Paddock Wood has great transport links, both to London, the coast and surrounding towns. We are the rail user group for the station and are committed to trying to improve rail services for all that use here.
We are currently without a committee representative for Paddock Wood. If you are a regular traveller and would like to help improve the railway, please click here to read more about how you could help TLC.
About Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood is located a few miles east of Tonbridge and developed as a settlement around the hop industry. The railway arrived in 1842, which helped seasonal workers travel to pick hops or head to the coast for a holiday. Nowadays, Paddock Wood is a commuter town, with links to London and the coast.
We are campaigning for better rail services in the area. We would like the Medway Valley Line that runs from Strood to Paddock Wood to be restored to running all the way through to Tonbridge. The roads between Tonbridge and Maidstone are often congested and the railway should be providing better competition. There are a few services that run the full distance but this is mainly to suit Southeastern staff (based at Tonbridge) or to cope with heavy schoolchildren flows.
Southeastern take the view that the Medway Valley Line trains crossing the main lines at Tonbridge causes delays. We have asked for both evidence of this and evidence that things have improved since Tonbridge has been mostly removed but we have yet to receive any satisfactory answers.
Train Services
Paddock Wood is on the main line between Tonbridge and Ashford and is also the start of the Medway Valley Line to Maidstone and Strood. It is possible to travel direct to the following destinations:
- London via Tonbridge: Charing Cross, Waterloo East, and London Bridge (during peak hours there are some direct services to and from Cannon Street)
- East Kent: Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone, Margate, and Ramsgate
- North Kent: Maidstone and Strood (Medway Valley Line) 4 morning and 3 afternoon services run through/start at Tonbridge.
Timetables for these services are available from Southeastern. Please note that to travel to Tunbridge Wells or other destinations on the Hastings line a change at Tonbridge is necessary.
Car Parking in Paddock Wood
There are several car parks near Paddock Wood station. Local car parks include:
- Paddock Wood station car park: the official station car park run by APCOA parking on behalf of Southeastern. Payment is via an app, or at a station ticket machine. Car parking charges are 7 days a week including Bank holidays. Discounted season tickets, and discounted afternoon/evening parking are available.
- Commercial Road council car parks: These two car parks are owned by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and are primarily short term shoppers’ car parks, with the first hour free – all day parking is possible (more expensive than the station car park although free on Sundays) and there are a small number of season tickets available (contact TWBC for details)
- Waitrose Supermarket: has a car park right by the station in Station Road but there is a 2 hour time limit. This is enforced with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).
On street parking is either resident permit holders only or time limited on Monday-Friday within about 0.5 miles of the station. Outside of this area or at weekends, on-street parking is generally free.
Bus Services
Paddock Wood has a bus service consisting of the following routes:
- 6/6A: Tunbridge Wells – Pembury – Matfield – Paddock Wood – East Peckham – Maidstone (no Sunday service) – timetable
- 205: Tonbridge – Tudeley – Five Oak Green – Paddock Wood (no Sunday service) – timetable
- 203: Paddock Wood: Laddingford – Yalding (1 bus each way on Wednesdays only) – timetable
Bus timetables for all these routes are available from Traveline or Bustimes. A summary of the buses to catch to relevant destinations is given below:
- Tonbridge: 205
- Tunbridge Wells: 6, 6A
- Yalding 203
Older travellers can travel on buses free of charge – see information from Kent County Council to see whether you qualify.
Bicycle Services
Paddock Wood is in a flat area of countryside which lends itself to cycling. There are cycle parking stands at the station. New secure lockable cycle hubs with lighting and CCTV are available outside of the station in car park A, next to the disabled parking and the parcel lockers and on platform 2/3. A fee of £50/year is payable (Dec 2024)
Alternatively, there is less secure parking available next to the secure hub (see below). We would warn that bicycle theft is periodic in the area and so making your bike as secure as possible is recommended, if only as a deterrent.
