The UK has an abundance of delightful villages you can visit, one of which is the charming and picturesque spot of Aylesford.
Located close to Kent's county town of Maidstone, Aylesford has a few interesting historical features to explore.
Alongside that, visitors can find a couple of highly regarded pubs and some beautiful scenery to admire.
Although Aylesford is a village rather than a town, it was named among the UK's 6 most overlooked towns by World Atlas.
The Friars Priory and the nearby Kit's Coty House were highlighted by the publication as some excellent spots to visit there.
Aylesford is only a relatively short train journey away from me, so I wanted to pop along to see if the village justified its inclusion on the list.
Why you need to visit the village of Aylesford
After heading over on the train, it takes about 10-15 minutes to walk over the main High Street area of Aylesford.
On the way over, there isn't much of note to point out aside from some houses and a park, but once you're nearly at the High Street you'll be treated to a gorgeous sight.
To reach Aylesford's main area, you'll need to cross over a bridge on the River Medway, and if you're there on a sunny day, it's a proper feast for the eyes.
Arguably, this landmark is what the village is best known for, whether you're viewing it from the side or walking over the bridge and admiring the views.
Once you're over the bridge, you enter the High Street area itself, which is a narrow street with plenty of pretty shops, pubs and houses on either side.
If you head right once you cross the bridge, the pathway opens up a bit, and you can find a bit of seating.
Heading up the hill next to this section, I then went to see St Peter and St Paul's Church.
The oldest parts of the church date back to the Norman period, while other sections like the nave and chancel were built in relatively more recent centuries.
It's certainly an attractive church from the exterior and worth a quick visit if you're having an explore.
After that, I then headed over to the Friars Priory, which is arguably the most famous attraction that can be classed as being in the village itself.
I was on foot, so I walked over from the High Street area, but it is easy to drive to as well.
If you are approaching on foot, I would recommend using the higher path that can be accessed close to the church up some steps, which I didn't discover until I walked back later on.
Regardless, it was a short walk over the Friary, which has plenty of grounds to explore and is free to enter.
It is the home to a small community of Carmelite Friars, who first came here in 1242.
They left at the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538, but were able to return in 1949.
Walking around the grounds and admiring the architecture of the place was very peaceful, and the whole site had a sense of quiet serenity.
Although we were in the height of drought when I visited, the place was still beautiful to admire and it was intriguing to see the various statues and religious imagery.
There was even a small garden to admire and a tea room (although I didn't go in).
It was very pleasant to sit awhile on one of the benches, though, and just take it all in.
Once I had finished exploring, I made my way back to the main part of the village and took in a glorious view from the high path.
It was after midday at that point, so I went for a spot of pub lunch at an establishment called The Chequers Inn.
I was hoping it wasn't going to be too busy outside, as we were enjoying some gorgeously sunny weather.
Thankfully, I was able to grab a spot on the terrace, which was perfect for enjoying a view out onto the River Medway and the bridge.
As a result, it was such a lovely spot to sit down after all the walking I had done, and I tucked into a plate of delicious fish and chips with relish.
Although I didn't go in, Aylesford has a couple of other options for pubs, including The Little Gem, which is claimed to be the smallest pub in Kent.
There's also The Bush, which can be found up on Rochester Road, just off the High Street.
Overall, while there isn't loads to explore in the village, what is there is exceptionally pleasant and can make for a lovely day trip.
Plus, the benefit of it being reachable by train is an added bonus if you're coming from afar.
Have you ever visited Aylesford before, and what did you think? Let us know in the comments.
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