Tag: Kent

Kent Day 5 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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For our last day, we enjoyed a lovely birthday breakfast for Mum before packing up the car and heading home via Chartwell and Hever Castle. Unfortunately, our visit to Chartwell was brief (definitely not just to collect a National Trust stamp for the passport), so we couldn’t explore the inside of Winston Churchill’s family home. However, the gardens were stunning and truly reflected his love of landscape and nature. It’s definitely a place we would love to return to when we have more time.

We arrived at Hever Castle, as always, just a the heavens opened. Luckily it was just a quick downpour, and we were treated to glorious sunshine for the rest of our visit. The childhood home of Anne Boleyn is somewhere I have wanted to visit for a long time, and it didn’t disappoint. Although it was smaller than I had imagined, it was beautifully crafted in Tudor architecture and covered in ivy.

I recommend grabbing an audio guide to explore the castle. You can step into the room where it is believed Anne decided to marry King Henry VIII, as well as the room where he slept during his visits to Hever Castle. Due to his fear of being assassinated, he even brought his personal locksmith to install a special lock for his bedchamber.

The gardens are beautifully designed and well-maintained. We saw many dedicated gardeners throughout the area, meticulously tending to the plants to ensure everything looks its best. William Waldorf Astor designed the garden between 1904 and 1908, and it is now recognized as one of the world’s great gardens. The landscaped grounds include a formal Italian garden, a historic Tudor garden, and a large lake, as well as mazes to explore. Spanning 125 acres, the estate also showcases a herbaceous border and a rose garden, offering visitors a diverse and enriching experience in nature.

The drive home was long ,thanks to multiple crashes and diversions, but we really have had a fantastic week exploring Kent, and hopefully these blogs have given some inspiration for your own trip there.

Kent Day 4 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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Day 4 was all about Chatham, but we decided to have an en route stop at Aylesford, because Mum read they had a cute bridge. This tiny village is indeed picturesque and is said to be one of the oldest in England. The free car park, which offers views of the Grade I listed bridge, is an added bonus! As usual, it was raining, so we walked up the road to The Friars Café at Aylesford Priory for some shelter and a flat white. Fortunately, after our quick stop, the blue sky returned, which made for a much nicer backdrop for our bridge photos.

Part of Mum’s birthday present was a the Call the Midwife Tour at Chatham Docks, but before we joined that, we were able to explore some of HMS Cavalier – a CA-class destroyer. Launched in 1944, she saw service in the Arctic, Western Approaches and British Pacific Fleet before finally paying off at Chatham in 1972. 

As Santa has absolutely no interest in CTM, he went off on another tour of HM submarine Ocelot, where he learnt that water was rationed, particularly if they were going on a a spying operation, as they never knew how long they would be gone. The crew had only a small bowlful of water per week for washing and shaving, and each man had just two pairs of pants. You can only imagine the smell with 70 men living in such close quarters!

We met with our group and Irene, who was our guide for the CTM tour. The tour focuses on the exterior locations of the series, specifically the streets and buildings that make up the tenements of Poplar. Some locations were instantly recognizable, while others required photos to show how they were transformed for the scenes. Irene was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic, referencing specific episodes that were filmed in those exact places and providing insights from the production process.

The tour concluded with a secret location, accessible only to tour participants. We entered through a locked door, behind which was an exclusive exhibition featuring many original artifacts and props from the show.

We finished off the day with a quick swing by Rochester, because who doesn’t love a whip round Cathedral and a Castle, especially when they’re both free (Cathedral to everyone.. Castle to EH members) After that, we headed back to Whitstable for another sunset and an absolutely delicious Thai meal. 

Kent Day 3

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We decided this morning to spend a bit more time exploring Whitstable, and hunting down the street art by ‘Catman’, whose work can be found dotted around on buildings all around the town. When you think of Whitstable, you think of a working harbour and oysters. There is absolutely no way you would ever get me eating an oyster.. So we decided to check out the fishermens boats. It was still low tide however so incredibly minimal boating activity, but Santa did get an idea for another trip to Whitstable – join a boat tour to the Maunsell Forts. These can be seen on a clear day, along with all the wind turbines! 

For the rest of the day, we decided to explore the Thanet district, starting in Margate, then heading to Broadstairs, and finishing in Ramsgate. Naturally, it rained for most of the day. 

Margate is the largest of the three towns and has undergone significant regeneration, featuring independent and vintage shops, coffee shops, and artistic hubs. However, there is still noticeable neglect in some areas. We went for some shelter in The Old Kent Market, the site of the old Parade Cinema. It houses a range of stalls selling food and crafts, but unfortunately, most of the businesses were closed. We also mooched around the old town, which is where you will find a lot of the independent shops and cafes. 

I don’t think the weather helped, as the place felt almost deserted, with only a few people loitering in the streets with their tinnies. I imagine that during dry summer days and weekends, the town is vibrant and lively, but unfortunately, it just didn’t do it for us today. Despite the weather, we still appreciated its general seaside charm, the people in the shops were super friendly, and I bet that Dreamland would be a joy to visit in better weather!

For the drive to Broadstairs, Santa requested Chas and Dave – Down to Margate. Turns out Mum thought they were singing Downham Market 👍 Once we arrived, the rain gave us a brief reprieve, and we made our way to the sandy Viking Bay. It was completely deserted, a stark contrast to how it would have looked a few weeks ago during the school holidays. Nevertheless, we truly believe Broadstairs is the jewel in Thanet’s crown.

After enjoying a lunch at the Charles Dickens pub, we strolled along the promenade to our next destination, Stone Bay. The wind picked up, allowing Mum to take plenty of photos of the crashing waves! Stone Bay is a stunning and tranquil spot, surrounded by chalk cliffs and colorful beach huts. We spent a lot of time here, simply taking in the calmness and beauty of this blue flag beach.

 Before heading off to Ramsgate, I made sure we had a quick sesh in the arcade, and Santa made sure he had a drink in The Royston – East Kent Pub of the Year 2024.

By the time we arrived in Ramsgate, it was pouring rain, so we took shelter in the UK’s largest Wetherspoons, which can accommodate up to 1,500 customers! We were eager to explore, so while the rain lightened up, we stepped out for a walk along the UK’s only royal harbor and admired the boats bobbing around in the water.

Another interesting fact about Ramsgate is that it has its own Meridian Line and “mean time,” which is 5 minutes and 41 seconds ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Unfortunately, the clock tower is currently undergoing renovation, and it’s unclear when it will reopen. There’s so much to see and do in Ramsgate that, in hindsight, we wish we had visited here first and saved Margate for later.

Since we still had a bit of daylight and we love cramming everything in, we decided to take a walk to Kingsgate Bay and Botany Bay. These locations feature stunning sections of the coastline, known for their chalk cliffs, chalk stacks, and several caves. Given the time of day and the weather, we practically had the beach to ourselves, except for a photoshoot that was taking place. Once again, we found ourselves wishing we had more time to fully explore the caves and rock pools.

As it was super late when we arrived back to Whitstable, there was only one thing left to do – small plates at Spoons! Set in an old cinema, it’s also full of film memorabilia, and obviously perfect for people watching. 

Kent Day 2 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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The day began at the strange yet fascinating Dungeness – a uniquely desolate shingle headland often referred to as the UK’s only desert, even though it isn’t technically one. It is an important conservation area because of the plant and wildlife that reside there. It is a National Nature Reserve, a Special Protection Area, a Special Area of Conservation and is considered to be a site of special scientific interest.

The area has an apocalyptic and eerie feel to it, reminiscent of some of the odd American towns we have visited—places with tiny populations where people rarely leave. The shingle beach is strewn with abandoned old boats and remnants of a narrow-gauge railway line that was once used by fishermen to transport their catch from the sea to the shore for distribution.

There are two lighthouses located in Dungeness: the old lighthouse and the new one. Over the years, there have actually been five lighthouses in total. The current Old Dungeness Lighthouse, which is the fourth to be built, opened in 1904 but was retired in 1961 when the newest lighthouse was constructed. Visitors can climb to the top of the old lighthouse; however, it was closed when we visited 🤣

It’s the end of the line of The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway. It runs for 13.5 miles (27.1km) across Romney Marsh to Dungeness. Opened in 1927, it is billed as the world’s smallest public railway. More importantly, the cafe and toilets are located here!

It’s also home to Prospect Cottage – the former home and sanctuary of artist, filmmaker, gay rights activist, and gardener Derek Jarman. After a successful campaign to preserve the cottage, visitors can now explore the home and workspace of one of Britain’s most iconic creative figures.

Finally, the main event, the two massive nuclear power stations creatively named A and B, dominate the landscape and skyline. The current owner, EDF Energy, is in the process of dismantling them due to significant technical challenges discovered during the maintenance shutdown in 2018. 

Dungeness offers a wealth of photographic opportunities, not only because of the power stations and boats but also due to its unique buildings and converted railway carriages. The place can be described with many words—eerie, bleak, wild, and stark—but it is definitely a spot you should add to your list of places to visit. I dread to think how many photos Mum has taken!

We then headed to Folkestone, and I was excited to check out all the independent shops along the creative quarter. Unfortunately, the majority of them are closed on a Tuesday.. But I was still able to buy the obligatory postcard.. The weather continued to be on our side as we strolled around the harbour, which has undergone significant renovation, making it a vibrant seaside town. 

If you are an art lover, then the Folkestone Triennial is the perfect event for you. This open-air exhibition runs for three months, from July to October, and features a free art
trail showcasing contemporary works from 18 artists representing 15 countries. Each artist has created new commissions that are displayed along the waterfront and throughout the town.

One of the highlights of the exhibition (although from 2017) is Anthony Gormley’s ‘Another Time,’ which is designed to “bear witness to what it is like to be alive and alone in space and time.” Another notable piece this year is Dorothy Cross’s ‘Red Erratic.’ This giant red stone is positioned quietly between land and sea, with feet carved into its surface. It serves as a striking reminder that nothing remains static—not people, landscapes, or history.

As previously mentioned, with it being a Tuesday, most of the food and drink establishments along the Harbour Arm were closed. This was probably a good thing for my bank account, as I would have been tempted to buy all the street food! Fortunately for Santa, Brewing Brothers was open, so we sat outside enjoying the sun while he savoured a beer.

The final stop for today was the White Cliffs of Dover, and as it was getting late, this meant a max time of hour and half to explore before the car park gates closed. The towering chalk cliffs rise 50 feet high and stretch 16 miles in length, approximately 8 miles on either side of the town of Dover. As it was a clear day, we were able to see France across the Channel, and even managed to watch an Irish Ferry pretty much make its entire journey over there. Unfortunately, you do get a Welcome to France message, and that meant for me, I was charged £2.59 roaming.. It also meant I had a slight twitchy arse moment when I thought we were late for the car park, only to realise my phone time had skipped an hour ahead. You definitely need a lot longer to explore here, especially if you want to get over to South Foreland Lighthouse, or down onto Langdon Bay – the white cliffs beach by ladder.

We finished the day with a delicious Fish and Chips, and Santa enjoyed his 12% can I brought him back from Poland.

Kent Day 1 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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It’s Mum’s birthday week, and she has chosen to base ourselves in Whitstable to explore the delights of Kent. We loaded the car with all our bags (you’d think Mum & Dad were going away for a month by the amount they’ve got) and began our journey to our first stop—Hever Castle. Unfortunately, after a brief stop at the services, I noticed a strange ‘clonking’ noise coming from the wheel. This meant we had to pull over to the bright yellow refuge area on the side of the M4. Thankfully, Nick from the AA came to our rescue, and got us back on the road, although this did involve closing the inside lane to get us back on the motorway.. Awks.

This slight hiccup meant that we wouldn’t have time to go to Hever Castle, so headed to Scotney Castle instead – a medieval ruin on an island in a small lake. We obviously needed to stop by the café first, but the wasps quickly took a liking to Santa’s Tango, meaning we needed to dash inside for shelter. We then got a stamp for the National Trust passport. Unfortunately, the lady stamped it right on top of another stamp, and then wrote the wrong date! Obviously Mum was fuming 😂 

Walking around the site feels like being transported back in time. The castle was built in the late 14th century and has undergone several changes over the centuries. Eventually, it was partly dismantled and became a garden feature. In addition to the castle, there is also a mansion known as Scotney New Castle, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area from the lake.

We arrived at our Airbnb and were delighted to find Prosecco and cakes left as a welcome treat. We unloaded the 1001 bags and headed out to explore Whitstable. It was unusually quiet, but this meant there was nobody about to get in Mum’s photos! We walked down to Tankerton bay, where unfortunately there was a school trip, getting in all of Mum’s photos 😂 Tankerton is known for its charming, painted beach huts and the gently sloping grassy banks that lead down to a shingle beach. A quick Google search shows that some of the huts can sell for as much as £60,000! But who wouldn’t want to sit on the veranda of one with a glass of wine and watch the world go by. 

We strolled back to Whitstable and found a lovely spot to sit and watch the sunset – luckily for Santa it was a watering hole selling Whitstable Oyster Brewing, and he enjoyed an Oyster Country Stout.