Kent - a good base for a week

liney

Having never been to Kent before, and wanting to visit Hastings, Dover Castle and Leeds Castle we are looking to rent a cottage for a week in May.


We expect to be driving and day tripping most days, but would like a busy-ish area to where we can go out in the evening to eat, or spend a couple of days 'home' if the weather is nice.


Whistable, has come up as a possibility - any advice or suggestions please?

Castle

Hastings, (which is actually in Sussex), is a good 90 minute drive each way from Whitstable. Personally I'd swap Canterbury for Hastings.

There are also some interesting attractions around Rochester/Chatham such as Dockyards, Castles and the Charles Dickens connections.

liney

We know where Hastings is, but want to visit 'to the right' as we've not been to this part of the country before.


Settled on Whitstable - Canterbury will be on the list too.
Thanks

Castle

liney wrote: »

We know where Hastings is, but want to visit 'to the right' as we've not been to this part of the country before.


Settled on Whitstable - Canterbury will be on the list too.
Thanks

So Rye and Dungeness!:)

Alikay

Faversham is also quite nice and Broadstairs is worth a visit for the lovely beach, little vintage shops and lovely kitsch ice cream parlour! http://morellisgelato.com/

martindow

Alikay wrote: »

Faversham is also quite nice and Broadstairs is worth a visit for the lovely beach, little vintage shops and lovely kitsch ice cream parlour! http://morellisgelato.com/

Yes excellent ice cream place. On a good day the walk from Broadstairs towards Margate is very pleasant particularly the chalk stacks at Botany Bay.

blues

Broadstairs and Whitstable are both nice. From Broadstairs you can walk to Ramsgate in one direction and Margate the other. Tankerton near Whitstable is worth a visit if you like a walk by the sea. Hever Castle is great in Spring.

jrtfan

Mount Ephraim Gardens are about a 20-min drive inland from Whitstable and well worth spending an afternoon exploring (fabulous views from the top, by the main house).

http://www.mountephraimgardens.co.uk/the-gardens/

...

There are also some interesting attractions around Rochester/Chatham such as Dockyards, Castles and the Charles Dickens connections.

Continue on through Rochester to Higham, and there's Gad's Hill Place (where Dickens spent the last few years of his life). It's an Independent School during the week but I believe it does open on specific days for guided tours and cream teas!

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g7104495-d8559997-Reviews-Gad_s_Hill_Place-Higham_Kent_England.html