The Pantiles Guide
Tunbridge Wells' famous colonnaded parade, built around the Chalybeate Spring discovered in 1606.
The Pantiles is the most famous street in Tunbridge Wells — a colonnaded parade built around the Chalybeate Spring.
The Chalybeate Spring
The spring was discovered by Lord North in 1606. Its iron-rich waters made Tunbridge Wells a popular destination for royalty and aristocracy through the 17th and 18th centuries, including visits from Queen Anne and Queen Victoria — leading King Edward VII to grant the town its "Royal" title in 1909.
The Colonnades
The Upper and Lower Walks were laid out in 1638. A fire in 1687 destroyed the original wooden buildings alongside the Walks; they were rebuilt with the covered colonnades that give The Pantiles its distinctive character today.
Visiting Today
The Pantiles today is home to independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants beneath the historic colonnades, with the Chalybeate Spring still on view to visitors.
Share this article