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Set along a steep stretch of the Medway Valley just four miles west of Maidstone, Wateringbury is a village defined by its relationship with the river and its long history of hop growing. Life here is split between the higher ground of the village centre and the river level, where the marina and the railway station sit. The station remains a vital link, connecting the village to Maidstone and Tonbridge (and onwards to London), while the Medway provides a towpath that serves as a primary route for walkers heading toward Teston or Nettlestead. Historically, the village was a significant hub for the brewing industry; you can still see evidence of this in the architecture of the old malthouses and the prominent oast houses that dot the surrounding landscape. The village layout is practical, centered around the crossroads where the A26 meets the lanes leading down to the water and up toward the woods. It manages to retain a distinct community identity despite its proximity to the larger urban sprawl of Maidstone, largely thanks to the local primary school, the village hall, and the parish church of St John the Baptist with its distinctive "dumb borsholder" tradition. While the main road can be busy during peak hours, the networks of footpaths that strike out into the orchards and along the riverbank offer a much quieter perspective on this corner of Kent. It’s a place where the rural character of the Low Weald is still very much tangible, even with the modern conveniences of the town just a short drive or train ride away.