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6 things to do in Kent

Not for nothing is it called the Garden of England. This corner in the southeast of the country is a garden like no other. It has it all yet retains an air of familiarity that puts you immediately at ease, as though you were in your own garden at home.

Come with us, therefore, as we look at just a few of the things to do in the magical county of Kent.

1. Canterbury

  • you don’t have to be a pilgrim to tell tales of your visit to Canterbury, the historic capital of Kent;
  • throughout its 1,400-year history the Cathedral has seen its share of dramatic – not to mention bloody – events;
  • the Cathedral has amazing stained glass windows that will take your breath away;

2. Dover

  • many people have sadly missed out for many a year by limiting their entire knowledge of Kent to the Port of Dover – it’s where you wait for the ferry to cross the Channel to France;
  • but Dover itself has many a delight – not least the mighty Dover Castle, which steals the show as England’s longest-serving fortress. It saw action during the times of the medieval King Henry II through to its pivotal roles in both World Wars (first as a signalling station and in the Second World War as a hospital for the wounded in battle);
  • if you plan on visiting the castle, allow yourself several hours, it is huge!

3. Four out of five

  • if it’s history you’re after, then Kent’s historic harbours are home to four of the five “cinque ports” – the most important ports of southeast England that provided both men and ships to serve in the so-called “Cradle of the Royal Navy” before the Tudor Kings established the nation’s standing navy;
  • so, that’s four historic ports – Dover, Hythe, New Romney, and Sandwich – you’ll want to visit in Kent (the fifth cinque port of Hastings is in Sussex);
  • stroll down quaint, cobbled little streets and enjoy the delights of the many independent boutiques and eateries;

4. Rural charm

  • the Garden of England positively oozes rural charm, of course, and probably no more than in the television series that catapulted both David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones to fame, the Darling Buds of May;
  • filmed in the mainly agricultural Pluckley, the village is also known as the “the most haunted village in Britain”;

5. Viking Coastal Trail

  • just when you thought that Kent was the place for a restful appreciation of the countryside and all its sedate pleasures, along comes the call of something more active;
  • the Viking Coastal Trail is a 32-mile (51.4 km) circular tour around the Isle of Thanet, looping through quiet, picture-book villages and ancient churches but also runs through the well-known resorts of Broadstairs, Margate, and Ramsgate;
  • don’t be misled by the thought of it being an easy cycle ride around a mainly flat island – there are uphill sections that will test you enough to want to break up your tour into several stages;

6. The Shell Grotto

  • it’s a manmade labyrinth stretching some 2,000 square feet underground, and has walls lined with an estimated 4.6 million shells;
  • it was discovered in 1835 but no one seems to know why, by whom, or when it was created;
  • the caverns are located in Margate on the appropriately named Grotto Hill.

With just half a dozen activities mentioned in our brief list of destinations, we’ve done no justice at all to the wealth of treasures that await you in the beautiful county of Kent. There’s nothing for it but to come and discover all the others at your leisure.