The beautiful town of Biddenden in Kent is home to a number of unique attractions, including a street that’s been named one of the prettiest in the UK
A hidden gem in Kent, the village of Biddenden boasts one of the UK’s most picturesque streets and an award-winning vineyard.
This quintessentially British town has a star-studded list of residents, including a former king.
The charming countryside town is believed to have been settled since the Saxon era and became a significant part of the English textile industry in the 1300s when Flemish clothworkers moved to the area.
Biddenden is perhaps best known for its unique town sign depicting ‘Biddenden Maids’ Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, conjoined twins who lived in the town in the 1100s and are thought to be the source of the town’s charitable reputation.
The sisters, born to relatively wealthy parents and joined at the shoulders and hips, lived for 34 years until Mary fell ill and died. Eliza, refusing to be separated from her sister’s body, tragically passed away too.
In their wills, Mary and Eliza left the profits from their 20 acres of land to provide bread, cheese and beer to the poor each Easter.
Despite some claims that the sisters were nothing more than a folk tale, the town’s charitable tradition continues to this day, with the Biddenden Consolidated Charity providing Biddenden pensioners and widows with bread, cheese, and tea at Easter and a cash payment at Christmas.
In the 1930s, the residents of Biddenden could also boast a former king among their number, with King Rama VII of Siam residing in the town following his abdication in 1935.
Just a two hour drive from London, Biddenden is home to a number of celebs looking for a break with a spotlight, with residents having included Denise Van Outen, Coldplay drummer Will Champion, and TV chef Gregg Wallace.
In recent years, Biddenden has also become known for its award-winning vineyard, which has received numerous accolades at the Decanter World Wine Awards and the Taste of Kent awards.
The family-run vineyard was launched in 1969, with the first bottle of wine produced in 1972, and has continued to grow in popularity, quickly becoming a must-try for anyone looking to sample some English wines.
