There are so many iconic castles, beautiful villages, towns and cities to explore in Kent, it is hard to believe that you are in a quaint English county less than an hour from London. Otherwise known as The Garden of England your tour of Kent can be a one day or a multi-day tour.
If this is a one day tour then any two of the following sites can be comfortably visited.
On our drive from London the first historic property to see would be Chartwell House. Winston Churchill, Britain's inspirational Prime Minister, lived here for forty years until his death. It remains furnished as it was during his life with some 140 of his original paintings among the displays. There is a very acceptable restaurant at Chartwell where you could have lunch or there is a gastro-pub three miles away, The Grasshopper.
After lunch take the short drive to Hever Castle. This small exquisite castle is famous as the sixteenth century home of Anne Boleyn the doomed wife of Henry Vlll executed for adultery. She lived here as a young woman and the King often visited the castle in pursuit of her attention. The moat and gatehouse date back to 1207. In 1903, William Waldorf Astor purchased Hever and as part of his restoration project, constructed a neo-Tudor village to accommodate guests and servants.
Alternatively, make a visit to Sissinghurst Castle. For the horticulturalists this is a must. Whilst the Castle is actually a ruin of an Elizabethan Manor House the garden is a riot of colour throughout the year and is known as one of the most exquisite gardens in England. Lunch on this occasion is recommended at the West House, Biddenden where the food is full of flavour but not prissy at this Michelin starred restaurant.
Should you wish to stay overnight in order to extend your time in Kent then allow us to suggest something totally unique. In the grounds of Sissinghurst Castle is the Sissinghurst Farmhouse which is a 5 star B & B hotel that has been totally refurbished by the National Trust.
Should you choose to stay longer in Kent then there is a wealth of heritage sites that can be seen. There is the fairy-tale Leeds Castle. Famed as the loveliest castle in England and dating back to the twelfth century it has been continuously inhabited and remodelled, most recently in the 1930s by Lady Baillie a wealthy heiress. It was Henry VIII's favourite castle and he visited often notably escaping to it from London during the great plague.
Canterbury Cathedral is another must-see. Its position on the London to Dover route meant Canterbury was an important Roman town even before the arrival of St Augustine in 597 AD sent by the Pope to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. A new cathedral was built in 1070 and rebuilt many times embracing all stages of medieval architecture. The most poignant moment in its history came in 1170 when Thomas Beckett was murdered here. It remains England's most important medieval building.
Dover Castle, known as The Key to England, is strategically positioned on the high cliffs of Dover and has helped defend England from 1198 to World War ll, when it was used as the command post for the Dunkirk evacuation. Exhibits in the Castle and its labyrinth of tunnels made by the prisoners in the Napoleonic Wars span its entire history. Explore the darkly atmospheric Secret Wartime Tunnels now with a vivid recreation of the Dunkirk evacuation, complete with dramatic projections of swooping Spitfires and real film footage.
The impressive and beautiful symmetry of Bodiam Castle, with its massive towers and broad moat, is the perfect example of a 14th-century medieval castle. For anyone who has ever built a sand-castle this is the epitome of what one should look like.
As your journey is as important as your destination then sit back and relax in one of our luxurious vehicles. Our prices are per vehicle NOT per person and include collection and return to your London hotel but do not include overnight accommodation for either yourself or for your chauffeur guide, entrance fees, parking, meals or hotels.
