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Verified Nov 2026
Ashford
Ashford is a town in Kent. This page brings together local businesses, events and things to do in and around the town, from the Church Yard and the markets to its railway heritage, so you can see what is nearby and what is on, whether you live here, work here or are visiting.
Businesses in Ashford
Removals
Minters Ltd
Removals and storage company at Sandwich Industrial Estate: domestic, commercial and worldwide moves, packing, clearance and self-store.
Verified Oct 2026
Cleaners
Astute Clean
Exterior cleaning across Kent from Gravesend: driveways, patios, roofs, gutters, render, windows, solar panels and graffiti removal.
Verified Oct 2026
Taxis
Kent Taxi Services
Taxi and private hire booking service in Gravesend covering Kent: airport and seaport transfers, school runs, hospital trips and wheelchair accessible taxis.
Verified Oct 2026
ElectriciansPlumbers
Plumbing & Electrical
Plumbing and electrical call-outs for homes and businesses across Kent and Medway, from Gravesend: boilers, drains, rewires, EICR and EV chargers.
Verified Oct 2026
Taxis
Same Day Couriers Kent
Courier booking service in Gravesend: same day, contract, medical, legal and parts deliveries collected across Kent and delivered UK-wide.
Verified Oct 2026
Roofers
R & A Roofing & Sons
Cranbrook roofing company: new roofs, repairs, roofline, chimney and leadwork, and storm damage call-outs across Kent and East Sussex.
Verified Oct 2026
Plumbers
Louis Gas & Heating
Gas Safe heating engineers for boilers, central heating, gas safety certificates, plumbing and bathrooms across Medway, Dartford and Sevenoaks district.
Verified Oct 2026
Things to do in Ashford
Places to visit
Parks & Walks
Conningbrook Lakes Country Park
34 hectare lakeside country park beside the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford, with walking paths, wildlife areas, picnic benches and public art.
Dog Friendly
Parks & Walks
Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve
97 hectare ancient woodland reserve at Hamstreet with three waymarked trails of 2.5 to 5 km, a short walk from Ham Street station.
Parks & Walks
Hothfield Heathlands
86 hectare heath and bog reserve near Ashford with four waymarked walks, boardwalks and a 500m all-weather trail. No toilets on site.
Dog Friendly
Parks & Walks
King’s Wood
588 hectare Kent Downs woodland near Challock with walking routes, a sculpture trail, a mountain bike route and pay-by-app parking.
Parks & Walks
Wye National Nature Reserve
Chalk downland reserve above Wye with orchids, a circular nature trail, wide views over Romney Marsh and the Weald, and two car parks.
Guides
GuideFamily Days Out, Parks & Walks
Ashford and Tenterden: heathland, woods, nature reserves and the steam railway
Hothfield Heathlands, Conningbrook Lakes, King's Wood, Wye and Ham Street Woods reserves, plus Tenterden's steam railway, St Mildred's and Kiln Field.
Food & drink in Ashford
Farm Shops & Producers
Brabourne Vineyard
Family-run vineyard at East Brabourne with booked tours and tastings, weekend table bookings, cellar door and online shop.
Verified Oct 2026
Farm Shops & Producers
Oast Wood Vineyard
Family-run vineyard near Tenterden with a weekend tasting room, booked tours and an online wine shop.
Verified Oct 2026
Farm Shops & Producers
Perry Court Farm
Family-run farm shop, tearoom and butchery counter on the A28 above Wye, selling home-grown produce and local Kent food.
Verified Oct 2026
Farm Shops & Producers
Pluckley Farm Shop
Farm shop on Smarden Road, Pluckley, selling pork and local meat, bread, dairy, produce and hampers.
Verified Oct 2026
Farm Shops & Producers
Westwell Wines
Winery and vineyard near Charing with a Friday to Sunday cellar door, bar and shop, tours and tastings and online shop.
Verified Oct 2026
Farm Shops & ProducersPubs
Curious Brewery
Brewery on Victoria Road, Ashford, making lager, IPA and cider, with an online beer shop, a taproom and restaurant, brewery tours and event hire.
Verified Oct 2026
Walking & Rambling
Ashford (Kent) Ramblers
A friendly walking group that leads countryside rambles across Kent and East Sussex most Sundays. There are also occasional shorter Saturday and evening walks for anyone who wants a gentler outing.
Running
Ashford & District Road Running Club
An adult running club with group runs at set paces, coached track nights and strength sessions through the week. Runners of all abilities are welcome, and you can arrange a trial session before joining.
Games & Hobbies
Ashford Astronomical Society
A sociable astronomy group that meets monthly for a talk followed by telescope observing when the skies are clear. Everyone is welcome, and members are encouraged to bring their own telescopes along.
Music & Choirs
Ashford Choral Society
A welcoming choir that performs at least three concerts a year with a professional orchestra and soloists. Singers of every ability are encouraged to join, including people who have not sung for years.
Photography
Ashford Photographic Society
A long-established camera club with weekly club nights, competitions, workshops and members' outings. Visitors can come along to a couple of meetings free before deciding to join.
Cycling
Ashford Wheelers Cycling Club
A long-running Ashford road cycling club with a steady weekend social ride, a coffee stop along the way, and summer evening time trials. Newer riders can try the Saturday Spin, a moderate-paced ride added for 2026.
Local news
Ashford
Victoria Park becomes Ashford’s new base for cycle training
Victoria Park becomes Ashford’s cycle-training base, connecting residents with KCC courses for beginners and returning riders.
Ashford
Willesborough Windmill, Ashford: how a working mill became local heritage
Discover Willesborough Windmill in Ashford, its nineteenth-century machinery, restoration and place in the town’s working history.
Ashford
Elwick Place plans combine Ashford cinema with games and workspace
Ashford’s March 2026 Elwick Place announcement proposes games, live events and workspace alongside the existing cinema.
Town guide
About Ashford
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford, and Ashford Borough Council is the local authority. The council says it has moved its offices from the Civic Centre on Tannery Lane to International House.
The town has a long record. Ashford Museum’s heritage website says Domesday Book recorded Ashford in 1086 with a church, two mills and 21 households. Historic England lists the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin at Grade I (list entry 1071114), and Ashford Borough Council’s museums page puts Ashford Museum in the Church Yard in the town centre. The museum’s heritage website says the Wilks Memorial Hall, which houses a large part of the museum, was built in 1635 as Ashford’s Free Grammar School.
Railway engineering is part of the story too. Kent’s Historic Environment Record dates the first phase of the locomotive workshops at the Newtown Railway Works to 1847 and 1848, and Historic England lists the engine shed at Grade II (list entry 1389435).
Getting there and around
Ashford International station is on Station Road, and National Rail lists Southeastern as its manager. Southeastern’s High Speed trains link the station with London St Pancras International, and National Rail shows which operators call and the current journey times.
Ashford Borough Council says RingGo covers its on-street and off-street parking across the borough, and its car park pages include Elwick Road, Vicarage Lane and Station Road. The council’s heritage trail gives the Lower High Street market as Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Tariffs and trading days change, so check the council’s pages before you set out.
Map of Ashford
Nearby places
Questions about Ashford
Which council covers Ashford?
Ashford Borough Council is the local authority for the town, and its own news page says it has moved from the Civic Centre on Tannery Lane to International House. The Office for National Statistics counted about 132,700 people in the borough at the 2021 census.
Is there a train station in Ashford?
Ashford International station is on Station Road, and National Rail lists Southeastern as its manager. Southeastern runs High Speed trains between the station and London St Pancras International. National Rail shows which operators call and the current journey times and fares, so check it before you travel.
Where can I park in Ashford?
Ashford Borough Council says RingGo covers its on-street and off-street parking across the borough. Its car park pages list sites including Elwick Road, Vicarage Lane, Victoria Road and Station Road, with details for each. Charges and any free periods change, so check the council's page for the car park you plan to use.
When is Ashford market on?
Ashford Borough Council's heritage trail gives the Lower High Street market as Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and a council notice from April 2025 says the United Makers of Kent Food and Creative Market is held in Ashford town centre on the first Saturday of the month, from 10am to 4pm. Trading days and locations can change, so check the council's pages.
Where is Ashford Museum?
Ashford Museum is in the Church Yard in the town centre, according to Ashford Borough Council's museums page. The museum's heritage website says the Wilks Memorial Hall, which houses a large part of the museum, was built in 1635 as Ashford's Free Grammar School. Check the museum's own website for opening times before you visit.
