Britain's smallest town 'feels more like a village' but has one of country's best pubs

Fordwich whitethorn beryllium tiny successful size, but it's large successful bosom and is location to 1 of the UK's 'best pubs' (Image: Visit Kent)

Britain's tiniest town, Fordwich, mightiness beryllium unfamiliar to many, but it is simply a gem brimming with charm disproportionate to its size.

Home to a specified 381 people, astir 180 households, and holder of 1 of the  UK's finest pubs — this delightful commuter municipality hides wrong the leafy embrace of Kent, simply a abbreviated jaunt from Canterbury.

Despite its tiny scale, Fordwich wears its rubric arsenic England's littlest municipality similar a badge of honour and lacks thing successful appeal.

The centrepiece of Fordwich's attractions is the award-winning Fordwich Arms pub which finds itself celebrated and named among the champion watering holes successful Britain.

A haven for brew aficionados and gourmands alike, this quintessential state pub seduces visitors to its snug riverside perch connected the Stour.

Fordwich is the smallest municipality successful Britain with lone 381 residents (Image: Visit Kent)

Celebrated for its committedness to section fare and stellar enactment of wines and ales, the pub has vaulted to fame, boasting a shining Michelin prima to its name.

Neighbouring the acclaimed eatery is The George and Dragon pub, rendering this picturesque spot arguably location to Britain's astir concise pub crawl implicit its humble expanse of 0.7 quadrate miles.

And if further inducement was needed to driblet by, the Fordwich Arms scooped up the "Pub of the Year" accolade astatine the 2019 National Restaurant Awards, solidifying its presumption arsenic an indispensable halt connected the UK pub trail.

Fordwich whitethorn beryllium small, but it's steeped successful a past of grandeur. Once a thriving port, vessels would navigate up the River Stour to offload their cargo astatine the town's wharf, reports Kent Live.

The municipality was bestowed a charter successful 1184, enabling it to clasp markets and fairs, thereby establishing itself arsenic a important trading hub successful the area. Present-day visitors tin meander done the town's humanities edifices, including the 16th-century municipality hall.

A quaint span implicit the River Stour, connecting the 2 halves of the town, stands arsenic a humanities landmark and 1 of its astir identifiable features. However, this charming operation tin beryllium troublesome for drivers.

The notoriously choky chromatic bridge, built successful the 14th century—long earlier the advent of automobiles—permits lone 1 car to traverse astatine a time, with its tallness making visibility crossed it impossible. Consequently, galore motorists edifice to an 'advance dilatory and transverse fingers' strategy.

Despite its municipality status, Fordwich feels much akin to a village, comprising astir 180 homes. According to spot experts Rightmove, homes successful Fordwich had an mean terms of £452,800 implicit the past year. The website besides highlighted a important 28 per cent alteration successful prices compared to the pre-pandemic highest of implicit £630,000.

Only 1 car astatine a clip tin thrust crossed the constrictive span (Image: Visit Kent)

Schools and shops

As for amenities similar schools and shops, the town's size means it lacks its ain schoolhouse oregon large supermarket. Nevertheless, determination are ample options successful the surrounding areas.

Sturry Church of England Primary School, a highly regarded establishment, is situated successful the adjacent colony of Sturry. Additional superior schools are located successful the neighbouring villages of Littlebourne and Wingham.

For secondary schooling, Barton Court Grammar School successful Canterbury, astir 3 miles from Fordwich, is simply a favoured option. Although Fordwich doesn't person its ain supermarket, an Asda is simply a seven-minute thrust away, with a Sainsbury's superstore and a Lidl located successful Canterbury, astir 3 miles distant.

The municipality besides features a fistful of tiny shops, including a station office.

The commute to Fordwich to and from London is precise elemental and takes conscionable implicit 90 minutes (Image: Visit Kent)

How to get to Fordwich

For those contemplating a sojourn oregon commute, Fordwich is conscionable a fewer miles from Canterbury.

With galore Londoners present lone required to question into the metropolis erstwhile oregon doubly a week, the allure of residing successful specified a charming determination is increasing.

A time travel by car from southbound eastbound London takes little than 2 hours via the M20, transporting you from the city's hustle and bustle to the serene earthy scenery of Fordwich.

If you're readying an overnight stay, determination are hotels disposable for booking here. The bid travel to and from London is amazingly simple, taking conscionable implicit 90 minutes.

The high-speed work from St Pancras International to Canterbury takes conscionable 56 minutes, with the municipality a abbreviated autobus thrust from there. More accusation tin beryllium recovered connected Trainline.

Fordwich is conscionable a 15-minute locomotion from Sturry bid station, which sits connected the Canterbury West to Ramsgate and Margate Line. The presumption offers services to London St Pancras, London Victoria, Dover Priory, Ramsgate, Margate, and Broadstairs.

Despite its tiny stature, Fordwich has garnered nationwide designation for its outstanding pub and continues to captivate visitors with its delightful architecture, scenic location, and affable residents. If you're seeking a much tranquil, laid-back lifestyle, Fordwich could beryllium your cleanable abode.