The town has its own theatre, a unique grammar school and a distinctive landmark
It goes without saying that our beautiful home of Kent is chock-full of amazing towns, villages and cities to live or visit. Whether you like life by the sea, a quiet slice of the countryside to call your own, or want to plant your roots alongside a historic high street, you can find it all within our humble county’s borders.
Recently, some of these wonderful destinations have been highlighted in Muddy Stilettos’ annual “Best Places to Live” ranking. Eight locations from around the Garden of England have been recognised as the top spots to settle down for 2026, including Faversham, Ramsgate, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks.
Also making the cut for the hotly contested list is the pretty market town of Cranbrook, situated within the Weald of Kent, roughly halfway between Maidstone and Hastings. The publication described the town as: “a bustling, popular small town smack bang in the middle of the beautiful High Weald area of Kent, with excellent schools, locally grown food, its own theatre and fast links to London.”
With a population of just under 4,000 people, according to the 2021 census, the town may be small, but it packs plenty of appeal. Characterised by its charming, weather-boarded houses, distinctive windmill and scores of independent businesses that line the scenic high street, this quaint market town is a highly desirable place to live.
The food
Perhaps one of the biggest draws for this scenic corner of Kent is its thriving food scene. Take a trip to one of the brilliant farm shops, such as Hartley Coffee House and Farm Shop, or get your caffeine fix at any of the cosy cafes.
Locals and visitors seem to love Food For Thought, found at 2-3 Imber Court on the high street. Boasting a particular focus on using garden-fresh, locally sourced ingredients, the establishment offers an array of traditional, home-cooked meals while aiming to accommodate all tastes and requirements.
One recent visitor remarked on TripAdvisor: “Food for Thought is a lovely and very popular spot in Cranbrook. The menu has a great selection with plenty of choice for all tastes, and everything is reasonably priced. The staff are genuinely friendly, kind, and incredibly helpful, which really adds to the whole experience. A wonderful place to stop for a meal or a coffee — highly recommended!”
Other popular choices for a bite include The Cranbrook Bakery and the pooch-friendly Arthur’s. For those looking for sit-down dining, there are plenty of brilliant options here too including The Cloudberry, which offers a rotating seasonal menu, while Jumeira Indian Restaurant has received a great deal of online praise from past customers.
Plus, there is The Small Holding nearby, a “hidden gem dining destination” which has recently been awarded three AA Rosettes and holds a Michelin Green Star for its exceptional eco-friendly practices. Those at The Small Holding focus on growing and rearing their own produce, and it has a one-acre plot of land next to the restaurant where they do just that.
Of course, no British town would be complete without some fantastic pubs, and Cranbrook has plenty of those too. Larkins’ Alehouse and the George Hotel both offer wonderfully cosy environments to enjoy a cheeky drink or two at the end of a long week.
Things to do
The town’s high street is thriving with independent shops. If you’re looking to spruce up your wardrobe, there are plenty of fashion boutiques to peruse, such as Odyl and Masie K.
Blighty’s is a charming and unique gift shop described by one visitor as “Cranbrook’s Tardis” as it’s much bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. Other popular favourites include Duck and Dog, which specialises in homeware, The Glasshouse Project with its array of plants, and Mrs T. Potts, with sweet treats of all varieties on offer.
Venturing outside of Cranbrook, both the Balfour Winery and Biddenden Vineyard are both just a short distance away, plus its countryside setting means there are plenty of amazing walks to be had, such as at Bedgebury Forest or Sissinghurst Castle. Or, you can simply sightsee around the town, with historic homes and the historic St Dunstan’s Church to find.
Culture
Beyond the brilliant places to eat, drink and shop, Cranbrook offers plenty of other fantastic ways to keep entertained which have helped earn the town its nickname: “The Capital of the Weald”. For the art enthusiasts, the Cranbrook Museum is a must visit with its impressive showcase of local history, arts, and crafts.
Over on Waterloo Road you’ll find The Queen’s Hall Theatre which hosts an impressive line-up of plays, musicals, stand-up comedy, live music and cinema every year. Not too far away is the brand new Benenden Theatre, featuring a 300-seat auditorium.
Cranbrook is perhaps best known for its iconic, Grade-I listed Union Mill, which stands as the tallest ‘smock mill’ in the UK, named such thanks to its sloping weather-boarded sides. Fully restored and in working order, the landmark is open for viewing on selected days and free to enter, though it does accept donations.
A place to live
With so much on offer, it probably won’t come as a surprise that homes here cost a pretty penny, with Rightmove reporting properties have sold for an average price of £508,434 over the last year. The majority of these sales were for semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £419,183.
Meanwhile, detached homes cost an average of £785,182 in the same period, while terraced properties fetched £381,281. The town is served by Cranbrook School, a mixed day and boarding grammar for pupils from 11 to 18 years, that is situated on a 75-acre campus and holds a Good overall Ofsted rating, though has been rated Outstanding for ‘behaviour and attitudes’ and ‘personal development’.
For the younger children, there is also Cranbrook CofE Primary School, which has again been rated ‘good’, and Goudhurst and Kilndown Primary School, which boasts an ‘outstanding’ ranking. Marden and Staplehurst are the nearest train stations, with rail journeys into London taking around an hour from here.
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