Sevenoaks, like much of West Kent, is characterised by high levels of economic activity and a skilled resident workforce.
A large proportion of that workforce commutes elsewhere to their places of employment, mostly to central London.
Those factors have led to high house prices and pressure on the local area to build yet more houses.
Many of those houses attract high prices, making it difficult for people to buy property.
A wide range of middle-class occupations are in short supply locally.
Industries such as finance and business services tend to predominate.
Transport links are generally very busy and town centre congestion is common at peak times.

The main industrial area is located north of the town, alongside the A225.
Sevenoaks Quarry is on Bat and Ball Road, also to the north.

The shopping area in High Street includes the new Bligh's development.
It is a typical small town centre, with one M&S Department Store having opened in 2014.

Bligh's Shopping Development opened in phases in 2002.
The site was originally a meadow, before becoming a bus station and car park.
Access can be gained from several directions including the High Street and London Road.
In 2008, a new third side of the development opened, housing a Costa Coffee, a Robert Dyas and Tommelise and Zapata: A Mexican restaurant (now closed).
 Much of the architecture is based on slightly earlier periods but with a contemporary edge.

Music string manufacturer RotoSound is based in Sevenoaks.
The company's strings have been used by Jimi Hendrix, Brian May, and Pete Townshend.
In the US, the company is associated with the 'British Invasion' sound of the 1960s and 70s.
Sevenoaks, like much of West Kent, is characterised by high levels of economic activity and a skilled resident workforce. A large proportion of that workforce commutes elsewhere to their places of employment, mostly to central London. Those factors have led to high house prices and pressure on the local area to build yet more houses. Many of those houses attract high prices, making it difficult for people to buy property. A wide range of middle-class occupations are in short supply locally. Industries such as finance and business services tend to predominate. Transport links are generally very busy and town centre congestion is common at peak times.
The main industrial area is located north of the town, alongside the A225. Sevenoaks Quarry is on Bat and Ball Road, also to the north.
The shopping area in High Street includes the new Bligh's development. It is a typical small town centre, with one M&S Department Store having opened in 2014.
Bligh's Shopping Development opened in phases in 2002. The site was originally a meadow, before becoming a bus station and car park. Access can be gained from several directions including the High Street and London Road. In 2008, a new third side of the development opened, housing a Costa Coffee, a Robert Dyas and Tommelise and Zapata: A Mexican restaurant (now closed).  Much of the architecture is based on slightly earlier periods but with a contemporary edge.
Music string manufacturer RotoSound is based in Sevenoaks. The company's strings have been used by Jimi Hendrix, Brian May, and Pete Townshend. In the US, the company is associated with the 'British Invasion' sound of the 1960s and 70s.
Sevenoaks