Sussex Day Trips #8 - Royal Tunbridge Wells

Sunday is not the best day for tours in UK - public transport will be less frequent (and prone to cancellations), stores will be closed early (if opened at all), churches will be busy, even restaurants will be limited🤷🏻‍♀️. However, one weekend, a friend of mine was visiting and we had no option but to plan a trip on Sunday. After verifying bus schedules, we opted for Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Bus rides along Sussex area are key highlights of these trips - moving through vast green lands, small cottages surrounded by cattle 🐄 and occasional horses 🐎.

Added advantage is we got the front seat on the top deck. My friend mentioned that even if we have to take a return bus right after reaching the place, the journey would make the trip worthy 😊. 

It was late morning by the time we reached and we started with brunch at a restaurant near to bus stop. 

It was crowded for a Sunday morning. We sat outdoors as it was a bright sunny day and had a hearty breakfast.

After brunch, we went for a lazy stroll around the gardens. 

Next to garden is an arena for sports with ample space to lay down in shade. We decided to skip lunch and sat for a while slurping ice creams 🍦.

Later we walked, through very deserted roads, to another park with huge lake where we went for boating.

As it was Sunday we had to catch the last bus which is in early evening. We walked back through the town - in contrast to the previous route town centre is lively with various stores and restaurants. 

There is a steam engine train station where murder mystery theme dinner rides are scheduled. I saw one in East Grinstead which was scheduled way later and my trip was scheduled to conclude before that date. Dinner ride in Royal Tunbridge station was on evening before my planned departure to India, yet I decided to book it - it was only two hour ride from Crawley and I could finish packing little early and easily make it. Although, few days before the departure, my plan changed drastically - instead of returning to India, I had to go to Scotland to sort out an escalation. I almost missed the event with last minute travel changes, accommodation arrangements, baggage transfers and work preparation. On top of everything, my debit card got expired ( I wasn’t planning to extend as I wouldn’t be staying in UK). Thankfully, I was able to finish up the tasks by noon, took additional baggage to London to parcel to India, met my friend for lunch and took a train to Tunbridge Wells just in time for the event (phew!!). We waited in the station until ride started and it got a mini theatre (nothing is being played though 😜)

The ride started around 6:30 and I got grouped with a family as I was solo member. One of the advantages of solo trips is we get to meet new people - this time a lovely lady kept me company 😊.

As the ride commenced, the actors came in and enacted the play in parts. 

We were given a sheet to note down the clues and the culprit was revealed at the end😌. 

We were served fish and chips dinner followed by an ice cream. The dinner is quite casual unlike the one in East Grinstead (more luxurious and expensive 🤑). By the time we returned it was 9:30 and got quite dark. I had to walk for 15 minutes through deserted streets to get to train station. My companion was worried that I was going alone (especially since there was a fight at the station and she called the cops). Fortunately few people are going towards the railway station and I joined them to reach just in time for last train to London. 

It was almost midnight by the time I reached Crawley, but my accommodation is right next to train station and I reached home safely. It was quite exhilarating, but perfect way to end my trip in England 😅.