So many beautiful settings are within easy reach when you hire a car in Ashford. From country houses set in tranquil, leafy parks to the bustling streets of London, you can enjoy a quintessential slice of English life.
The Garden of England
Kent is the epitome of country bliss. The landscapes are idyllic, yes, but it’s also down to the community who really treasure and protect the natural scenery. Catch sight of hares, deer and red squirrels bounding through the fields and forests and look up to see majestic birds of prey swooping through the sky, including Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons.
Historic castles peep up through the trees, creating a setting fit for a fairy tale – like Leeds Castle, which feels eternally romantic. Swans glide through the tranquil waters of the moat while the perfectly-coiffed hedges of the maze invite you to get lost. This fantastical setting is just 20 minutes’ drive from Ashford, while the famously beautiful Sissinghurst Castle Gardens are half an hour to the west.
A perfect day in Ashford
There are plenty of high street shops, department stores and locally-run shops to explore in the centre of Ashford. Head to the local bowling alley for an afternoon of family fun, and make sure you pass by the Mark IV WW1 tank in Saint George’s Square, gifted to the town in 1919 for their wartime fundraising efforts.
When the sun is shining, Victoria Park is a beautiful place to explore, curving alongside the Great Stour river. Follow the tree-lined pathways, walk along the banks of the river and stop by the Hubert Fountain - an elaborate three-tier, cast-iron fountain decorated with classical figures.
Go to Godinton
In a small village, 10 minutes’ drive north of Ashford, you can bask in the grandeur of Godinton House. This stately home is 600 years old, filled to the brim with intriguing relics and decor harking from medieval to Victorian – but it’s the surrounding gardens that really steal the limelight.
From lily ponds to walled gardens, trickling stone fountains to daffodil meadows, this whimsical landscape seems to roll on forever. There’s a delightful calendar of events and gardening workshops throughout the year, so if you want to get involved, have a look at the schedule online.
The Big Smoke
Hiring a car in Ashford means you can drive into the centre of London in as little as an hour-and-a-half. It’s convenient for business meetings, yes, but also an exciting day trip. No matter how many times you visit the capital, there’s always something new waiting for you to explore.
You could tick off the big sights like Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the London Eye, or dive straight into the bustling shopping scene on Oxford Street.
Tuck into a street food feast at Borough Market, where you’ll find everything from oysters to Thai and sugary sweet treats, or go all out and indulge your taste buds at a Michelin-star restaurant. You could even catch a matinee performance of a West End show, before driving back to the sanctuary of Ashford.
Hire a car in Ashford and enjoy a break to remember in this picturesque corner of England.
