Serviced Apartments in Ashford (Kent)

Discover the best activities and attractions Ashford (Kent) has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Ashford Designer Outlet
Ashford Designer Outlet is a major retail destination featuring over 80 brand stores offering discounted designer and high-street goods. Its riverside, open-air layout and proximity to Ashford International station draw shoppers from across Kent and visitors passing through on rail links to London and the Continent. The outlet boosts the local economy by creating retail and hospitality jobs, increasing footfall into the town centre, and supporting surrounding businesses (cafés, hotels, transport). It’s popular because of strong brand names at reduced prices, family-friendly facilities, and seasonal sales and events that turn shopping into a day-out experience.

Godinton House & Gardens
Godinton House is a historic manor set within extensive, award-winning gardens known for their diversity of formal layouts, herbaceous borders, topiary and ancient trees. The property stages horticultural events, guided tours, educational activities and private functions (including weddings), helping preserve local heritage and attracting visitors to the area. Its conservation and volunteer programmes engage the community, provide seasonal employment, and support local suppliers (caterers, florists, gardeners). People visit for the beauty and tranquillity of the gardens, the sense of living history, and seasonal attractions such as spring bulbs and themed garden days.

Victoria Park
Victoria Park is Ashford’s principal public green space, offering sports facilities, children’s play areas, open lawns and a waterside environment used for leisure and community gatherings. It serves as an everyday recreational hub for families, dog-walkers, amateur sports clubs and outdoor events, contributing to residents’ wellbeing and quality of life. The park’s role in hosting fairs, concerts and community activities helps local traders and event organizers while enhancing Ashford’s appeal as a place to live and visit. Its popularity comes from central accessibility, safe play and sport amenities, and regular community programming.

Ashford Museum
Ashford Museum preserves and interprets the town’s social and industrial history through collections, exhibitions and educational programmes—covering subjects such as local industries, wartime experiences, and the development of the rail network. As a cultural resource run largely with charitable and volunteer support, it strengthens community identity, provides learning opportunities for schools and researchers, and attracts visitors interested in Kentish history. The museum stimulates the local economy indirectly by drawing cultural tourists who also spend at nearby shops and cafés and by partnering with local events and heritage trails.

Local Food Scene & Farmers’/Street Markets
Ashford’s local food scene—made up of independent cafés, gastropubs, farm-to-table restaurants and regular farmers’/street markets—showcases Kentish produce (cheeses, meats, baked goods, seasonal veg) and small-scale food entrepreneurs. Markets and eating-out options support local growers and artisan producers, create hospitality jobs, and help keep spending within the local economy. They’re popular because they offer fresh, locally sourced food, social meeting points, and culinary variety from casual street food to relaxed fine dining; market days and food-focused events also bring vibrancy to the town centre and create reasons for repeat visits.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Ashford (Kent), from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Ashford International railway station (HS1 / National Rail) - Major rail hub in the town centre providing high‑speed Southeastern services on HS1 to London St Pancras (about 35–40 minutes) and frequent regional/commuter services on classic lines to Canterbury, Dover/Folkestone, Ramsgate and other Kent destinations; acts as the primary interchange for rail‑based travel in and out of Ashford.
- Domestic high‑speed services (Southeastern Javelin) - Fast, scheduled services on the HS1 corridor linking Ashford with London and intermediate stations, improving rapid commuting and onward national connections.
- International rail (historical / current status) - Ashford was an international stop for Eurostar services; regular Eurostar calling patterns were suspended in recent years and international services are not a dependable daily option currently (check operator timetables for any occasional calls).
- Local and regional bus services - A network of town and rural bus routes serving Ashford’s suburbs, industrial areas and surrounding villages, operated by multiple local and regional operators; buses provide connections to nearby towns and support local commuting and shopping journeys.
- Coaches and longer‑distance bus links - Occasional/regular coach services and private coach operators provide interurban and charter links; long‑distance coach travel can also be accessed via nearby larger coach hubs and rail interchanges.
- Taxis, private hire and community transport - Licensed taxis, private‑hire vehicles (including app‑based services) and community transport options serve the town for first/last‑mile travel and journeys not covered by fixed‑route public services.

Major Highways
- M20 - Primary motorway linking Ashford westwards towards London and eastwards to Folkestone/Channel Tunnel, the town’s main strategic road connection.
- A20 - The older trunk route running roughly parallel to the M20, providing local and regional access between Ashford and surrounding towns.
- A28 - Key A‑road connecting Ashford with Canterbury to the north/northeast and continuing towards the south coast (Hastings area) to the southwest.
- A2070 - Important regional arterial route providing links from Ashford toward the Romney Marsh/coastal corridors and connecting with other Kent A‑roads.
- M25 (via M20) - London orbital motorway reachable from Ashford by following the M20 westbound, providing onward access to the national motorway network.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Bike lanes, routes and cycle parking - Ashford offers a growing mix of on‑road cycle lanes, segregated paths and off‑road greenway routes linking the town centre, residential areas and nearby countryside; the town is connected to parts of the National Cycle Network and features cycle parking (including provision at Ashford International station) and local active‑travel schemes to encourage commuting and leisure cycling.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Sevington rail freight and logistics developments - Newer rail freight facilities and logistics developments in the Ashford/Sevington area aim to shift freight onto rail, reduce HGV traffic on local roads and improve regional freight connectivity.
- Station and interchange upgrades - Ongoing and recent investment at Ashford International has focused on improving passenger facilities, platform/interchange arrangements, and better integration between rail, bus and taxi modes to smooth commutes and transfers.
- Road capacity and junction improvements - Local and county highway improvements linked to the Ashford Growth Area (new housing and employment development) include junction upgrades and targeted A‑road improvements to relieve congestion and support better traffic flows.
- Active travel and bus priority schemes - Programmes under Kent County Council and Ashford Borough to expand walking/cycling infrastructure and implement bus priority measures (new cycle routes, safer crossings and bus stop accessibility work) to improve sustainable commuting options.
- Service and timetable adjustments - Periodic rail timetable enhancements, rolling stock upgrades and timetable re‑optimisations on Southeastern/HS1 services have improved peak capacity and journey times; passengers should check current timetables for the latest service patterns and any planned future changes.