5 Best Attractions of West Malling which Make it a Must-visit
Full of magnificent historic monuments, abundant greenery and a lot of shopping, West Malling, Kent, England, is definitely a must-visit for an ardent tourist. As such there are countless things to do in this charming corner of the world; but here are only a few.
1. Enter the History through Grand Monuments
As mentioned earlier, West Malling has a wealth of grand, historic monuments, and if you are fond of entering the bygone era, you have a lot of scope for it here. So, toss your luggage in a luxurious accommodation West Malling and head out to its historic buildings.
One of the most prominent of these monuments is the Abbey Gate House located on Swan Street where you can get a slice of ancient buildings within the Malling Abbey walls.
Now turned into Swan Restaurant, an 18-century coaching inn, is another must-see building.
Other magnificent buildings are the impressive Went House and Prior’s House, formerly a home to leprosy patients.
Equally magnificent is the Church of St Mary the Virgin which is almost 1,000 years old.
Also don’t miss the bronze statue of Hope with panels revealing the past of the town. A recently introduced series of blue plaques commemorating famous people of the town is also a must-see.
2. Manor Park
Within just a short walk from the centre of the town is Manor Park which is a feast for the eyes of a nature-lover with a scenic lake, picnic area, children’s play area and a café. A car park is also available. If you are a bird-lover, your eyes will get a treat with ducks, swans and moorhens. The 52-acre park was once a part of the grounds of Douces Manor which stands opposite to it today. You will also find an 1800-built manmade fishing lake and the remains of the ice house of the manor, Ice House Field.
3. Ancient Abbey
In around 1090, a community of Benedictine nuns was founded in West Malling and thus the town gained an abbey. It was formerly known as St Mary’s Abbey and flourished till its dissolution into secular ownership and fell to ruins. The buildings have now been restored and date back to the medieval, Norman, Georgian and Tudor eras. The abbey is often open to tourists during Heritage Open Days. Repurposed in 1700s as a waterfall, the Malling Abbey Cascade on Swan Street is considered to be a part of a medieval building and is one of the most photographed structures of West Malling.
4. Scenic Leybourne Lakes Country Park
Once you arrive in West Malling, you should enjoy the natural beauty of its lovely lakes in the Leybourne Lakes Country Park which is within a few minutes’ drive from the town. Created from a land which was once used as chalk and sand quarries and opened in 2004, this lake park is among the award-winning country parks of Kent. Spread in whopping 93 hectares of marshes, grassland, woodland and lakes, it’s a designated Local Wildlife site.
The park has some of the clearest freshwater lakes and a water sports centre here offers open water swimming, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing and windsurfing, which you should enjoy.
5. Luxurious Stay
While a tourist destination is famous for its touristic sights, staying in its luxurious accommodations may be a great pleasure in itself and accommodation West Malling is one such pleasure. For example, The Coach House located strategically in the heart of West Malling offers you ultimate luxury with which you will have some of the most pleasurable moments of life. Spick-and-span cleanliness, spacious rooms, luxurious super king size beds, modern shower rooms, free high-speed internet, smart TVs, air-conditioning and kitchen area with all modern appliances make this place an attraction of West Malling. Even if you don’t do any sight-seeing and stay here, you will have a comfortable holiday.
I am sure, this short description is enough to evoke a desire in you to head towards West Malling! Have you yet started planning your vacation to this lovely English town or not?
