Touring holidays in Kent

We think Kent is a bit of an underrated gem. You can enjoy coastal views, seaside towns, beautiful rural landscapes with medieval villages and a fantastic amount of history all in one holiday. It’s just as attractive as Devon and yet doesn’t seem to pull in the crowds in quite the same manner.

It can be quirky and slightly old fashioned in a charming way and yet offers a vibrant food scene. Kent is known as the Garden of England, and for good reason! There is a long list of glorious gardens from Sissinghurst to Pashley Manor, ancient orchards, market gardens and grazing livestock. With a number of new exciting restaurants, there’s great locally caught fish and a fair few local farm shops and quirky independent businesses dotted around with vineyards to visit for craft beer and wine tasting.

With some characterful new boutique hotels, a tailor made touring itinerary here offers a colourful mix. There’s artist’s favourite Whitstable, full of unusual boutiques and fresh oysters on the beach and Broadstairs with its many sandy bays. The maritime history of the coast offers much to explore in medieval Rye and Sandwich, and a series of old cinque ports and some spectacular castles in Dover and Deal. In fact there are castles galore with stays at Hever and Leeds Castles recommended.

Canterbury offers a different type of history, with all its associations of pilgrims and Chaucer. But the many attractive ancient villages are a highlight too along with the numerous dotted individual houses of The High Weald with their timber frames. These are set in glorious rolling downs and meadows making this a fascinating area to explore.