Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KENT, SURREY
& SUSSEX
by Nick Dalton & Deborah Stone
6
The Southeast might at first seem like “England Lite”—
perfectly pleasant but lacking the mountains and
might, and missing the grandeur of many other areas.
Look a bit deeper, however, and you find a world within a
world, a place offering extraordinary experiences and extreme beauty.
And, from London, it's a lot easier to get here than to the places with
peaks and lakes.
CITIES & TOWNS This is not the region for big, industrial cities, but
there are smaller, individual places that provide a contrast to the rest of
England. Canterbury, in Kent, with its glorious cathedral is the seat of
England's religion. Little Rochester nearby is full of history, a quaint
riverside spot where Charles Dickens used to dream up his tales. Brigh-
ton, the Sussex seaside resort, is an unlikely city, a vibrant mix of arts and
bawdy coastal fun. Little Chichester has the air of a country town, while
in Guildford, Surrey, the 20th-century red-brick cathedral stands high on
a hilltop, and presides over a city barely outside London.
COUNTRYSIDE Kent is called the Garden of England, a lush place
dotted with stately homes and gardens (such as Winston Churchill's
Chartwell). Move into Sussex and there are the South Downs, a chain
of hills (the heart of Britain's newest National Park) that stretch for 100
miles and provide walks with views of country and coast. It is an ancient
landscape, where forests mix with wild heathland, and it continues into
the Surrey Hills where Leith Hill is a lofty viewpoint (294m/965 ft.),
the highest spot in the Southeast.
EATING & DRINKING The bounty of the sea is here, and brings
simple pleasures. Sampling the oysters of Whitstable from quayside
stalls or fresh fish at Brighton's unpretentious Regency seafront restaurant
are experiences second to none—although there are also Michelin-starred
restaurants for a real treat. The produce from Kent's market gardens pro-
vides a delectable garnish, and the county grows copious amounts of hops
that are turned into real ales by brewers big and small.
COAST This is a land that sent Nelson off to sea (from Chatham dock-
yards), where J. M. W. Turner painted his evocative seascapes (on show
at Margate's new Turner Contemporary museum), and where the
 
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