As a market town, Ashford has for centuries been a local communications hub for surrounding villages and has stood at the centre of five railway lines, including Ashford to: Ramsgate via Canterbury West, Swanley via Maidstone East. With the opening of the International Passenger Station is now an important European communications centre.

Essentially a modern town, little is left of the old Ashford town centre, apart from some medieval half timbered in Middle Row and around the churchyard in the town centre. A number of old buildings were removed to make way for the ring road around the centre, built in the early 1970s. Three modern shopping centre's are located in the town: Park Mall, County Square and the Designer Outlet on the outskirts. Bank Street and High Street are traffic-free shopping thoroughfares.

Ashford is well served by the M20 Motorway Junctions 9 and 10. Further roads include the A251 to Faversham, the original A20 largely replaced by the M20 and the A28 connecting Canterbury with Hastings