Kent and Sussex

We had a few free long weekends during these weird times of Coronavirus and, as usual, we thought: ‘Why not jump into a car (rented through an app called Getaround) and gladly get lost in Kent -the Garden of England- and its neighbouring county Sussex? 

We mainly focussed on coastal towns, but not just! What you’ll see down here is the result of at least four day or weekend trips, but should you wish to condense them all into one week, I think you’ll find it enough to see most- if not all- the places mentioned.

I have a special connection with this region in the south of England because this is the place where I spent my year abroad for my Erasmus back in 2007, where I studied at the University of Kent.

With its 200km of golden sand and white cliff, Kent's coast certainly boasts some of UK's best sandy beaches and sea-carved chalk cliff. You will find plenty of things to do in Kent for all ages, regardless of who you go there with.

Some places we knew from before (Canterbury, Folkstone, Whitstable), some we had the pleasure to discover for the first time (Hythe, Rye, Hastings) and it was a very pleasant surprise. It is worth mentioning that all these places have something different and special to offer!

Here is a list with some basic information for each place, just to give you some ideas and inspiration:

 

Reculver: If you are looking for a peaceful place to relax and take in the views, there is no better choice than Reculver beach. This peaceful corner of Kent is a great spot for a picnic or soaking up some history.

You’ll be able to admire the 12th-century towers and the Roman fort and walk the 3.5-mile Reculver walk along the famous Saxon Shore Way. You can also explore the remains of a religious site set up in AD669, which in turn was built after a Roman fort was abandoned at the site in the mid-5th century.

There is also the Reculver Country Park is a unique place with its open grasslands, cliff, and shoreline, and is home to a large and diverse collection of plants and wildlife. 

 

Whitstable: Famous for its thriving arts community, Whitstable in Kent, one of the county's most picturesque towns, has something to inspire and delight all tastes: you can easily spend a couple of days here and you won’t get bored.

 

You’ll find multiple beautiful sights for all tastes and flavours in each of the following coastal towns: Margate, Broadstairs, Deal, Dover and Folkstone. You can visit them all, or choose to focus on two or three will give you a good idea of a typical English coastal town.

We’ve really enjoyed a fish and chips on the beach in Margate, an ice-cream in Broadstairs, a visit to the castle in Deal, a hike on the white cliffs of Dover and a lazy afternoon sunbathe and swim on the beach in Folkstone, after a stroll in the town centre in the high street full of shops! But you might be inspired and find other interesting things to do in each of these towns.

 

Hythe:

The village of Hythe nestles between the edge of the New Forest and Southampton Water, with its surrounding area known as ‘The Waterside’.

An ideal place to visit, Hythe with its waterfront, boasts fantastic views across Southampton Water, and especially of the majestic cruise liners which come into the Port most days.

The village centre with its pretty Georgian High Street offers a good range of interesting shops and services, with ample parking and pleasant traffic-free precincts.

There are plenty of places to eat and drink to suit all budgets or you can enjoy traditional fish and chips on the sea front Promenade, with its raised boardwalk.

Leisurely stroll around Hythe’s Marina with its distinctive ‘fishing village’ style development and sit and watch the ships, yachts and boats out on the water.

Rye:

A medieval citadel huddled against invaders and the sea; Rye reveals its history gently. Today it is home to a myriad of art, curiosities, and cosy pubs, as well as modern boutique hotels and contemporary restaurants serving the best Sussex has to offer, from land and sea. Built on smuggled secrets and timeless tales, Rye has nooks and crannies to explore and distant views across Romney Marsh to ponder.

This is a town steeped in history. Rye Castle Museum, which was originally a bottling factory, boasts a unique 18th century fire engine, relics from the town’s shipbuilding past, and a display showing how the coastline has changed over the past thousand years.

Hastings:

Everyone knows this town thanks to the famous battle of 1066 between King Harold’s English and William the Conqueror’s Normans. In fact, the battle took place in the surrounding countryside, where now stands the town of Battle, which is well worth a day trip. Hastings is a seaside resort that developed in Victorian times, the town retains its old-world charm with its seafront squares, grand Victorian facades, elegant parks, and pier full of good old-fashioned amusements.

The medieval Old Town offers a chance to explore the narrow passageways with an enticing array of independent cafés, restaurants and shops selling art, antiques, flowers, and food.#

You can discover the history of Britain’s first Norman castle, wander through the remaining ruins, taking in the breath-taking views whilst exploring the remains of the dungeons and the chapel. Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve is a large area of woodland glens, beaches, and cliff-top views to explore, although unfortunately we did not have enough time to do this.

 

Brighton:

The seafront in Brighton is extremely beautiful and lively - it is a great place to spend the day relaxing and having fun. During the day there are plenty of lively bars open as well as plenty of restaurants where you can find some traditional fish and chips! The pier is also a wonderful place to visit with big arcades, rides, and plenty of attractions for everyone to enjoy!

If you enjoy shopping, then Brighton is a great town for you to visit. Brighton’s main shopping centre, Churchill Square, has over 70 shops! As well as the shopping centre Brighton also has high streets packed with major stores.

There is a lot of culture to be experienced in Brighton. To begin, the Brighton Dome, which is part of the historic pavilion estate, plays host to a year-round schedule of music, theatre and dance. The Royal Pavilion is also a great place to experience some culture, take a look inside this magnificent palace and be amazed by the décor and artwork! There is also a lot of famous street art in Brighton featuring work from the famous Banksy.

 

Lastly, not everything happens on the coast! A visit to Kent must include Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells!

Canterbury: From a city steeped in history, heritage and culture, picturesque coastal towns, and award-winning beaches to quintessentially English villages, unspoiled ancient woodland, and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

If you're looking for some #staycation or #daycation inspiration, here you will find everything you need to know about visiting Canterbury's amazing city, coast, and countryside

Canterbury Cathedral, the Saxon St. Martin's Church and the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey form a World Heritage Site. The Cathedral with one million visitors per year, it is one of the most visited places in the country.

The Roman Museum, the ruins of the Norman Canterbury Castle, the medieval St Margaret's Church now houses "The Canterbury Tales", in which life-sized character models reconstruct Geoffrey Chaucer's stories. The Westgate is now a museum relating to its history as a jail, St Thomas of Canterbury Church is the only Roman Catholic church in the city and contains relics of Thomas Becket.

Canterbury Heritage Museum housed many exhibits - including the Rupert Bear Museum. And the view from the Hill and the gardens.

 

Tunbridge Wells:

There are many different things to do in the Tunbridge Wells borough which offer the visitor a variety of memorable experiences all year round.

The town of Royal Tunbridge Wells is most famous for the historic Pantiles and Chalybeate Spring that mark the beginning of Royal Tunbridge Wells as a visitor destination. These are not to be missed!

The wider region is perhaps best known for its splendid stately homes and gardens. Visitors will be able to find more here than in any other part of the United Kingdom! Fine churches and abbeys and award-winning parks and lakes (including the famous Dunorlan Park) are in proximity too. What can you do outdoors in Tunbridge Wells?

Walking is extremely popular in these parts and we have lots of routes to take in the lovely views of our Nature Reserves and Woodlands. Make the most of the range of other outdoor activities available, such as fishing, golf and cycling.