In today’s episode of ‘quaint-and-quiet villages that’ll make you want to pack up and pack in your life in London‘ we have a serene and oh-so scenic spot that boasts a rather impressive claim to fame. The village of Elham dates all the way back to the Saxon times. So, if villages could talk, it’s like that this one would have plenty of interesting tales to tell.
With its abundance of listed buildings and historic architecture; if you want to feel as though you’ve travelled back in time (but don’t fancy the inconvenience of having to actually locate a time machine), Elham might just be the perfect place to head to on your next daytrip from the capital city.
Where is Elham?
The village of Elham is peacefully perched in the heart of the Kent Downsabout halfway between Canterbury and Folkestone. As I’m sure you’d expect from a village situated slap-bang in the middle of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; Elham is an outrageously good-looking spot. But we all know that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And inside this idyllic village is bundles of charm, heaps of history, and a whole lot of character.
Things to do in Elham
Much like many of the villages within easy reach of Londonthe list of things to do in Elham isn’t wildly extensive. But that’s what makes it so darn charming. It has all of the usual village-y offerings, of course; a village hall, a convenience store, a park, a primary school, a cosy little tearoom (that boasts rave reviews on TripAdvisor, FYI), and three pubs (good to know that they have their priorities in order). Elham has also retained many of its historic buildingsand a rather impressive 43 of them are listed and tell the story of the village’s lengthy history.
There’s a large Grade I listed churchand an abundance of Tudor and timber-framed houses. And its jaw-dropping location means that there’s also some stunning countryside walks to be embarked on near Elham. Basically, you won’t be short on gorgeous things to gawp at during a visit here. But the village is perhaps best known for its links to the Hollywood superstar, Audrey Hepburn. Yes, really.
Audrey Hepburn’s links to Elham
In the late 1930s, Audrey Hepburn (then known as Audrey Ruston) lived in the picturesque village of Elham, on a road named Duck Street. She spent around three years of her childhood residing there, and supposedly starred in a number of theatre productions in that time. She is said to have graced the stage of Elham with her fellow Brownie’s in a production of Humpty Dumpty. What a start to her showbiz career, hey?
Getting to Elham from London
Elham is approximately a 90 minute drive from central London, and there are multiple pay-and-display parking options available once you get there. Non-drivers can hop on a train from London Bridge to Folkestone Central and take a local bus from there.
