A28 road

The A28 is a main road in Kent and East Sussex, running from Margate on the Kent coast inland to Canterbury, then south-west through the North Downs to Ashford, and finally south-east to Hastings on the Sussex coast. It links seaside resorts, cathedral cities and market towns across the two counties. The road passes through open countryside, chalk hills, river valleys and built-up areas, offering varied scenery along its route. The A28 has a long history as a turnpike, with sections dating back to the 18th century. The Canterbury to Ashford stretch was established in 1762, and tollgates once stood at points like Kempe’s Corner and Wincheap. The road was realigned in the 1830s to speed travel between Canterbury and Ashford. Newenden Bridge, built in 1706, remains a narrow, traffic-light-controlled crossing over the River Rother. Along the way, the A28 passes through villages such as Chartham, Chilham and Tenterden, each with their own character. Canterbury’s ring road includes a section of the A28, while Ashford’s outskirts feature Simone Weil Avenue, named after the philosopher buried nearby. The road also crosses the Kentish Weald and the Vale of Holmesdale, offering views of rolling countryside and historic bridges like Newenden’s.