by Janis / 2 comments - Orginally published:8th November 2019
A stroll down memory lane in Headcorn, Kent
Timber-framed Cloth Halls and Gypsy TartsTravelling through the lush green countryside of Kent you are never too far away from a quaint English village.
Beautiful ancient churches, half-timbered cloth halls and tea rooms just tempting you to stop.
Headcorn which is only around 10 miles south of the bustling county town of Maidstone, has all these warming qualities.
Why not Pin it for later?
Headcorn village map and historical locations
Where is Headcorn?
How to get there
- By Train
You can catch a direct train from London Bridge Station to Headcorn Station. Which runs every half an hour and takes around 1 hour.
- By Car
It's easy to get to by car however, there is limited parking in the village.
A little bit of Kent history in Headcorn
The Flemish head to the WealdAlthough I was born in London, I’ve lived most of my life in Kent and love history. So, I was surprised when I’d dug a little deeper into the past of the ‘Weald of Kent’, that Flemish cloth makers played an important role in the county.
‘The Chequers’ - cloth hall, built in 1480
In the 14th-century during the reign of King Edward III, Kent saw an influx in the immigration of workers from Flanders. With this brought their knowledge of weaving and cloth-making and the Weald region of Kent began to thrive.
‘The Chequers’ & Shakespeare House
The flourishing weaving industry during this period and into the 15th century also introduced the beautiful half-timbered ‘Cloth Halls’.
It’s within these eye-catching buildings that the weaving on looms would have taken place.
Where to stay in Headcorn
- Weald of Kent Golf Course and Hotel - Located in quiet countryside surroundings and only 1.7 miles from Headcorn, offering peaceful, comfortable rooms.
Visit some of Kent’s Historic Towns, Villages & Cities
Kent is not short of picturesque historic towns & villages, Why not check out our posts on those we've visited with tips & inspiration to get the most out of your visit?
Explore the heart of Headcorn village
A slice of 'old England'Like so many villages, the community revolves around the local church. The parish church in Headcorn is St Peter and Paul, located at the far end of the High Street.
Church of Saint Peter & Paul
There are beautiful cottages and charming medieval homes all along Church Walk. The quintessential English country garden was blossoming in the sunshine. While the fragrant rambling roses cling to the doorways.
Charming weather-board cottage
This little country lane is enchanting and a part of England that should never alter.
Oak Cottage along Church Walk
Our Kent road trips
If you’ve fallen in love with the county of Kent, we’ve created a few road trips around the “Garden of England” that we believe you will enjoy too.
Discover the delights along Headcorn’s High Street
Delve into the local storesWhat I love about some English villages, is that although a part of modern-day society always creeps in. It’s so pleasing when the little independent stores poke their elbows out and say we’re not going anywhere.
Allsorts - Antiques and collectables
There were the local family butchers and bakers that had been serving the community for years.
You could just imagine some the great gossip and stories that had been shared over the counters for decades.
Hollamby’s Butcher & Home Bake Bakers
We couldn’t resist popping into the bakers and grabbing a freshly filled roll, and a delicious sweet treat hailed from the Kentish region a ‘Gypsy Tart’.
Gypsy Tart
Through the High Street, you had a florist, a deli, a hardware store, locally run restaurants and a music shop. What more could you want from a village?
Sweet William florists
Need a car?
The open roads await, pop in your location details, then Rental Cars will search well-known car hire brands and discover the deals that suit you the best.
Your perfect accommodation
Have a leisurely browse through the wide range of options that Booking.com offer. From a secret hideaway to an elegant luxury hotel.
Interested?
If you are tempted to soar above the rooftops and watch the beautiful Kent countryside unfold below. Then fly over to Headcorn Aerodrome and enjoy a hot air balloon ride with Skybus Ballooning. We embarked on a trip with them a few years ago now, and it was incredible.
If you're intrigued by Kent's weird and wonderful history, or all unusual stories around the county, then take a peek at "Kent's Strangest Tales".
You won't be able to put it down, you can pick it up for your Kindle or in good old paperback.
Where to eat and drink in Headcorn
Sample the local fayreIf you fancy soaking up the village atmosphere, have a little rest at the Village Tea Rooms. Here in the main High Street, you can indulge in a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
Village Tea Rooms
However, if it's a local pub you’re after with some pub classics, stop at the George and Dragon and enjoy a cheeky half as well.
George and Dragon
Tempted to?
Discover more of the Great British Isles, why not jump in a car and tour the country at your own pace. You can do it all on a road trip, Rental Cars cover all budgets and allow you to pick up and drop off at different destinations.
* This post may contain links to affiliated sites where we earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
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I came across your page because I had googled the city of “Kent”. Luckily, because I enjoy reading your great travel reports and looking at the beautiful photos. I see you have been to my country Germany many times, but only in the west, why only there? Here in the east there are also wonderful cities like Leipzig, Dresden, Jena, Bautzen, Görlitz, Stolberg and especially my home town of Wittenberg. I also often take pictures in my free time and can only recommend it to you. I hope to have a look at Kent someday. That would be so nice! Kind regards, Ulli!
Hi Ulli,
Thanks for the comment, and yep we’ve not made it to the far east of Germany – yet. We will get there one day, promise. The main reason we have only really made it to Berlin in the east is because I love to drive, and I’ve yet to put together a road-trip to take in the north-east of your fabulous country. Certainly, Leipzig & Dresden are places we want to visit, now you have kindly given us a load more for our east German road trip.
Thanks again, happy & safe travels.
Gary