Sevenoaks station came fairly late to the rapidly expanding railway network, opened in 1868. But as a commuter town just over 20 miles from London, the transport links to the capital have been important ever since. The station is north of the centre, and linked to the High Street and the main shopping area of the town via the busy London Road. At the southern end of High Street is Sevenoaks School, one of the oldest in the country, dating back to 1432.
Not far from the school and to the east of the town centre is Knole, a large country house that was given to the Sackville family by Queen Elizabeth I in 1577. Although the family still live there, it is owned by the National Trust and much of the house and gardens are open to the public. It’s a mile and a half from the station, and easily reached on local buses from London Road.