Sittingbourne

Sittingbourne is an industrial town in the Swale district of Kent, southeast England, 17 miles (27 km) from Canterbury and 45 miles (72 km) from London, beside the RomanWatling Street, an ancient trackway used by the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons. In 2021 it had a population of 54,392.

The town stands next to the Swale, a strip of sea separating mainland Kent from the Isle of Sheppey. The town became prominent after the death of Thomas Becket in 1170, since it provided a convenient resting point on the road from London to Canterbury and Dover.

Chatham Main Line links to London Victoria station and HS1 to St Pancras International, the journey taking about an hour from Sittingbourne railway station.