25 July 2008Sevenoaks District’s characteristics
Sevenoaks District is in west Kent, bordering Greater London, Surrey and Sussex and covers and an area of 142 square miles.
The main towns are Edenbridge, Sevenoaks and Swanley and there are many other small villages and settlements, of which the largest are Hartley, Hextable, New Ash Green, Westerham and West Kingsdown.
Sevenoaks District has eight neighbouring councils.
Main communications and transport links
The M25, M20 and M26 motorways are easily accessible as they cross the District. Gatwick and Heathrow airports and the Channel Ports and Channel Tunnel Rail Link are all within easy reach.
The railway service to London is very good with regular services to London's Charing Cross Station. The average journey time is 35 minutes.
Click on the following link for a detailed map of Sevenoaks District.
A description of Sevenoaks District
All of Sevenoaks District is within the Green Belt. Much of the area is rural in character and it includes many picturesque villages and hamlets and large areas of beautiful countryside.
Each of the major towns has its own character. Edenbridge is a popular point of call for visitors to the area, while Sevenoaks offers a range of small to medium sized shops in a traditional high street setting. Swanley's market attracts shoppers from a wide area every Wednesday morning. See more about local markets.
Sevenoaks District is a popular place to live. Because of the close proximity to London, there is considerable pressure for development and local planning policies attempt to achieve a balance between legitimate development needs and conserving the District's environment.
There are a wide range of leisure facilities, including Sencio Community Leisure sports and leisure centres at Edenbridge, Sevenoaks, Wilderness and Swanley.
There are also sports grounds, recreation areas and scenic country walks.
The area is rich in historical sites including Penshurst Place, Hever Castle, Winston Churchill's former home at Chartwell, Lullingstone Castle and Roman Villa, and Knole Park.
Theatre and concert-goers are well provided for, with plenty of venues in the area and easy access to London.
The District, with its mix of urban and rural areas, provides a variety of housing, but house prices are generally high.
