The Attractions of Sevenoaks Kent

An attractive little town located in the west of Kent, Sevenoaks is a charming place to visit if you are in the region this year. Deriving its name from a chapel sat beside seven oak trees in Knole Park, Sevenoaks has a history going back to Anglo-Saxon times. Despite its early beginnings, there is little written about its history before the 13th century at which time it became a market town, later 2 hospitals were founded in the town by religious orders to help the sick and elderly. The famous Sevenoaks School was founded in 1432 and is generally considered to be the oldest secular school in England. These days Sevenoaks has a population of around 20,000 and there are several interesting places to visit around the town. Close to the villages of Chipstead and Dunton Green you will find the Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve, run by the Kent Wildlife Trust, to the south east of the town you will find the huge Knole Park, where the story of Sevenoaks began, part of the National Trust, this is one of the oldest surviving deer parks in England, Knole House was built by Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Bourchier between 1456 and 1486. Sevenoaks is easily accessed from the M25 or M26.