“Tudor and Jacobean houses populate several small lanes leading up to a town square of this picturesque village. Picturesque Chilham is so attractive it’s a favorite location of film and television dramas such as the BBC’s 2009 adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’.”
Living in Chilham
Chilham is a winning combination of a peaceful, attractive village that is quiet and safe but also happens to be close to two large towns. This small village scores highly on our Locality Reality mapping tool for being the quietest place in Kent. The app also shows Chilham has lots of green space open to the public and the low crime figures prove the village is very safe.
Chilham isn’t in the middle of nowhere however, as it’s just off the A28 between Canterbury and Ashford, both of which are only a 20-minute drive away. Chilham also has a train station for services to Canterbury (as well as London), so shopping and a great choice of amenities aren’t too far away.
Tudor and Jacobean houses populate several small lanes leading up to a town square of this picturesque village. In the town square is a tea room, one of the two pubs in the village, a gift shop, a 17th century country house and a medieval church. Picturesque Chilham is so attractive it’s a favorite location of film and television dramas such as the BBC’s 2009 adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’.
There is also a shop and post office in the village for the bare essentials, but for anything else residents are forced to go further afield. Despite some local public transport, including a bus service, having a car is highly recommended for the area.
Overall the village has a strong community spirit, which is bolstered by the sports clubs in the village and community events such as the annual Pilgrim’s Fayre.
House prices in Chilham
Chilham has an overall average price of roughly £419,000 reportedly properties don’t often come up for sale. However, nearby Wye is marginally less expensive (£404,000), while Chartham is one of the cheaper options nearby (£326,00).
“Chilham is a small, quiet village, though does benefit from two well-rated pub restaurants.”
Transport
Southeastern runs direct train service in London Victoria via Bromley South and Charing Cross via Tonbridge, both of which take between an hour and half and two hours to get into London. However, a short train journey or drive to Ashford International provides faster options to and from the capital.
In the car, as Chilham is just off the A28 between Canterbury and Ashford, it’s a 20-minute drive away to both destinations as well as the M20 and M2. The village is also served by Stagecoach buses to Ashford and Canterbury that depending on the time of the day go hourly or every 30 minutes.
Lifestyle
Chilham is a small, quiet village, though does benefit from two well-rated pub restaurants. There is the The Woolpack, a Shepherd Neame pub (ubiquitous in this part of Kent) serving gastro pub cuisine. In the square The White Horse serves more traditional pub grub, while continuing the vain of gloriously English food culture is Shelley’s Tea Rooms.
The shops on offer include an antique shop, a post office and a bridal boutique, so it’s best to head to Canterbury for more shopping choice.
Groceries
In the village there is a farm shop selling local produce and most of the bare necessities. However, again it’s best to head to Canterbury for a weekly shop, with a Morrisons and Aldi nearest and on the right side of the town.
Health & Sport
If you prefer the gym over going for a ramble, then you could try joining one of the sport clubs at the Chilham Sports Centre – it may also help in getting to know the locals. Otherwise, it’s off to Canterbury or Ashford for a choice of gyms. Alternatively, if you’re interested in yoga, Pilates or other fitness classes, Challock Health and Fitness is less than 10 minutes in the car.
History and Culture
Both Chilham Castle and St Marys Church are on the square. The castle is a country house that runs tours booked in advance, has open days and is a venue for events like horse trials. The church was written about in the Domesday Book in 1086 and is reportedly the burial place of St Augustine.
“Residents of Chilham are spoilt for choice when it comes to country walks.”
Schools and Education
There are two schools in the village. One is St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, a mixed school with an Ofsted rating of ‘Good’. The second is Hope View School, which is an independent day school providing education for 7-18 year-old boys with special educational needs.
Safety
As is often the case, a small village like Chilham has very low crime rates.
Green space
Residents of Chilham are spoilt for choice when it comes to country walks. Directly from the village are walks from both the North Downs Way and the Stour Valley Walk, while at the end of Mountain Street is a path to ancient woodland site Kings Wood.