If there’s a quintessential English village that could serve as an ideal backdrop for a painting class, it would undoubtedly be found in the idyllic Kent countryside.

The picturesque views of golden cornfields and the mosaic of green fields, trees, and hedgerows seem to have been frozen in time.

A hidden treasure, Luddesdown (pictured above) has a lot more going for it than first meets the eye. Yes, it’s beautiful, but it can also be lively. 

For the fortunate 200 or so residents who call this haven home, its charm is no secret, and they are well-versed in the correct pronunciation of its name – “Ludsdun”.

Located in the Gravesham borough, this hamlet, despite its pastoral setting, is merely nine miles from the M20, offering easy access to Ashford in one direction, and Farningham in the other.

Situated in the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Luddesdown has plenty to offer visitors in addition to stunning scenery. 

At this time of year, Luddesdown has vast fields of vibrant red poppies that set the hamlet’s surroundings ablaze with colour. 

Amid the fiery landscape, there is the Silverhand Estate; boasting 500 acres, it is the UK’s largest single organic vineyard with winery tours occurring on Saturday afternoons. 

Inside the hamlet there’s Luddesdown Society, a community group that organises charity fundraising social events, such as the May Fair Dog Show, to bring local villages together.

And then there’s the Luddesdown Cricket Club, where people meet up at The Rectory Cricket Ground, described by the club as “without a doubt one of the most rural and picturesque grounds in England”.

Royal connections

As reported by KentLive, there’s also the Grade I listed Luddesdown Court, which dates back to around 1100; this former Manor House is believed to be England’s oldest continuously inhabited house.

The property, once owned by William the Conqueror’s brother, boasts a rose garden, a great hall, and even a pool house complex. It showcases architectural features from various periods including Saxon, Norman, Tudor, Jacobean, and more recent times.

While the property itself is private and not open to the public, visitors can explore the neighbouring Luddesdowne Church, dedicated to St Peter and St Paul. Open until the end of September from 2pm to 4.30pm, it houses a remarkable collection of Victorian wall paintings.

Luddesdown is also home to The Lion on Luddesdown Road; this esteemed pub boasts a promising 4.5 star rating out of the five possible on Tripadvisor.

A recent review on Tripadvisor praised the establishment: “The quality of the meat is very good and gravy tasty, enjoyed roast potatoes, the veg on the side also, thank you. Pub is clean, staff friendly and accommodating and for the first time we visited the Cellar Door shop next door. Well done everyone, we will be back.”

Another popular venue is The Ship Inn; only 1.7 miles away from Luddesdown. It currently holds a reputable 3.5 star rating out of a possible five on Tripadvisor.

Reviewer Sarah sang its praises, stating: “Beautiful little pub, plenty of parking. Very good choice of food on the menu and very cheap.”

Another visitor from Swanscombe, said: “It was our 36th wedding anniversary yesterday… we were both pleasantly surprised this is a little gem the food was excellent the bar staff was lovely will definitely return in the future.”