The uniforms are labelled. The PE kit has somehow already disappeared. The packed lunches are back. And after six weeks of trying to work, parent, entertain, feed and remember which day you promised everyone you’d go swimming, September has arrived.
For some parents, the return to school means straight back to work. For others, there might suddenly be a few quieter hours in the week again. And maybe you don’t want to spend all of them doing the food shop. If you’re looking for things to do in Tunbridge Wells once the kids go back to school, here are five ideas for making a little bit of that September time your own.
1. Head to The Pantiles for a coffee
Not grab-a-coffee-while-doing-seven-other-things coffee. Actually go for a coffee
Head down to
The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, find somewhere to sit and drink the entire thing while it’s still hot. The historic Pantiles is one of those parts of Tunbridge Wells that’s easy to take for granted when you live nearby. Have a wander under the colonnade, browse the shops, take a book with you or meet a friend and watch the world go by for a while. You don’t even have to be productive. If the summer holidays have been spent organising things for everybody else, an hour on The Pantiles with a hot coffee sounds like a pretty good way to start September.
2. Take a walk through one of Tunbridge Wells’ parks
This time, you don’t need the scooter. Or the snacks. Or to spend 20 minutes negotiating about whether it’s time to leave the playground.
Head to
Dunorlan Park,
Calverley Grounds or
Grosvenor & Hilbert Park and just go for a walk. September is a lovely time to explore Tunbridge Wells’ parks and green spaces as the first signs of autumn start to appear. If you want to make it a little more creative, take your phone and turn it into a photography walk. Look for interesting colours, photograph the changing leaves or find five things you’ve never really noticed before. Or don’t. You are also completely entitled to just walk around the park without turning it into an activity. And yes, going to the park without the children is allowed.
3. Start the thing you keep saying you’d like to do
You know the one. “I’d love to start drawing again.” “I used to paint.” “I’ve always wanted to try writing.” “I bought all that wool and never actually knitted anything…”
September has a funny way of feeling like the beginning of something, even when you haven’t been at school yourself for 20 years. So use it. Get the sketchbook out. Start the book. Pick up the camera. Find the knitting needles. Put some music on and make something. It doesn’t have to become your new personality or a hobby that takes over every spare minute. You can just enjoy doing it.
4. Go and paint the walls at PaintnGo
And no, PaintnGo isn’t just for kids.
The school holidays are naturally a busy time at the studio, but once September arrives and the children head back to school, weekdays return to their usual calmer rhythm. Adults come along on their own, with friends or even with colleagues to spend some time painting. You don’t need to bring a child as an excuse to come in. Head down to PaintnGo on Camden Road in Tunbridge Wells, pick up a brush and paint directly onto the studio walls. Come with an idea or make it up when you get here. Spend an hour creating something, switch off from everything else for a while and do something purely because you fancy it. If you’ve spent the summer finding things for everybody else to do, this one can be for you.
5. Arrange the catch-up you’ve been promising since May
“We’ll definitely catch up after summer.” Well... it’s after summer.
his one won’t necessarily save today, but future you will be very grateful.
Instead of another round of WhatsApp messages trying to find a free Friday night sometime in November, make use of a weekday if you can. Meet for a walk around Tunbridge Wells. Grab lunch. Have coffee on The Pantiles. Meet up and do something creative together.
It doesn’t need to be an occasion. Sometimes seeing a friend at 11am on a random Wednesday is considerably easier than coordinating partners, babysitters and weekend plans. Send the message.