Whats On In and Around Staplehurst
Staplehurst in Tonbridge, Kent is steeped in history and a very interesting place to visit. Charles Dickens was a passenger on a train in 1865 when it crashed, which derailed on a bridge over the river between Staplehurst and Headcorn. In the first of the derailed coaches was Dickens, who was returning home from holiday in Paris with his young mistress, Ellen Ternan and her mother. The village also contains some picturesque old houses, including Tudor Loddenden Manor, Great Pagehurst farmhouse and Iden Manor which welcomes visitors to its herb farm. Brattle Farm Museum has a fine collection of vintage cars, tractors and agricultural machinery and equipment, much of it saved from a disastrous fire in 1984.
Click here to view the Abbotsleigh Care Home page.
Weald Cottage Bed & Breakfast
If you are planning to visit our Care Home in Staplehurst or you’re visiting a relative or friend living with us, you might consider a night’s stop over at a nearby Bed & Breakfast: Weald Cottage B&B is a pretty, white, weather-boarded cottage with parts of the house dating back to the 1850s. Situated on the main A229 Maidstone Road and just 3 minutes from Staplehurst Railway Station, it is an ideal base for visiting the many attractions in the area or a day out in London, and less than a mile from Abbotsleigh Care Home. Double or Twin rooms (double occupancy) start from £75/night – including breakfast.
Click here to visit the Weald Cottage Bed & Breakfast page on the Trip Advisor website for more information.
Teapot Island
Teapot Island is a great place to visit to stroll along the banks of the River Medway in Maidstone, before stopping for a break in their onsite café. Sit outside in their garden and enjoy the wildlife, or simply look around their exhibition of over 4,000 teapots! They make great gifts and are available to buy. Residents of Abbotsleigh Care Home enjoy visiting Teapot Island in the warmer months – a short ride in the Mini Bus, less than 9 miles away.
Click here to visit the Teapot Island website for more information.
Monk Lakes
Monk Lakes is a 120-acre fishery off the A229 just south of Maidstone in Kent. This is a wonderful place for keen anglers with amazing fishing lakes and river banks, and for those just after some fresh air and beautiful scenery. On the River Beult, Monk Lakes also has a great café offering a varied menu of hot and cold foods for breakfast and lunch.
Click here to visit the Monk Lakes website for more information.
Hawkhurst Fish Farm
A stunning Carp fishery on the Kent and sussex border, Hawkhurst Fish Farm is a around 12 miles away from Abbotsleigh Care Home. The Waterside Café is a perfect place to go for Afternoon Tea or to enjoy something from their wide variety of freshly cooked homemade meals. They have great fishing lakes and other facilities including an aquatics shop, and visit on a Wednesday for “Special Priced Senior Lunches”!
Click here to visit the Hawkhurst Fish Farm website for more information.
Millbrook Garden Centre
Conveniently located on the A229, this is the newest of Millbrook’s Garden Centres (formerly Highgrove Garden Centre). Millbrook is very close by to Abbotsleigh Care Home making it an ideal place to visit for a spot of lunch, or coffee and cake, in their award-winning Greencafé. Residents and their families regularly visit the garden centre and enjoy browsing through the giftware, home furnishings and craft department, and the onsite aquatic centre.
Click here to visit the Millbrook website for more information.
All Saints Church Staplehurst
This popular, 12th century Parish church is built on the top of the hill, roughly in the centre of the village. Often referred to as the “Church on the hill”, it rises above the flat weald which was once a dense forest. It is built on a layer of limestone, which breaks through the surface at this point on the hill together with fresh springs of water. The vicar from All Saints Church visits the residents of Abbotsleigh Care Home once a month, and our local families have a close connection with the church.
Click here to visit the All Saints Church Staplehurst website for more information.
Sissinghurst Castle
Sissinghurst Castle is a National Trust treasure with a deep and rich history, and surrounding gardens of outstanding beauty. Its estate has 460 acres of beautiful countryside making it a perfect place to visit, relax and unwind. With many events held throughout the year, Sissinghurst Castle has lots to offer from winter trails to photography exhibitions. No trip to Sissinghurst would be complete without stopping by their restaurant and shops either. From tasty treats to a wonderful array of gifts and garden inspired products, or a plant nurtured by our gardeners, there is something to tempt everyone.
Click here to visit the Nation Trust and Sissinghurst Castle website for more information.