Dover Castle

Kent has long been a holiday destination for Londoners. The well-to-do would travel by boat down the Thames to the seaside resort of Margate, while those less well-off took the train to the hopfields and orchards for a working holiday in the country. Today, the region still has much to offer the visitor from the gentle hills and valleys of the Weald, dotted with windmills and weather-boarded houses, to the well-preserved castles, grand stately homes and glorious gardens found throughout the county.

Hever Castle, stands in 30 acres of beautiful gardens and remains fairly untouched since the 13th century, while Leeds Castle, built on two small islands in the middle of a lake, has long been considered England's loveliest castle. Visit also the famous White Garden at Sissinghurst, Penshurst Place featuring the huge chestnut-beamed Barons Hall and Knole House in Sevenoaks, possibly the grandest occupied house in the country. Interesting historic towns include Royal Tunbridge Wells, Rochester, noted for its Charles Dickens connections, castle and cathedral and Chatham, home to the fascinating Historic Dockyard working museum. Traditional seaside resorts along the coast include Whitstable, famed for its beach huts and oysters, Margate with lots of family attractions and Broadstairs, Dickens' summer retreat.

However, no doubt Kent's biggest draw is the historic city of Canterbury. Visit the magnificent Cathedral, wander around the medieval town centre and discover the city's rich Roman and Christian heritage in the excellent museums and exhibitions.