Living in the Ashford Borough
Connectivity
Ashford is an internationally connected borough. London is only 38 minutes away on high speed to St Pancras.
By car, Ashford is 1 hour 35 mins from Heathrow, 1 hour from Gatwick and just over 30mins from the Channel Tunnel and Port of Dover.
A Mix of Town and Rural
Located at the heart of the Garden of England, Ashford offers the best of town and country. It’s no surprise the borough is considered among the most desirable places to live in the UK. At 224.5 sq miles it is the largest and most rural borough in Kent. There is the urban town of Ashford and jewel of the weald, Tenterden, which are surrounded by charming picturesque villages, all with their own unique character.
Schools
There are a number of great schools and colleges locally in the two towns (Ashford and Tenterden) in the borough. There are also rural schools and a £26 million further and higher education campus in the heart of the town centre (Ashford College).
House Prices (October 2024)
Properties in Ashford had an overall average price of £328,046 over the last year.
The majority of sales in Ashford during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £270,192. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £322,090, with detached properties fetching £481,625.
Overall, sold prices in Ashford over the last year were 5% down on the previous year and 4% up on the 2021 peak of £314,287.
Economic Growth
One of the most attractive aspects of living and working in Ashford is the quality of life it has to offer. Ashford offers an easy pace of life with an exciting programme of development to make it an even more tempting place to locate to.
Uniquely placed and internationally connected, we are already home to some of the fastest growth and most innovative development in the country. You won’t recognise Ashford as a local authority as we are well on the way to being a commercial organisation. We have already funded the construction of a town centre cinema and hotel, and assisted in bringing forward other major projects that are changing Ashford’s skyline. Ashford offers plenty of business space to grow.
Leisure Activities
Residents and visitors benefit from outstanding leisure activities and a growing cultural offer. In the town centre, the unique Revelation St Mary’s provides a popular arts venue, boasting great headline acts. Ashford plays host to a vibrant arts scene with nationally and internationally recognised arts organisations, venues and creatives.
The borough is also packed with well run, high quality community arts groups, events and festivals that run and operate throughout the year. There is a growing network of cycle paths making it safe for families to cycle around the borough.
Shopping
Ashford is also home to the Designer Outlet, which attracts shoppers from across the south east.
Council Tax
Ashford continues to set the one of the lowest council taxes in Kent, and the UK.
Recycling
Ashford is of the top local recycling authorities in Kent (DEFRA) and Ashford’s recycling rate is well above the national average.
History
The borough of Ashford has a rich natural and man-made history. There are 2,395 listed buildings, 42 scheduled monuments, 43 conservation areas, 6 registered parks and gardens and two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). As a result, it has more heritage sites than any other borough in Kent.
But we don’t just talk the talk. Ashford has been named in the top 10 places to live in Kent according to transport, education and grocery shopping availability, life style and nightlife, noise levels, green spaces and public safety. (One Dome)
Experience the two towns of Ashford and Tenterden in this video created by our Tourism team.
