Most high streets these days are a depressing row of grey chains and a stark vision of cities and towns in decline. With empty retail units and graffiti scrawled over walls and buildings, it’s rare to find a high street that is still a hot shopping destination.
But these mythical high streets are out there – and one is located very close to London. The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells has been included in the top 10 High Streets for Independent Shops by American Express.
The prestigious list celebrates ‘the best high streets for shoppers wanting to visit and support independent businesses’. The Kent high street hasn’t just been added to the list – it’s been named the third-best in the country.
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The Pantiles was ranked higher than well-known gorgeous places, including the town centre in Petworth, West Sussex, Magdalene Street in Cambridge, and The Lanes in Brighton. The only two high streets to rank higher than The Pantiles were Victoria Street and West Bow in Edinburgh and the High Street in Stockbridge in Hampshire, which has a fish-full river running under the street, KentLive reported.
The high streets were identified by GlobalData using measures such as the highest proportion of independent outlets, the variety of business types, number of visitors, and shop occupancy rate. The Pantiles is a photographer’s favourite and it appears on many promotional materials for the town. It’s no wonder, as first-time visitors are usually left open-mouthed at first glance, as it is so unusual.
Things to do along The Pantiles
It has an elegant colonnade stretching almost the entire length and it is set on two levels, with has charming little backways and passages. Everywhere you turn there is something of interest, from The Old Fish Market, now Sankey’s exclusive champagne and seafood bar, which retained its name to the huge Pantiles Clock and the Polar Dance bronze sculpture brought there by Beumée Contemporary Fine Art.
The high street is also perfect for outdoor eating and drinking, as it’s away from the main road. There are markets, music and events on the bandstand and surrounding areas. It’s also somewhere children can run around and play without running into traffic.
There are many places to eat and drink, al fresco and inside, on The Pantiles and the regular markets there and see the area rammed on a fine day. And it comes into its own at Christmas, with its festive window reveals, the sale of Christmas trees, live music on the bandstand, and markets at the weekend.
With the trees strung with lights and the glow of the shops under the colonnade, it would be hard to find a prettier or more magical ‘high street’. It’s no wonder the picture-perfect Pantiles have been used for national television adverts, such as for online retail company Very’s Christmas ad.
And for shopping, stores, businesses, bars and eateries, these include Catherine Hills Jewellery; Bella Vou cosmetic surgery; bedding store And So To Bed; Choice Carpets; Dee Airey Photography; Fairfax Gallery; Imperial Pharmacy; and Royal Tunbridge Wells Art Society and The Duke of York pub.
How to get to The Pantiles from London
Get the train from London to Tunbridge Wells in less than an hour, with day returns from £15.70 on Trainline.com.
You can also drive to The Pantiles, with parking available at the short-stay The Pantiles Car Park. Prices include £2 for one hour; £5 for four hours; and £10.40 for 24 hours.
Got a story for us? Email anna.willis@reachplc.com.
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