The Royal Tunbridge Wells Festival of Motoring

Celebrating 131 years of
motoring in Royal Tunbridge Wells

The spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent can trace its roots back many centuries, the impressive sandstone rock formation at High Rocks and discovery of the Chalybeate Spring in 1606 have always attracted great interest from visitors far and wide.

Perhaps a lesser known chapter in its history is the ‘Horseless Carriage Exhibition’ hosted by the Mayor of the town Sir David Salomons on 15th October 1895 at the Tunbridge Wells Agricutural Showground. This ground-breaking event drew large crowds of over 6,000 people and crowned the town as the birthplace of the British Motorshow.

The event was widely reported in the inaugural issue of ‘The Autocar’, the world’s longest established automotive publication, firmly establishing the town as major motoring hub which inspired the rapid growth of specialist motor dealers, auctioneers, coachbuilders and motor engineering workshops.

Join us and celebrate the 131st anniversary of this seminal moment in motoring history on the Pantiles this August as we take a journey through time with an eye watering display of cars and motorcycles from 1895 to the current day, kindly exhibited by ten local specialists held in support of local charity, Taylor-Made Dreams.