Mr & Mrs Smith

You're perfectly positioned for upscale boutique browsing in the colonnaded Pantiles. If you pass a church on your wanders past the Pantiles, take a peek inside: King Charles the Martyr’s plaster ceiling is quite something.

Oenophiles could spend a day visiting some of Kent’s impressive vineyards: there are four within a 20-mile radius of Tunbridge Wells: Lamberhurst and Chapel Down; Biddenden (+44 (0)1580 291726); and Sandhurst (+44 (0)1580 850296).

Some of England’s most interesting bricks-and-moats attractions are an easy drive away: pick from Ann Boleyn’s family seat (Hever Castle), a 14th-century country manor (Penshurst Place), a deer park and pre-eminent private house (Knole), a romantic gothic castle (Chiddingstone), Winston Churchill’s home (Chartwell), and last but certainly not least, the eyeful of loveliness that is Leeds Castle.

Francophiles will find plenty to keep their palates entertained in Tunbridge Wells: pay a post-shopping visit to Brasserie Blanc (+44 (0)1892 559170) at Five Ways, Lime Hill Road, to refuel on a menu of tasty staples such as chicken parfait, Toulouse sausages and omelettes from Le Manoir's governor; or make a night of it at Richard Phillips' sophisticated French establishment, Thackeray's Restaurant (+44 (0)1892 511921) on the London Road, where there's also a lovely bar for pre-prandial cocktails. The ever-reliable Hotel du Vin brasserie and bar (+44 (0)1892 526455) on Crescent Road is another good Continental-flavoured option. For a complete change of culinary scenery, Mooli at 57–59 Calverley Road (+44 (0)1892 545499) is a genuinely fantastic Nepalese restaurant.