parish includes the hamlet of Ivy Hatch. Ightham is famous for the nearby medieval manor of Ightham Mote, although the village itself is of greater antiquity.

Dating from around 1320, the building was described by Nicholas Pevsner as ‘the most complete small medieval manor house in the country’.

Cobham

Cobham is situated on the northern slope of the North Downs in the Gravesham district of Kent.

With an old picturesque village street and over 450 buildings, Cobham is known for its links to Charles Dickens who loved to walk from his home in Higham through Cobham Park to work through the story lines of his novels.

The Leather Bottle Inn pub was Dicken’s local boozer, and even featured in his first novel The Pickwick Papers.

Today the pub retains the charm that no doubt attracted Dickens and houses a fine collection of Dickensian memorabilia.

Chiddingstone

Chiddingstone is a National Trust site and one of the oldest villages in Kent.

One of the best preserved Tudor villages in the country, step back and time and enjoy Chiddingstone’s well-preserved historic buildings, cobbled pavements and its narrow main street.

The picturesque village is in the Sevenoaks district located on the River Eden.

Elham

Nestling in the heart of the inspiring Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Beauty, the historic village of Elham is truly one of the most picturesque in east Kent.

There is a wealth of public footpaths, bridle paths and cycle routes on the doorstep.

The village has a good range of amenities including tea rooms, primary school, doctor’s surgery, two pubs, one containing a Post Office facility, two churches, a restaurant/coaching inn and thriving village hall, together with floodlit tennis courts.

Appledore

A village lying on the edge of Romney Marsh overlooking the Royal Military Canal, Appledore is primarily a one street village lined with cottages and houses with pretty front gardens.

The village has a Post Office, village store, three pubs, and antique shops, along with many medieval hosues and a 14th century church.

Smarden

The enchanting village of Smarden was established around the 14th century, which is blessed with attractive historic cottages, a medieval church, and three pubs.

Its quiet simplicity and lush surrounding pasture land has seen it branded by some as the most beautiful village in Kent.

Penshurst

Penshurst is a small unspoilt village in beautiful countryside situated in an area known as The Weald of Kent. It lies between two rivers and is famous for an ancestral home once owned by Henry VIII.

Old timber-framed buildings and converted oast houses afford interest to visitors but traditions such as cricket, still played on one of England’s oldest pitches, and the village fete are still very much part of the community today.