Charing lies on the lower slopes of the North Downs escarpment. Here, walking trails meet a village history told through medieval buildings and striking landmarks. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing between the various routes and historical themes: some routes lead through the countryside, while others offer insights into the village’s long history.

Walking routes between the Downs and the village

The two Lost Landscapes Walks take different approaches. 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. This lets you choose between a route linked to the National Trail and one with a named viewpoint.

The linear Charing to Hollingbourne North Downs Way Rail Trail is ten miles long. It includes four railway stations between Charing and Hollingbourne, with options to shorten the route at Lenham or Harrietsham. The route description therefore offers named options along the way as well as the full distance. The Rail Trail follows green lanes along the old Pilgrims’ Way towards Canterbury.

The section of the Rail Trail at Charing runs from the main car park at Charing station through the village via Station Road. So, if you are planning the linear route, take account of both its total length and the options along the way. Train services can change; check the current timetable and trail conditions before setting out.

Another option is the walking route from Charing to Wye. It follows a section of the North Downs Way and an old route that has been used since prehistoric times. Here, the historical connection is not limited to buildings in the village; it extends to the route itself.

The palace, church and High Street

The history of Charing Palace and its associated manor house can be traced 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. In 1520, Henry VIII stayed there with his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, and a large entourage. They were on their way to France for the Field of the Cloth of Gold meeting with Francis I of France.

Palace Cottages and the adjoining remains of the gatehouse are listed Grade I. Together, they formed the south side of the courtyard of the former manor house of the Archbishops of Canterbury. The gatehouse remains include stone carriage and pedestrian passageways—a detail that brings the former courtyard entrance to life.

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul also reflects several phases of construction: the church dates from the 13th century, while the south chapel, porch and tower were added in the 15th century. Its west tower is considered characteristic of Kent. On the High Street, a group of medieval buildings represents Kentish building traditions; many are timber-framed houses with later façades.

Walks and different ways to explore

For a self-guided walk around the village, you can use the Village Trail leaflet. The Charing Heritage Trails take in the area’s outstanding heritage features. Guided walks for groups can be arranged on request. This gives you a choice of formats: explore independently with the leaflet, or join an organised guided walk as a group.

As part of a guided village walk, people able to manage the climb may also be able to climb the church tower. This is available as part of the organised tour and is not an open-access visit. From there, you can enjoy views across the Charing area. If you are mainly interested in architectural history, the church, High Street and remains of the former manor house offer different points of interest; for a walk, the focus is on the routes described and their individual characteristics.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bridge, Upchurch, New Ash Green, Snodland, Sandgate, Ide Hill, Littlestone-On-Sea, Frittenden

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