The parish of Aldington in the English county of Kent lies between the town of Ashford to the west (5 miles distant) and the coastal town of Hythe to the east (6 miles distant). To the north, the parish is bounded by the M20 motorway and the Channel Tunnel high-speed rail link. Beyond lies the City of Canterbury. To the south, the parish stretches into the low-lying coastal region of Romney Marsh. The parish covers an area of around 3,400 acres (1,376 hectares) of which area about 10% forms part of Romney Marsh.

Around 50% of the parish's landmass is officially designated, and protected, as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This is the United Kingdom's highest landscape designation and has been awarded to only 47 areas in England and Wales. The parish's "Outstanding" designation reflects the fact that much of the area is the geological and ecological continuation of the famous North Downs.

In addition, more than 80% of the parish lies within an area designated, and protected, as the Old Romney Shoreline Special Landscape Area. This Kent County Council landscape designation reflects the fact that before Romney Marsh was drained, the parish lay directly on the coast of England and this former proximity to the sea is still evident in the coastline features which survive in the east of the parish.

Landscape designations aside, the beauty of the parish lies in its diverse and contrasting mix of physical features - the Ragstone (Greensand) Ridge surmounted by an ancient Roman Road; the remnants of the ancient, and once vast, Weald Forest; the former heathland of the Frith; the fertile East Stour valley; the rugged former coastline; the ancient and mysterious Knoll; and, separated from this high ground by the Royal Military Canal, there is the openness of Romney Marsh.

The parish is home to about 1,200 people living in around 400 houses. About one quarter of the population is under 18 years old. Approximately half the population of the parish lives in the modern-day village that stretches alongside the old Roman Road from the Post Office Stores at Clap Hill to the local primary school near Aldington Corner.

Facilities:

The parish's facilities include: a Primary School, a Post Office, a general store, a butcher and baker, two pubs, a mobile library, a village hall, recreation grounds, public transport, St. Martin's Church of England parish church, the Evangelical Mission, fire station and numerous clubs and associations.

As a settlement, the parish predates Roman times. During the Roman occupation of England the parish was of significance largely because of its close proximity to the Roman fortified port at Lympne. The Roman Road that runs through the parish is the east-west connection to the famous Stone Street Roman Road that runs from Lympne to the City of Canterbury. Roman remains are scattered throughout the area - including villas, coastal beacons and burial mounds.

Aldington Manor was granted to Christ Church, Canterbury in 961 and thereafter was held by the Archbishops of Canterbury until the time of King Henry VIII, during which period it became the largest Manor in Kent.

The Parish church, which was the site of Archbishop Lanfranc's miracle, dates back to Saxon times and is the only church in England of which Erasmus was Rector. In the 16th century the parish was home to Elizabeth Barton (the Holy Maid of Kent) and, in the 17th century, to Bishop Thomas White - a key figure in both the Glorious Revolution and the Non-juror movement. The parish also has a long tradition of providing a safe haven to dissenters, whether they be religious, such as Quakers, political, such as Jacobites or social non-conformists.

During the 19th century the parish was infamous for its smugglers - most notably the Ransley Gang. In more recent times, the parish has been home to many famous literary and theatrical figures including Noel Coward, Joseph Conrad, Lord ('Bill') Deedes, Ford Madox Ford, Jon Godden, Roderic Jeffries, Erica Marx, Eileen Marsh, Vic Reeves and Lily Savage.

In 1934 the small civil parish of Hurst (also known as Falconhurst) was abolished as part of a local government reorganisation, and the bulk of its area was incorporated into the parish of Aldington. The last Chairman of the parish of Hurst was Noel Coward and his father, Arthur Sabin Coward, was the last District Councillor for Hurst. In the late 1700s the famous historian Edward Hasted described the parish of Hurst thus:

"There are but two houses in it, nor is there any thing worth further mention in it."

Aldington's rich history has resulted in a legacy of more than 50 buildings being officially designated as being of national special historical or architectural interest.

Most recently, Aldington parish has gained national media attention from two events. First, the spectacular overflowing of the Aldington Flood Relief Reservoir. Second, the parish's prolonged, and ultimately successful, opposition to the government's proposals to construct an Immigration Detention Centre in the parish.