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It makes a great day's hiking trip especially if you bring a picnic along. There are many entry and exit points on the footpaths so although the entire circular walk is 27.5 mi you can easily do a much shorter hike starting and ending in the town itself. Many of the walks take you through pretty villages, atmospheric woodlands, farmland (and through livestock fields), past churches, along streams/rivers and past lots of pubs. You can grab a copy of a map with details of the different walks in the tourist information centre in the Pantiles. There is lots of wildlife around – including birds, livestock, snakes and lizards (if you're lucky!) If you want to do some camping there are several camping areas on route.
From Victorian oil paintings and archaeology to historic fashions and toys. Admission free.
Once a private landscaped garden, this park is well used by locals, having been restored following a Heritage Lottery Fund award of £2.1 million. There are two car parks: a small one on Pembury Road (the access in and out is not the easiest), and a larger one on Halls Hole Road, a country lane at the bottom of the park. Both car parks fill up quickly on sunny days. If you're staying in town it's only a 15- to 20-minute walk from the main shopping area. Kids and kids-at-heart will like the boating lake, and there is also a café selling snacks, drinks and ice creams.
Features an impressive medieval manor house. One of the oldest gardens in England. Includes a 100-metre-long peony border, the Union Jack garden and many fruit trees and borders. There is a large adventure playground for children. Visit on the first Saturday of the month to tie a visit with attending the monthly farmers market to pick up some cakes, cheeses, jams, bread and other delicious treats.
Groombridge. Winner of the Top Garden Attraction in the UK by Good Britain Guide 2000. (Temporarily closed as of Nov 2024, reopening 2025)
The largest man-made body of water in the South East, for walking and cycling, sailing, windsurfing and fishing. Admission is at the main entrance to park near the rather tacky visitor center. However many public rights of way approach the water, including one across the dam itself and these are open access.