A bustling county town a short distance from London and just 15-miles from Dover and Folkestone, Ashford is a vibrant, modern town with a thriving food, culture and outdoor scene. Those who like to get out and about will appreciate the nearby North Downs, home to some excellent walking, quad biking and 4x4 off-roading. Ashford itself has a buzzing food and drink scene, with excellent bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants. And our three hotels near Ashford are well placed to take in all the action. One of its main appeals, however, is its transport links - the nearby ports of Dover and Folkestone offer round-the-clock ferries to France.
Things to do in Ashford
Shopping
With over 70 designer stores offering huge savings and discounts, the Ashford Designer Outlet is on the southern edge of town near our Ashford Central hotel. It’s one of the leading shopping centres in the region, with big name stores include Adidas, Nike, Levi’s, Boss and Polo Ralph Lauren. Large discounts are available at most shops, while there are 10 food and drink outlets spanning a quick coffee, food on the go to burger and pizza restaurants.
The second shopping centre in Ashford, County Square is home to over 50 shops including Debenhams, New Look, H&M, River Island and Waterstones. Located in the heart of Ashford, a short walk from the train station, the two-level County Square has a range of eating out options including Burger King, Costa and the Chill Time milkshake bar.
Rounding out the shopping options in Ashford is Park Mall, a short walk north of County Square. With 28 stores, it’s smaller than the other shopping centres and focuses more on alternative shops and outlets including Games Workshop, fabric and craft shops and a vinyl record shop.
Getting Around
An hours drive from Ashford, Gatwick Airport is the second busiest in the UK, with hundreds of flights a day to destinations across the world. Driving is the easiest and quickest option, with the train taking just under two hours with two transfers. Alternatively, make your journey even easier by staying the night at one of our hotels near Gatwick Airport.
Located on the South coast of England, Ashford is just a short drive from the ports of Folkestone and Dover with regular hourly departures to Calais in France taking around 90 minutes.
Ashford Designer Outlet
