Charing: History, Architecture and Walking Routes

Charing lies on the lower slopes of the escarpment of the North Downs. The village combines a long history of buildings and settlement with various routes through the countryside. When choosing your destination, you can therefore consider whether you are mainly interested in historic buildings, a walk around the village or longer hikes.

Palace history and traces of the medieval manor house

The history of Charing Palace and its associated manor house dates back to the 8th century AD. In the Middle Ages, the Palace served as a prestigious residence for more than 50 Archbishops of Canterbury and their entourages. A precisely dated visit connects the village’s history with the English monarchy: in 1520, Henry VIII, his first wife Katherine of Aragon and a large entourage stayed at Charing Palace while travelling to France for the Field of the Cloth of Gold meeting with Francis I of France.

The surviving structural features also tell the story of the former complex. Palace Cottages and the adjoining remains of the gatehouse are listed as a Grade I building. Together, they formed the south side of the courtyard of the former manor house of the Archbishops of Canterbury. The gatehouse remains include stone passageways for carriages and pedestrians. These details bring the courtyard’s former use and its entrances to life, showing that its history is not limited to a single building.

Church, High Street and Village Trail

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul dates from the 13th century. The south chapel, porch and tower were added in the 15th century; the west tower is considered characteristic of Kent. The architecture thus reveals several building phases within a single building.

Charing’s High Street forms a group of medieval buildings in the Kentish building tradition. Many are timber-framed houses with later façades. If you would like to explore the village on foot, you can use the Village Trail leaflet for a self-guided walk. Guided walks around Charing can be arranged for groups. Climbing the church tower can be part of such a tour and is suitable for people able to manage the ascent. From there, you can enjoy views across the Charing area.

The Charing Heritage Trails are designed to take in outstanding heritage features in the surrounding area. This means the history of the buildings is not just an attraction in its own right: it can also be a focus for exploring on foot. The Village Trail provides a self-guided option, while a group outing with an organised guide can be arranged.

Walking routes with different highlights

The two Lost Landscapes Walks have different highlights. The Charing West Lost Landscapes Walk uses a section of the North Downs Way National Trail. The Charing East Lost Landscape Walk ends with views near Charing Windmill. When choosing between them, you can therefore distinguish between a route connected to the National Trail and one described as offering views towards the end.

The Charing to Hollingbourne North Downs Way Rail Trail is a linear route of 10 miles. It follows green lanes along the old Pilgrims’ Way towards Canterbury. In the Charing area, the section runs from the main car park at Charing railway station along Station Road into the village. The Rail Trail has four railway stations between Charing and Hollingbourne, as well as options to shorten the route at Lenham or Harrietsham. Check current train services and route access conditions before planning your trip.

Another walking route runs from Charing to Wye along a section of the North Downs Way. It follows an old trackway that has been used since prehistoric times. The different route features can help you plan your outing more specifically: these include the Rail Trail’s linear format and length, the stated options for shortening it, and the different descriptions of the Lost Landscapes Walks.

If you are looking for a hotel in Charing, you can start by considering the focus of your stay: local history and architecture offer several clearly defined themes, while the walking routes can be distinguished by their respective route features. For a stay involving longer walks, the details of the Rail Trail and its train options are particularly relevant; for a village walk, the Village Trail leaflet offers a dedicated guide.

Discover more destinations: Penshurst, Eastry, Ide Hill, Ash, Saint Margaretʼs At Cliffe, High Halden, Kingsdown, Speldhurst

For the broader travel overview: Kent.