Essential Hotels > England > Kent > Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks is a commuter town roughly 20 miles southeast of Central London. It is an attractive small town with a countryside setting. At the same time it is close to the M25 motorway and has exceptional rail links into the capital. Today it is known as an affluent residential area with a comparatively high cost of living, but before this it was a long-standing medieval market town with a history stretching back to the Saxons, who gave the town its name. The town grew partly due to its position between two major roads, and the introduction of the railways in the 19th century made it even more attractive to those who wanted to work, but not live in London.

Knole Park and House dominate the outskirts of Sevenoaks, and is a major local visitor attraction. Knole House was purchased by Cardinal Bourchier, then Archbishop of Canterbury, in the 15th century. The house is famous as one of the few extant examples of a calendar house. This means its architecture is based around units of time, so there are 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and 7 courtyards. Bourchier died here, and the mansion was later acquired by Henry VIII. He gave the property to his daughter, Elizabeth I, who gave it to Thomas Sackville. His descendants still live there today, sharing control of the building with the National Trust. Knowle House contains a collection of historic artefacts and beautiful gardens, and is gaining a reputation as a filming location for period dramas.

This is not the only heritage site to be seen in Sevenoaks. The Vine Cricket Ground is another landmark, an 18th century cricket pitch that is reputed to be one of the oldest grounds in the UK. St. Nicholas’s Church serves as an example of the town’s medieval past, as does The Shambles. This area would have been the butchers’ quarter when Sevenoaks was at its peak as a market town, and has retained its original architecture. Sevenoaks School was also built during this time, first opening in the 15th century.