Otford and Kemsing’s biggest
The Common Field
Playing field
11 ha (26 acres)0.5 km of path
15 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.3 mi eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Oxenhillshaw · Public domainA−Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Otford and Kemsing · parks, paths & countryside
73% of the land within 5 km of Otford and Kemsing is National Park or National Landscape
The Kent Downs National Landscape reaches the edge of Otford and Kemsing. Parks and playing fields in Otford and Kemsing add up to 3.3 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. 71 km of footpaths run through the town and the kilometre around it, 3.6 for every square kilometre. Otford and Kemsing grades A− for the outdoors: #34 of 87 in Kent. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
3.3 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
53%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
71 km
3.6 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
73%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Kent Downs National Landscape
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Otford and Kemsing?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Protected countryside73% of the land within 5 km is Kent Downs National Landscape.Hills with a view9 mapped viewpoints, about 9× as many per resident as the typical town its size.On a National TrailThe North Downs Way passes through.Parks can be a walk away47% of residents live more than 400 m from a park or playing field.
Otford and Kemsing’s strongest suit is protected countryside on the doorstep, followed by its views. Where it falls short is how far some homes are from a park.
Outdoors grade
Otford and Kemsing grades A− for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Otford and Kemsing, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
A−
Better than 76% of UK towns#34 of 87 in Kent · 13th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space3.3 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
74out of
100
100
A park within a walk53%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
15out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape73%of the land within 5 km
96out of
100
100
Footpaths3.6 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
73out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Otford and Kemsing is 13th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 7,000 to 7,600 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Otford and Kemsing3.6
Towns its size3.2
Kent towns2.6
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Otford and Kemsing3.3
Towns its size2.0
Kent towns2.3
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Otford and Kemsing53%
Towns its size78%
Kent towns78%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Otford and Kemsing stands out most for park space per resident: only 10 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on homes near a park, where 55 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshwater and Totland Isle of Wight | A+ | 5 | 89% | 3.9 | 20% |
| 2 | Holbury Hampshire | A+ | 5.5 | 89% | 3.1 | 42% |
| 3 | Stocksbridge South Yorkshire | A | 2.2 | 100% | 4.4 | 30% |
| 4 | Ruddington Nottinghamshire | A | 9.7 | 100% | 5.1 | 0% |
| 5 | Bude Cornwall | A | 3.1 | 78% | 3.3 | 9% |
| 6 | Liphook Hampshire | A | 3.1 | 86% | 3.8 | 64% |
| 7 | Bolton upon Dearne South Yorkshire | A | 5.6 | 100% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 8 | Bourne End Buckinghamshire | A | 2.9 | 87% | 4 | 19% |
| 9 | Gwersyllt Clwyd | A | 14.6 | 96% | 2.5 | 2% |
| 10 | Ashley Heath Dorset | A | 24.2 | 68% | 4 | 15% |
| 11 | Darfield South Yorkshire | A | 4 | 100% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 12 | Seaton Devon | A− | 1.1 | 84% | 2.5 | 55% |
| 13 | Otford and Kemsing Kent | A− | 3.3 | 53% | 3.6 | 73% |
| 14 | Torpoint Cornwall | A− | 2.2 | 84% | 1.6 | 26% |
| 15 | Goldthorpe South Yorkshire | A− | 8.4 | 84% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 16 | Blackwater Hampshire | B+ | 10.6 | 74% | 4.7 | 0% |
| 17 | Chinnor Oxfordshire | B+ | 1.5 | 88% | 3.7 | 37% |
| 18 | Kiveton Park South Yorkshire | B+ | 2.8 | 100% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 19 | Cromer Norfolk | B+ | 1.4 | 74% | 2.5 | 36% |
| 20 | Gowerton West Glamorgan | B+ | 3.2 | 79% | 1.2 | 14% |
| 21 | Barugh Green and Redbrook South Yorkshire | B | 2.1 | 94% | 4 | 0% |
| 22 | Malmesbury Wiltshire | B | 2 | 86% | 2.5 | 26% |
| 23 | Wroughton Wiltshire | B | 1.1 | 78% | 3.9 | 52% |
| 24 | Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire | B | 1.4 | 78% | 3.2 | 57% |
| 25 | Chapel-en-le-Frith Derbyshire | B− | 1 | 75% | 3.8 | 58% |
| 26 | Woodville Derbyshire | B− | 3.7 | 78% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 27 | Wootton Bedfordshire | B− | 2.5 | 79% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 28 | Rogerstone Gwent | B− | 3.1 | 60% | 4.7 | 0% |
| 29 | Eckington Derbyshire | B− | 1.8 | 80% | 6 | 0% |
| 30 | Crawcrook and Greenside Tyne and Wear | B− | 3.2 | 86% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 31 | Borrowash Derbyshire | B− | 2.8 | 85% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 32 | Bollington Cheshire | B− | 1.3 | 56% | 4.1 | 31% |
| 33 | Abersychan Gwent | B− | 2.8 | 83% | 1.1 | 17% |
| 34 | Wrecclesham Surrey | C+ | 1.2 | 50% | 3.8 | 37% |
| 35 | Poringland Norfolk | C+ | 1.3 | 91% | 2.1 | 5% |
| 36 | Pelton and Ouston County Durham | C+ | 2 | 64% | 4.7 | 0% |
| 37 | Murton County Durham | C+ | 2.1 | 54% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 38 | Sprotbrough South Yorkshire | C+ | 1.8 | 79% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 39 | Thrapston Northamptonshire | C | 1.2 | 100% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 40 | Caerleon Gwent | C | 1.9 | 64% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 41 | Horncastle Lincolnshire | C | 0.6 | 60% | 3.9 | 10% |
| 42 | Radcliffe on Trent Nottinghamshire | C | 2.5 | 76% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 43 | Sawston Cambridgeshire | C | 1.4 | 97% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 44 | Castle Donington Leicestershire | C | 1.8 | 85% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 45 | Fazeley Staffordshire | C | 3.2 | 35% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 46 | Marske-by-the-Sea North Yorkshire | C | 1.6 | 66% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 47 | Dalton-in-Furness Cumbria | C | 0.9 | 74% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 48 | Aylsham Norfolk | C | 2.6 | 74% | 2 | 0% |
| 49 | Wivenhoe Essex | C− | 0.9 | 65% | 5.1 | 0% |
| 50 | Kibworth Beauchamp and Kibworth Harcourt Leicestershire | C− | 2.1 | 82% | 2 | 0% |
| 51 | Southwell Nottinghamshire | C− | 1.7 | 59% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 52 | Calverton Nottinghamshire | C− | 1.7 | 62% | 3 | 0% |
| 53 | Breaston and Draycott Derbyshire | C− | 1.1 | 73% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 54 | Pickering North Yorkshire | C− | 1.7 | 39% | 1.7 | 19% |
| 55 | Shefford Bedfordshire | D | 1.1 | 67% | 3 | 0% |
| 56 | Deeping St James Lincolnshire | D | 0.5 | 73% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 57 | Polesworth and Dordon Warwickshire | D | 1.6 | 68% | 1.8 | 0% |
| 58 | Beddau Mid Glamorgan | D | 1 | 77% | 1.2 | 0% |
| 59 | Market Weighton East Riding of Yorkshire | D− | 0.7 | 79% | 1 | 0% |
| 60 | Featherstone Staffordshire | D− | 1.2 | 52% | 1.5 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Otford and Kemsing’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Otford and Kemsing
The biggest is The Common Field, 11 ha (26 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
Palace Field
Park or garden
1.3 ha (3 acres)0.5 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.5 km of path
2 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.4 mi westfrom the centre
Castle Cottages and Store Building at East End Grade II* +1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club
Playing field
1.7 ha (4 acres)
2 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.5 mi north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Close to home
5 in 10 Otford and Kemsing residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (53%)Further (47%)
Otford and Kemsing53%
Towns its size78%
Kent towns78%
All UK towns83%
About 3,400 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 14 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 524 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
National Parks and National Landscapes around Otford and Kemsing
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
National Landscape
Kent Downs
At the edge north-west879 km²since 196873% of the land within 5 km
Official site73% of the land within 5 km of Otford and Kemsing is National Park or National Landscape, more than 96% of UK towns.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
Otford and Kemsing is on the North Downs Way
71 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Otford and Kemsing and the kilometre around it, 3.6 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
NationalRegionalLocal
Darent Valley Path11.1 km
North Downs Way (Eastern)10.4 km
Otford to Canterbury Cathedral6.1 km
Southwark Cathedral to Otford4.1 km
Samuel Palmer Trail2.6 km
The North Downs Way, a national route, passes Otford and Kemsing. Close to home, the Darent Valley Path has 11 km of local walk within 2 km of the town. 2 regional routes pass through, including the Otford to Canterbury Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral to Otford.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
When to get out
The best walking months in Otford and Kemsing: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.3 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.6 | 16.6 | 16.2 | 14.6 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 73 | 61 | 49 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 46 | 59 | 57 | 84 | 85 | 84 |
July is the driest month (46 mm) and the warmest (highs of 23 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 85 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 54 nights a year. The climate in Otford and Kemsing →
Things to do
9 viewpoints, 14 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
9Viewpoints9.2× towns its size5Hills and peaks5Nature reserves5× towns its size14Playgroundsabout the same as towns its size
The nearest beaches
Otford and Kemsing is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Northfleet Beach11 mi from Otford and Kemsing’s edge
DirectionsKelson Beach14 mi from Otford and Kemsing’s edge
DirectionsDock Beach15 mi from Otford and Kemsing’s edge
DirectionsThe Beach18 mi from Otford and Kemsing’s edge
DirectionsEgypt Bay Beach19 mi from Otford and Kemsing’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 9
Plus 9 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 5
Otford Mount0.0 mi from town
DirectionsGreen Hill0.2 mi from town
DirectionsShore Hill0.2 mi from town
DirectionsPreston Hill1.2 mi from town
DirectionsRound Hill151 m (495 ft) · 1.2 mi from town
DirectionsNature reserves 5
Kemsing Down Nature Reserve16 ha · 0.2 mi from town
DirectionsFackenden Down Nature Reserve17 ha · 0.2 mi from town
DirectionsWhite Hill4.3 ha · 0.3 mi from town
DirectionsPolhill Bank Nature Reserve3.5 ha · 0.7 mi from town
DirectionsSevenoaks Wildlife Reserve71 ha · 1.2 mi from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 14
Plus 14 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
SealDunton GreenSevenoaksWest KingsdownSundridgeEynsfordOtford and Kemsing
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otford and Kemsing | A− | 3.3 | 53% | 73% |
| Seal 1.5 mi | B+ | 3.3 | 78% | 77% |
| Dunton Green 1.8 mi | B− | 1.0 | 82% | 69% |
| Sevenoaks 2.2 mi | A | 8.1 | 76% | 70% |
| West Kingsdown 3.6 mi | D | 0.8 | 28% | 52% |
| Sundridge 3.9 mi | A+ | 9.1 | 100% | 73% |
| Eynsford 3.9 mi | B− | 2.1 | 81% | 46% |
Sundridge, 3.9 miles away, grades A+, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. Sevenoaks and Sundridge have at least twice Otford and Kemsing’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Otford and Kemsing
What is the biggest park in Otford and Kemsing?
The Common Field, 11 ha (26 acres). Palace Field (1.3 ha) is second. 3 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Otford and Kemsing near a National Park?
It covers 879 km² and was designated in 1968.
What are the best walks near Otford and Kemsing?
5 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Darent Valley Path, North Downs Way (Eastern) and Otford to Canterbury Cathedral.
What is the nearest beach to Otford and Kemsing?
Northfleet Beach, 11 mi from the edge of the town, then Kelson Beach (14 mi). Otford and Kemsing itself is inland.
How many people in Otford and Kemsing live near a park?
53% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Otford and Kemsing?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Otford and Kemsing good for walking?
For paths, yes: 3.6 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 73% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 74% (3.3 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Otford and Kemsing’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Otford and Kemsing’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.