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Your Guide to Kent
Kent, also known as the Garden of England, is located in the South East of England bordering both London and Essex. Kent is home to two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; The North Downs and The Weald. Kent has been an inspirational area of the country for literature, Canterbury's religious role gave rise to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and many Charles Dickens novels were set in or around the area. Some of the important visitor destinations to consider include Dover, Margate, Folkestone, Tonbridge and Canterbury.
About Kent | Getting to Kent | How to Get Around Kent | Activities in Kent
About Kent
Canterbury Cathedral and the pretty town of Canterbury itself should be high on your list of must visits, but Kent is also home to a number of ancient castles and forts. Dover Castle is strategically located on the white cliffs for which the town is renowned. Kent's proximity to London makes the region a popular destination for tourists.
Climate
Kent is one of the warmer parts of the United Kingdom. The best time of year to visit is during the summer months from July to August when the weather is dry.
LanguageThe official language of Kent is English.
Getting to Kent
 | Train | From London there is at least one train an hour, but often services are far more frequent. Southeastern runs many direct trains, with a journey time of under an hour. However, some services do require a change at Ashford International station. From anywhere else in the country visitors will have to change in London, and continue the journey from there. |
 | Bus | Buses arriving in the region of Kent will most likely arrive at Canterbury Bus Station located to the southeast of the city centre. From the bus station its a short walk to the centre of Canterbury or a short bus ride into either the city centre, or elsewhere in the region. |
 | Flights | Flights into Kent are frequent from many points around the UK and the rest of Europe. The majority of flights will land in London, and then visitors can continue the journey from there. The journey from Gatwick airport takes around an hour by bus or train. |
How to Get Around Kent
Train
Train is the most efficient way of getting around Kent by public transport. Southeastern run all train services in the region and serve more than 90 stations. Trains run until late at night including services into London.
Bus
Bus is another great way to explore the region of Kent as buses run frequently to almost all points of interest. There are two bus providers operating in Kent, Arriva serves the west of the region and Stagecoach serves the east.
Car
As the region of Kent has many picturesque small towns and villages to explore, renting a car is a great option. There are two main motorways that run through the region making it simple to get to the larger cities and also country lanes offering fantastic views.Places to Visit
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral is one of the more well known and most visited Cathedrals in the UK, as well as being one of the oldest Christian structures in England, it also forms part of a World Heritage Site. Visitors are welcome inside the Cathedral and can take a guided tour around the site.
Leeds Castle
Leeds castle, actually located five miles from Maidstone in Kent, was built in 1119 and is known as one of 'the loveliest castles in the world'. Visitors can explore the grounds for a day, or there is the option to stay at one of the bed and breakfasts on site.
White Cliffs of Dover
The area of the White Cliffs of Dover offer stunning views over the Channel with many walking routes to get the best out of the views, or visit the Fan Bay Deep Shelter to learn about Kent's role in the Second World War.
Activities
Walking
Being the Garden of England, Kent has many different walking routes to help visitors get the best out of the countryside views. There are routes to take visitors through the small villages, routes that go through different public gardens, and to the white cliffs of Dover.
Cycling
Kent is a great region for cycling. There are specific routes for tourists to take them to the most popular sites in the region including the Canterbury Cathedral, parks & gardens, and Coastal trails. Bike hire is fairly easy to find within the cities.
Beaches
During the summer months, the beaches in Kent make for a perfect day out. The region has more than 350 miles of beaches, coves, coastal towns and chalky white cliffs. Head down on a sunny day to get the best views over the Channel to see if you can spot France.
Events
Whitstable Oyster Festival
Whitstable Oyster Festival takes place annually from the end of July to the beginning of August. Throughout the festival there are food and music events, film screenings and story time for children.
Brogdale Events
Over the summer Brogdale hosts a range of different events and festivals. During July there is a Cherry Fair, and in August there is a Plumb Day. Visitors can learn about the fruits in season, and buy fresh from the sellers.
Cider Festival
Over a weekend in August Brogdale is host to the annual Cider Festival with only local ciders on offer, and music in the afternoons.
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