Kent’s picturesque rural village frozen in time that’s one of the county’s best places for a drink

Kent’s expansive countryside is rich with hidden-gem destinations that are well with a day trip out away from the usual high streets and town centres. If you consider yourself a bit of a history buff, or simply have a fondness for beautiful British architecture, Brasted near Sevenoaks is one you simply must visit.

Situated alongside the A25 close to Westerham, this small but mighty settlement packs a deep and fascinating history, even hosting a few notable historic residents over the years. These days, Brasted is recognisable thanks to its various period buildings that create the sense the village is almost frozen in time.

From the numerous charming 18th-century homes that line the streets, to listed estates and the grand St Martin’s Church, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d taken a step back into the past on a visit here. Think antique shops and cosy cafes, paired with plenty of rural Kent charm.

The Teashop along the High Street is a perfect place to stop by for a midday bite, offering a range of fresh homemade sweet and savoury treats including scones, cakes, sandwiches and more. Of course, if there’s something we Brits need when heading out anywhere, it’s access to a good pub and Brasted certainly has you covered.

In fact, The Stanhope Arms, found along Church Road, is rated among the county’s 10 best boozers on TripAdvisor. Boasting a perfect five star rating, the beautiful, traditional family pub stocks local ales and draught beers, plus a wide selection of wines.

An exterior view of the Stanhope Arms in Brasted

Guests have praised the menu of proper home cooked pub grub crafted with locally sourced ingredients. Holding a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award and featuring in the Good Beer Guide 2024, the pub states: “At the Stanhope Arms our focus is on you. We pride ourselves on giving you the best experience possible.”

If one fantastic pub isn’t enough to quench your thirst, then how about a second? Found in the village centre is The White Hart, an acclaimed establishment that promises punters a “real country pub experience.”

Currently this popular watering hole is undergoing a huge renovation with plans to re-open this Saturday (February 17). Owners say the pub has seen a “top to tail transformation” inspired by the country’s “most luxurious country dining and drinking hotspots” and has provided some sneak peaks on their social media accounts.

From open log fires to plush leather seating, this already highly regarded drinking spot says it is ‘looking forward to welcoming you back to the new look White Hart.’ Should you need even more reason to stop by The White Hart, it also offers two for one cocktails from Monday to Thursday, alongside its extensive selection of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks.

Among the area’s other most notable landmarks is Brasted Place, one of only two Kent houses designed by neoclassical architect Robert Adam. In the 19th century Napoleon III, first president of France and nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, lived in Brasted Place.

Another of Brasted’s former historic residents was soft-drink manufacturer George Marchant, who was born in the village before later moving to Australia. He went on to open a factory in Brisbane and his soft-drink business became the biggest in Australia. Marchant also invented a machine that revolutionised the bottling process and came to be used worldwide.

The historic village had had some notable residents over the years

During the early 21st century, the interior of Brasted Place was redesigned into seven apartments by architect Michael Wilson. Its lodge and gateway have since become grade listed buildings and Brasted Place was recently marketed and sold by estate agents Savills with a guide price of £1.5 million.

Given its unique housing and period charm, it might not come as a surprise that Brasted is far from Kent’s cheapest place to live, with an average property price of £878,438 over the last year according to Rightmove. This is a considerable step above the Kent average of £455,442 in the same period.

In terms of getting around the county from here, Brasted benefits from easy access to the M25, M26 and A21, making journeys to the rest of Kent and beyond simple by car. While the village did once possess its own train station this closed in 1961, with the next nearest found in Sevenoaks which can get you to London Charring Cross in under an hour.

Throughout the village you can find cosy cafes, highly rated pubs and numerous historic buildings

For families, you can find several schools in the immediate vicinity including Brasted Pre-School, Valence School, and Sundridge and Brasted C of E VC Primary School which holds an Ofsted rating of “good”. If you want to venture a little further outside of the village, Chartwell House and Hever Castle are both just a short car journey away so you can carry on your historic adventure.

Find out more about things to do and activities in Kent with our free What’s On email HERE.