Discover Digital Detoxing in this Medieval Village

Published in

Clippings Autumn 2021

4 min readNov 25, 2021

Lenham: hilly walks and space to breathe. Do you need its restorative charm this weekend?

At first, you’ll be restored by Lenham’s calm market square shopping experience. Then, you’ll be immersed in the friendly community and countryside walks. As the world rushes off after lockdown, this Kentish secret offers you a quiet space to detox and recover.

Snuggled in the North Downs, here’s the best tips from a past resident on how to soak up your stay…

Detox and relax

Embrace nature. Lock your devices away and stroll through the surrounding area. With the hilly backdrop and a duck pond to search for, don’t miss the secret locations residents rave about. With everything in walking distance, there’s no need to search up directions.

Want more countryside? You can visit The Chalk Cross during your walk. Once you leave the village centre, you can follow the path up, guided by this landmark. For the adventurous, you can continue to follow the trail through the hills all the way to Charing, hopping on a train to return to the village afterwards.

For those escaping into the past, Historic Lenham records how “Lenham is mentioned in the Domesday book, and it is believed that the market itself originated in the Medieval era” (Historic Lenham), so why not enjoy a spot of English history which has been cherished for centuries? The village market is on the 2nd Sunday of each month, so if your visit is perfectly timed, experience the community feel and leave your ‘to do’ list behind.

Travelling to the destination

Lenham is linked by a train station that’s a short stroll into the village’s centre. Additionally, there are regular buses straight into the heart of the village, and by car the A20 connects you.

Your abode for the weekend

The Dog and Bear Hotel, in The Square, surrounds you with restaurants and shops. It’s a central spot for walking access to the idyllic places in the surrounding area too. The location saves you needing a phone to navigate, leaving more time to explore the centre of this Domesday village.

For day trippers, you won’t miss out. The Dog and Bear will welcome you to dine in and embrace its pub atmosphere.

Secrets on the top places to dine

Chequers Fish Bar is the local fish and chip shop, with dine in and takeaway options. Taking a seat in the restaurant greets you with a view out their full-length glass window onto the village church. For history lovers, the British Express suggests the church has been there “since the Saxon period but the oldest part of the present building dates to the 12th Century” (Ross) indicating there’s plenty of history to become immersed in during your stay.

Chopstick and Bowl is the village’s Chinese restaurant for both takeaway and dining in. Why not put down the phone and indulge yourself in everything this village favourite has to offer?

Shop mindfully

With convenience stores, including the Co-Op, located where you’ll be staying, there’s no need to go without daily favourites.

In The Square you can enjoy treats from Home Bake, the local bakery, and walk along the Highstreet to the florists and other village stores. Travelling from a bustling city? You won’t have to push past rushing crowds here. Take all the time you need to look around and explore the Highstreet.

Time to pack…

As the world opens up, why not experience some peace and tranquillity with Lenham’s countryside backdrop.

Bucket lists don’t just reserve big cities as top priorities. We’re so used to rushing from activity to destination on our so called ‘breaks’. When you want to shut off the screens and recuperate, add a new type of destination to your bucket list plans and discover the secrets this Kentish village has to offer.

Useful links:

Hotel-

https://www.dogandbearlenham.co.uk/

Dining/ food-

https://www.chequersfishbar.co.uk/

https://chopsticksandbowl.co.uk/

Home Bake, Lenham

https://www.coop.co.uk/

Village Market-

https://www.visitmaidstone.com/things-to-do/lenham-farmers-market-p217791

References:

Historic Lenham. “Medieval Market Village” Historic Lenham https://historiclenham.weebly.com/ Accessed 23rd November 2021.