counties of Kent & East Sussex
Greenwich – beginning of time
Ancient maritime centre on the south bank of the tidal river Thames, on the edge of the historic county of Kent. Home of the famous Greenwich Zero Meridian, Queen’s House, The Royal Observatory, National Maritime Museum and the Royal Naval College buildings. In 2012 London will be the first city in the world to host the Olympics for a third time; this is the planned site for the equestrian events. UNESCO World Heritage site.
Chartwell – Sir Winston Churchill’s country home
Sir Winston Churchill’s home from 1924 until his death in 1965. It was here in the1930s that he received reports of the growing Nazi threat. Although he spent little time here during the war, he came here to relax, to entertain, to write and to paint. He said “A day away from Chartwell is a day wasted”. The house is preserved more or less as it was when he died in 1965 and is elegantly furnished and crammed with souvenirs of the great man - photographs, letters, paintings, uniforms, gifts and his Nobel Prize – for Literature. Beautiful setting overlooking the Weald of Kent. Studio, Rose Garden. Timed entry tickets. NT
Combines well with: Hever, Brighton, Knole, Leeds Castle
Hever Castle – Anne Boleyn’s home
Dating back to 1270, this charming small moated castle was childhood home of Anne Boleyn (King Henry VIII’s 2nd wife and mother of Queen Elizabeth I). In 1903 William Waldorf Astor purchased the ruin and lavished an immense amount of time and money restoring the castle, filling it with treasures and creating over 30 acres of gardens including a lake and an enchanting maze. Now also with a water maze – be prepared to get very wet!
Combines well with: Chartwell, Brighton, Knole
Knole – The biggest house in England
365 rooms, 52 staircases and 7 courtyards, fabulous textiles, very early furniture. A jewel of houses, sitting in a magnificent park where sika and fallow deer roam freely and graze amongst the ancient oak, beech and chestnut trees.
Combines well with: Hever, Chartwell, Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle – The loveliest castle in the world
Built on two islands set on a lake, this castle, favoured by medieval Kings & Queens, has seen more than a thousand years of history. Described by Lord Caernavon as “the loveliest castle in the world”. Unique dog collar museum.
Combines well with: Canterbury, Sissinghurst, Knole, Chartwell, Hever
Sissinghurst Castle & Gardens - Great gardens
World famous series of gardens created by Vita Sackville West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson. The Tower holds the printing press where the first copies of T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” were published. National Trust
Combines well with: Canterbury, Leeds Castle, Rye
Canterbury - oldest Gothic cathedral in England
The first Gothic Cathedral in England and site of the infamous murder in 1170 of Archbishop Thomas à Becket. His tomb and shrine became one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe. Mother church of the Anglican community.
Combines well with: Dover, Sissinghurst, Leeds Castle
Dover - England
Only 23 miles from France, this port is dominated by the famous “White Cliffs” and an ancient Castle. See the recently recreated 12th century interiors of the time of Henry II and visit the “Secret Wartime Tunnels” exhibition, which documents “Operation Dynamo ”. One of the most extraordinary (and perhaps misunderstood) retreats in history, the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940 saw over a third of a million Allied troops safely delivered from the advancing Nazis.
Combines well with: Canterbury, Sissinghurst, Leeds Castle
Rye - Quaint old smugglers’ port
Oozing charm and quaintness, this delightful old port is now more than a mile from the sea. The famous “Mermaid Inn” has been welcoming guests for centuries. The American writer Henry James lived here for many years and his home, Lamb House is open to the public. National Trust
Combines well with: Canterbury, Sissinghurst, Leeds Castle
Brighton – seaside fun
Coastal Brighton was popularised in the 18th century by the fashion for sea-bathing. George, the pleasure loving Prince of Wales (future Prince Regent and ultimately King George IV) was eager to escape the restrictions of his father’s court so he commissioned The Royal Pavilion. Starting out as a simple farmhouse, George transformed it into his personal pleasure palace, using a highly eccentric blend of Indian-style architecture and Chinese interiors. Crazy and wonderful!
Combines well with: Hever Castle, Chartwell, Petworth, Portsmouth