Exploring the streets and lanes of a historic Kent market town
The moment you arrive at the picturesque town of West Malling, you’ll be charmed by its appealing historic High Street. West Malling’s intriguing prosperous past mingles effortlessly with the cafés, restaurants, independent boutiques, and welcoming old inns that you’ll discover today.
Like so many fascinating towns and villages in Kent, the centuries of country life and its surrounding landscape play a significant role in the community, especially in West Malling. You’ll find a delightful Farmers' Market selling local produce here on the 4th Sunday of the month to tempt your tastebuds.
Don’t let me fool you into believing that West Malling is just about the High Street. We discovered beautiful historic homes during our few hours exploring West Malling, an unusual waterfall, quaint little courtyards, and an ancient Norman tower built in the early 12th-century.
![The pin image for our post - 'A delightful visit to West Malling in Kent'](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/A-delightful-visit-to-West-Malling-in-Kent-Pin.jpg)
We arrived at West Malling by car, so our visit starts from the centrally located car park in town. Note that the car park is Pay and Display; however, to make life easier, download the RingGo app so that you don’t have to worry about loose change.
West Malling is accessible by train direct from London; we’ve popped in a link below regarding the Southeastern train options.
So, let’s head off on a little self-guided tour of West Malling to see what we found and discover the RAF connections at nearby Kings Hill.
How to get to West Malling
By Train - You can catch a direct train from London Victoria to West Malling Station, which takes around 50 minutes. It's then a 10 minute walk to the centre of town.
By Car – West Malling can be easily accessed from the M20 (jct. 4).
Swan Street, West Malling
Striking architecture and a tumbling ‘Cascade’We head in the direction of Swan Street, full of beautiful homes, tempting pubs and a Benedictine abbey.
We first pass by the Mill Yard, a delightful courtyard now home to independent shops, a gallery and a tearoom. Dating from the 16th-century, this historic yard would have certainly been welcoming a different style of clientele back in the day.
![A white-painted sign & logo for Mill Yard on the side of a black weatherboarded grain tower in West Malling, Kent](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Mill-Yard-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
![An old red brick and Kent ragstone tower is hidden in Mill yard in West Malling, Kent](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Historic-buildings-in-Mill-Yard-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
![The Swan Public House on Swan Street in West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-Swan-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
Hiking the Kent Countryside
St Mary’s Abbey, West Malling
Home to a community of Benedictine nuns![The medieval stone gated entrance to St Mary’s Abbey in West Malling, Kent](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/St-Marys-Abbey-West-Malling-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
Swan Street’s charismatic architecture
A stroll through historyAs we continue down Swan Street, there is one gorgeous home after another and so lovingly kept and many from the Georgian period.
Also, along Swan Street, Abbey Brewery once stood, a bustling factory supplying ale to West Malling and its many taverns. Today the character of the brewery sympathetically remains in places along with Abbey Brewery House and cottages.
![The red-brick Georgian Abbey Brewery House, with its bold red entrance & side door on Swan Street, West Malling, Kent](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Abbey-Brewery-House-West-Malling-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
Where to stay in West Malling
![A red brick, late Stuart mansion in the Queen Anne style at the lower end of Swan Street in West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Went-House-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
Malling Abbey Cascade
A surprising Georgian waterfallOne of West Malling’s unusual landmarks is The Cascades, a bizarre water feature in town that really still remains a bit of a mystery to historians.
The weathered plaque on the Georgian waterfall refers to a date of 1810; however, research has identified it to be older than early the 19th-century, and the plaque was added later.
![Water cascading down a 1.5-metre man-made waterfall through a medieval stone arch at the rear of St Mary’s Abbey in West Malling Kent](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-Malling-Abbey-Cascades-West-Malling-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
Another discovery was a watercolour painted by the famous artist J.M.W. Turner, dating from 1791-2, is of St Mary’s Abbey and Cascade. Curiously though, the sketch by Turner was only officially identified by Tate Britain Gallery in 2005, after a resident of West Malling recognised the scene when visiting the gallery.
The mystery continues.
Escape for a few days
Are you looking for that ‘perfick’ holiday hideaway to relax in while you discover the Garden of England?
After a day exploring the Kent coast and its many historic castles enjoy one of the handpicked properties and unique retreats at Holiday Cottages.
Discovering West Malling High Street
Full of character and charmWe head back up to West Malling’s Georgian High Street and continue to explore more of this charismatic Kent Market Town.
There’s such a delightful fusion of architecture in West Malling. From the eye-catching timber-framed buildings, the double-fronted Georgian homes with box sash windows to the picturesque country cottages with manicured gardens.
![A white beautiful detached home with green shuttered windows on West Malling High Street](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Charming-homes-along-West-Malling-High-Street-Kent-R4.jpg)
Towards the northern end of the High Street are the 600-year-old Ford House and a 17th-century schoolhouse.
West Malling High Street is a hive of activity all year round. Individual local stores and boutiques, interior design shops and antique jewellers, all interwoven within a vast array of welcoming inns and restaurants serving cuisine from the four corners of the world.
![Kent's Strangest Tales Cover](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Kents-Strangest-Tales.jpg)
![A look at a few shops on West Malling High Street set in beautiful historic buildings](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Charming-homes-along-West-Malling-High-Street-West-Malling-Kent-R4-1.jpg)
![The front view of the modern bronze 'Hope' sculpture depicting a woman stepping forward, releasing a dove of peace, on a green next to West Malling High Street](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-‘Hope-sculpture-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
![The rear of the 'Hope' sculpture where the cloak covering the statue is inlaid with 8 panels depicting scene throughout West Malling's history](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-rear-of-the-‘Hope-sculpture-depicting-the-history-of-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
![A view across the graveyard to the Church of St Mary the Virgin in West Malling, Kent](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Church-of-St-Mary-the-Virgin-in-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
Kent Downs Road Trip
![73221:full](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Half-timbered-homes-in-the-picturesque-village-of-Chilham-Kent-Downs-Road-Trip-Visit-Kent-England-UK-V5.jpg)
A charming road trip in and around the Kent Downs (AONB), UK
Exploring more of West Malling
The charming King Street![A VW Camper van in front of a Tudor period timber-framed home in King Street, West Malling, Kent](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Timber-framed-homes-in-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
![A Tudor period timber-framed home in King Street, West Malling, Kent](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-Priors-West-Malling-High-Street-Kent-R4.jpg)
![A brace of classic Morris Minors of various types at King Street Motors in West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/King-Street-Motors-specialist-for-Morris-Minors-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
Medway Valley Road Trip
![67882:full](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-view-of-Aylesford-Rochester-Kent-England-UK-R3.jpg)
A Scenic Medway Valley, Kent Road Trip
Historic St Leonard’s Tower
And a Cricket Ground with a story![A parade of unique shops on the corner of King St & West St in West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-corner-of-King-St-West-St-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
![Overlooking the West Malling cricket ground with a stone & plaque commenting its place in history](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/West-Malling-cricket-ground-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
We’re now off to visit the ancient English Heritage site of St. Leonard’s Tower. Little appears to be known about the history of the Norman Keep, which was built around the early 12th-century.
The tower which stands alone may have formed part of a defensive castle and is believed to have been built by Bishop Gundulf, the Bishop of Rochester.
Bishop Gundulf, a monk from Bec Abbey in Normandy, arrived in England in 1070 and built Rochester Cathedral, the White Tower of the Tower of London, St Mary’s Abbey in West Malling and Colchester Castle.
![Looking up the grassy bank to the wall and remains of St Leonards Tower on the outskirts of West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/St.-Leonards-Tower-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
Our video of West Malling
We have created a little YouTube video of West Malling. Why not take a look?
Also, why not subscribe to our YouTube channel and get the latest clips as we post them?
The Blue Plaques in West Malling
Discover the trail of The Beatles, JMW Turner, George Orwell and many moreWest Malling has created its own Blue Plaque Trail; you can follow the route of its 18 notable citizens. Discover the achievements of the individuals and their connections with West Malling.
Here are a few Blue Plaques we stumbled upon and their historical stories.
Bishop Gundulf, a monk from Normandy, was the architect of West Malling Abbey, the White Tower of the Tower of London, to name just a few.
Aretas Akers-Douglas spent his early childhood in St Mary’s Abbey, had a notable political career and was Home Secretary from 1905-1908.
![A Tonbridge & Malling Borough council blue plaque to Gundulf and Aretas-Akers Douglas at St Mary’s Abbey, West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Blue-plaque-to-Gundulf-and-Aretas-Akers-Douglas-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
J.M.W. Turner, the renowned English painter famous for his landscapes, painted The Cascades and St Mary’s Abbey in 1792.
John Downman, a portrait artist during the 18th-century, painted many notable people, including Queen Charlotte and Horatio Nelson and lived at Went House.
Another prominent resident at Went House was William Locker, who had a prestigious career in the Navy, and Horatio Nelson served as one of his lieutenants.
![A Tonbridge & Malling Borough council blue plaque to Blue plaque to JMW Turner on the cascades in West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Blue-plaque-to-JMW-Turner-West-Malling-Kent-R4-1.jpg)
![A Tonbridge & Malling Borough council blue plaque to Blue plaque of John Downman & William Locker on Went House, West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Blue-plaque-to-John-Downman-William-Locker-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
![A Tonbridge & Malling Borough council blue plaque to Blue plaque to Blue plaque to The Beatles, West Malling, Kentron the High Street in West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Blue-plaque-to-The-Beatles-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
Why not?
![80169:full](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rochester-Castle-from-the-moat-uk-holiday-destination-uk-mini-breaks-places-to-visit-in-the-uk-V5.jpg)
10 reasons to unearth Rochester, Kent, UK
RAF West Malling today Kings Hill
Tributes to WWII fighter pilots![The Douces Manor building, as seen from the lake in Manor Park Country Park outside West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Douces-Manor-West-Malling-Kent-R4.jpg)
![Image](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/RAF-West-Malling.jpg)
![The Royal Ensign installation in front of the white Art Deco Control Tower from RAF West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-Control-Tower-at-RAF-West-Malling-Kings-Hill-Kent-R4.jpg)
![A bronze statue memorial, titled 'running Airman', in the centre of King's Hill, formerly RAF West Malling](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-running-Airman-Memorial-at-RAF-West-Malling-Kings-Hill-Kent-R4.jpg)
![A large granite tablet featuring the emblem of the RAF, with the inscription Royal Air Force, West Malling 1939 - 1967](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Stone-tablet-honouring-RAF-West-Malling-Kings-Hill-Kent-R4.jpg)
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