3 The Village, Chiddingstone TN8 7AH
The Tulip Tree is reputedly the oldest working shop in the UK. Dating back to 1453, today it’s still a treasure trove of carefully curated and ever-changing gifts and local products. We sell everything from jewellery, candles and toys to kitchen cupboard essentials and furniture, but our favourite bit has to be the colourful corner dedicated to fudge, chocolate and retro sweeties in old-fashioned jars. Conveniently, we’re also the village Post Office.
In The Tulip Tree tea rooms, which are in an old converted coach house just behind the shop, we serve a wide range of Birchall teas (the best teas around by far, we reckon), coffee (from our machine, known as Leonardo because it’s so beautiful), homemade cakes, breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas. We’re also licensed, so cider, beer and wine are on the menu too. Oh, and we’re available to hire for private events. Come in and curl up with a hot chocolate in front of the wood burner, soak up some rays in our sunny courtyard, or grab a coffee on the school run.
Chiddingstone is slap bang in the middle of the rolling fields of the Weald of Kent. There’s plenty to do and see in the area: walking, cycling, the church across the road, the castle around the corner, the Chiding Stone on the edge of the village, and a generous smattering of historic houses. We’re also only a few minutes drive from Hever Castle and Penshurst Place, so drop in as part of your day trip.
Food, drink, shopping and heritage all in one place – it makes us very happy and we hope you feel it too!
