insideKENT Magazine Issue 53 - August 2016 | Page 119

Royal Victoria Place If The Pantiles is your ticket to the past, Royal Victoria Place shopping centre is the future. This 1,000,000 square foot (93,000 square metre) covered centre has over 100 different shops and services under one roof, and with eight floors of parking you can enjoy your retail therapy without any hassle. Trinity Theatre Located in the centre of Tunbridge Wells, Trinity is a vibrant theatre in one of the most beautiful buildings in the region, hosting around 350 events a year, ranging from the best in theatre and dance through to the biggest names in comedy and music. With some 90,000 people coming through its doors each year alongside a dynamic programme of participation for young people, it is acknowledged as one of the leading venues in the South East. Spa Valley Railway Experience the delights of real old fashioned steam locomotives; take a trip on one, learn about how they are cared for, or even enjoy a special event – a meal or perhaps a Day Out With Thomas – on board one of the bea utifully restored trains. Scotney Castle A country house, romantic garden, and a 14thcentury moated castle – all in a beautiful wooded estate; Scotney Castle Gardens, a National Trust property, is a wonderful family day out. You can © Mike Bartlett 119 have a meal in the tea room after exploring the fairytale castle, the mansion house, or the 770acre woods, and before you leave you can pick up some Scotney honey from the property’s own bees from the shop. Dunloran Park Dunloran Park has it all; it’s a beautiful spot for a walk, ideal for a bit of boating, and with its attractive lawns, ornamental gardens, and lovely café, a whole day could be spent here without any trouble at all. Included within the grounds are a boating lake, children’s play area, Victoria Cross Grove, pond dipping, and the Royal Tunbridge Wells Model Boat Club. DINING OUT Thackeray’s Amongst the oldest of the buildings along London Road is one that is weather-boarded, tile-hung and built in a traditional Kentish style; this was William Makepeace Thackeray’s home, and it is now Thackeray’s restaurant by Richard Phillips. The menu here is refined and elegant, delicious and delightful and includes layers of smoked salmon with lightly curried butter; pecorino and bacon croque monsieur with tomato and rosemary fondue; and chargrilled rump of Kentish lamb with Moroccan style couscous, apricots, mint, tomato, red onion, and ‘Ras al Hanout’ spice as well as many other intriguing and mouthwatering dishes.