Editing Tonbridge (section)

==Economy==
[[File:Tonbridge Oast Theatre.JPG|thumb|The Oast Theatre]]
Major industries include light engineering, printing and publishing, distribution and financial services. Tonbridge, together with its neighbour Tunbridge Wells, has been designated by the South East Assembly as a Regional Hub.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www5.tmbc.gov.uk/akstonbridge/images/att1177.doc|title=Regional Hubs|publisher=Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}</ref>

The town has retained its 'market town' atmosphere and has attractions to visitors and residents alike. Sports facilities including an [[Tonbridge swimming pool|indoor/outdoor swimming pool]], a leisure centre and a sports ground are all close to the town centre. Many of the facilities are provided or subsidised by the local authority.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmbc.gov.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?mysql=247|title=Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council – Leisure Facilities|publisher=Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council|access-date=7 August 2009|archive-date=14 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814200943/http://www.tmbc.gov.uk/cgi-bin/buildpage.pl?mysql=247|url-status=live}}</ref>

Most of the town's shopping facilities are concentrated on the High Street, which runs for about {{convert|1|mi|km|0}} through the town centre. The high street has bars, restaurants, estate agents, clothes shops, hairdressers, banks, charity shops, cafes, bakers, a butchers and a fishmongers. There are empty high street premises.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}} There are high street chain stores that have tended to move to large shopping centres such as Tunbridge Wells.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}} The Borough Council has published proposals to improve the town's shopping and leisure facilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.davidlock.com/Site/tonbridge.html|title=Our Work – Tonbridge Town Centre|publisher=David Lock Associates|year=2007|access-date=7 August 2009|archive-date=16 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816085102/http://www.davidlock.com/Site/tonbridge.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the early 20th century Tonbridge became the South East hub for plastic moulding / engineering and printing, with The Crystalate Gramophone Record Company, which claimed to be the oldest record producer in Britain.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}. Some manufacturing still remains in Tonbridge: Enalon Limited, founded in 1946, is the last remaining plastic moulder and toolmaker based in the town.{{Citation needed|date=October 2015}}
[[File:The River Centre Tonbridge.jpg|thumb|The River Centre]]

In 1999, Harvester Trust Tonbridge bought a derelict site on Medway Wharf Road, in the centre of Tonbridge. A £4&nbsp;million building which can be used as a church, community centre and conference centre was given planning permission in March 2000. Work began in 2001. The River Centre was officially opened in January 2003. In August 2016, [[Hillsong Church]] purchased the building and is the current owner.

The police station, on Pembury Road, was previously the headquarters of the West Kent Police Division, prior to the West Division being again headquartered at Maidstone.

Royal Mail's TN postcode main [[sorting office]] is on Vale Road in the town.

Tonbridge is also the location of Carroty Wood, an outdoor activity and residential centre run by [[Rock UK]], offering groups of young people the opportunity to try out a variety of outdoor activities.

A former [[oast house]] on the road to Hildenborough has been converted to a small theatre called the [[Oast Theatre, Tonbridge|Oast Theatre]].

Tonbridge Medical Group built a substantial new medical centre in 2020 to replace their ageing Pembury Road and Higham Lane sites.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bird's-eye view for doctors as new medical centre tops out |url=https://www.buildingbetterhealthcare.com/news/article_page/Birds-eye_view_for_doctors_as_new_medical_centre_tops_out/161787/cn164706 |access-date=23 March 2020 |publisher=Building Better Healthcare |date=27 January 2020 |archive-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323134007/https://www.buildingbetterhealthcare.com/news/article_page/Birds-eye_view_for_doctors_as_new_medical_centre_tops_out/161787/cn164706 |url-status=live }}</ref>