The Garden of England is how the county of Kent, located in the southeast, has been described for more than 400 years – and with good reason.
It dates back to the days when the county first supplied food and drink to London. Legend has it the nickname was given after King Henry VIII was so impressed by the fruit harvests that he coined the phrase that has stuck ever since.
Kent is host to gentle hills, fertile farmland and country estates with fruit filled orchards that cover the area.  The iconic Kent coastal houses also pepper the landscape and were traditionally used as a place to dry local hops ready for the brewing process, making Kent not only The Garden of England but also The ‘Beer Garden of England’ where you’ll find some of the best ales and wines in Europe.
The property investments in the county are proving to be just as fruitful.
 
Why invest in Kent?
Kent has a unique and strategic location, stretching from the English Channel coast to Greater London. Whilst some parts of the county are pretty built up, other parts remain idyllically rural.
Besides agriculture, the economy is orientated towards public services, distribution, tourism and transport. The Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel are major contributors to the Kent economy.
Indeed, the county is seen as the UK’s gateway to Europe. Kent is home to the major Channel ports, London and the rest of the UK with major motorway links.
It has well run rail services not only to the British capital but to mainland Europe too. There are international stations with high-speed rail services at Ebbsfleet and Ashford International. Ebbsfleet is only 20 minutes from central London and Ashford is just 40 minutes from the capital.
In addition, The Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Area, an area designated by the government for commercial development, which will attract multinational firms and therefore jobs, is partly within Kent.
Understandably, Kent has one of the county’s fastest-growing populations, which will naturally increase demand within the property market
Kent is a fast-growing part of the country in population terms, which should help boost the demand for accommodation in the future. Nearly 400,000 new people are predicted to be in the county by 2031, bringing fresh demand for homes and jobs, according to one forecast.
There’s also a significant student accommodation market, with The University of Kent having campuses in Canterbury, Medway and Tunbridge Wells. The University for the Creative Arts has a campus in Canterbury and one in Rochester.

Ashford
Ashford, which lies on the Great Stour River at the southern edge of the North Downs, about 61 miles (98 km) southeast of central London and 15.3 miles (24.6 km) northwest of Folkestone by road, is widely regarded as one of the best towns in Kent for property investments.
A famous market town, it has a fast-growing population and there are several new-build property developments in order to meet the increasing demand.
Ashford, becoming known for its coffee shops, independent retailers, bistros and leisure facilities, enjoys an advantageous location on the M20 highway and from its renowned Ashford International train station, which has links to the capital and continental Europe via the Channel Tunnel.
Data from the Home.co.uk Market Rent Summary show that the average rent in Ashford is currently £1,080 per month.
Kent has been a favourite for investments since the time of the Tudors.  And, it seems, with increasing investment into the county from the government and local councils, the future looks brighter than ever.