Kent-The garden of England

I am always up for a challenge and so, when Wanderlust asked that I create a hub about Kent I quickly agreed. After all I love travel and all things vacation.To be exact the question was, what are the Best places to visit in Kent, England in the summer.

The problem is that, apart from traveling through Kent on our first European holiday some years ago, this county is pretty much a mystery to me. Our first European vacation was a coach holiday touring Austria and Switzerland. This involved a lengthy coach journey down to Dover in Kent.

Well I guess it was more lengthy than necessary due to the various passenger pick-ups around the country. So, I have heard Dame Vera Lynn sing about the White Cliffs of Dover, have seen them as we waved good bye to England for short while and as we returned to the UK and know that Kent is often referred to as the garden of England, but what else has it got to offer?

Towns and cities

London is only a short journey from Kent. This means that Kent could be a great base for a London vacation. Kent has interesting towns and cities to visit which include Dover, Maidstone, Chatham, Chislehurst, Faversham and Edenbridge.

Historic Canterbury is in Kent. Canterbury has many fine buildings, apart from the Cathedral.

History

Kent is fortunate to have some of the best Stately Homes and Estates in England. There are plenty of interesting places such as:

• Chartwell which was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill. Open to visitors Chartwell is now a museum that also displays many of Churchill's own works of art and personal memorabilia.
• Hever Castle and Gardens is located in Edenbridge,Kent. This 13th Century Castle has a moat and is an impressive building. It was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn who was to become one of Henry VIII beheaded wives. The Tudor age is prominent in HeverCastle with a outdoor maze, a rose and Tudor garden and Tudor works of art and furniture displayed throughout the castle.
• Leeds Castle is near Maidstone in Kent. This ancient building is so old that it is listed in the Doomsday Book. It is often referred to as "the loveliest castle in the world". High accolade indeed. Leeds Castle was at one time a Norman stronghold and then went to become a royal residence for the medieval Queens of England. With over 500 acres of parkland, lakes, history, museums and so much more Leeds Castle must be high on the list of "must see" places in Kent.
• Canterbury Cathedral is a magnificent building.

Scenery

As the Garden of England, Kent has some stunning countryside. The Kent Downs cover almost a quarter of the county and run from Dover to the borders of London and the home counties. The Seven Wonders of the Weald, Romney Marsh and the White Cliffs offer good, clean air with beautiful scenery. In fact it is a walker's paradise

Beaches

Holidaymakers all too often forget that Kent has a varied coastline which incorporates some resorts and beaches. This county of the UK enjoys a much better climate than, for example, resorts in the North of England.

Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Herne Bay and Whitstable offer traditional English seaside hospitaltiy.

The highest accolade UK beaches can get is the Blue Flag. This means that the beach in question meets the high criteria needed to excel. Nine of Kent's beaches fall into this category whilst a further 7 have achieved the Quality Coast Award.

Although Kent has many modern attractions most of its resorts have retained the charm of a bygone era. With period houses and quiet charm these resorts help you to recharge your batteries.

Surfing is popular at the resorts in Kent due to the warmer climate and surrounding seas.

Countryside.

Kent has around 80 nature reserves, country parks and picnic sites. These provide a wealth of family entertainment. Ancient woodlands may be thin on the ground in many parts of England but not in Kent.

The Kent countryside is perfect for nature or bird lovers. Cyclists and horse riding are encouraged and there are established cycle rides and pony treks.

With a mild climate vineyards flourish in Kent. Enjoy a visit to a vineyard and sample the local wine.

Attractions

The resorts offer organised Seashore Safaris and Walks. These can be great for children or maybe the whole family.

Farming world at Nash Court, Boughton, Faversham, Kent is a working farm. However this farm has a full programme of events and is open to visitors throughout the summer.

Perhaps Dickens would turn in his grave but visitors seem to love Dickens World at Leviatham Way, Chatham. Dickens World is really a type of theme park and the theme is all things Dickens.For example you can enjoy Great Expectations Boat Ride, take a trip back in time to a Victorian School, or scare yourself half to death in The Haunted House of 1859.

Food and Drink

Wine produced from locally grown grapes.Traditional tea shops serve afternoon tea and cakes.

Romney specialises in Lamb dishes whilst Whitstable's speciality is Oysters. Kent also has some of its own speciality cheeses. Fish and chips is traditional seaside fare.

The Oast Houses of old, and hops which were grown and harvested for beer, may have declined but there is still evidence of this section of Kent's history.

Getting there.

Airports-Kent International Airport at Manston, and also Kent London Ashford Airport in Lydd.

Train-South Eastern trains run a good service between London and various towns, resorts and cities in Kent.

Ferry-There are regular Ferry services between France and Dover in Kent.

Channel Tunnel-The Channel Tunnel links Folkestone, Kent to France. This high speed train means that the journey between Calais and Folkestone is a mere 35 minutes.

Accommodation

The choice is yours really as far as accommodation goes. Choose from establishments such as:

• A hotel in a place such as Canterbury or near the coast.
• Bed and Breakfast in a guest house.
• A caravan at a campsite.
• A cottage which could be modern or quaint and traditional.
• Self catering in a converted barn.
• A farm house.
• It is even possible to stay in one of the traditional Oast houses, shown above.

Remember that the prices are often worked out per person, for each night.

Finally

Creating this hub has made me realise just what is on offer for visitors to Kent.

With so many historical sites Kent will be a good all year round destination. However, in Summer with the resorts, attractions, water sports, beaches, countryside and scenery it will be a perfect destination for couples, singles, families, and both the young and the old.

Remember though that although Kent usually enjoys a milder climate than many other UK counties it is still England. This means that the weather will be unpredictable even in high summer. At least in Kent there will be so many attractions suitable for such days.