Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mighty
White Cliffs
delineate Dover and beyond. But more than anything, this is a
region of beaches, resort towns, and coastal strolls, much of it possible to enjoy on
day-long jaunts from London.
THE
best
TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
IN KENT, SURREY & SUSSEX
W
Walking the Thames:
Only a few miles from London the river turns into a rural
delight, with grassy footpaths along the banks, the sound of oars breaking the water,
little boats putt-putting by, and relaxed riverside pubs to pop into. See p. 286.
W
Hiking the South Downs:
Stand on these chalk hills, gazing at the sea and undulat-
ing countryside; the hills follow the south coast and are an inspiring walk with
almost constant sea views. Go for an afternoon's stroll, or throw yourself into a
week-long hike. See p. 276.
W
Eating seafood at Whitstable:
This fishing town's quay on a warm Sunday after-
noon is the place to be, snacking on a single oyster or sitting down to a full seafood
lunch after browsing stalls selling everything from fish to antiques. See p. 250.
W
Experiencing Leeds Castle:
Britain's most gorgeous castle sits in the middle of a
lake surrounded by landscaped parkland. Picnic, walk, and marvel at the serene
sight that has survived for centuries. See p. 259.
W
Seeing the sea as Turner did:
The new seafront Turner Contemporary art
museum in Margate not only has a collection of the artist's wonderful seascapes,
it sits on the site of the boarding house he used to stay in and has windows recre-
ating the view and the light that so entranced him. See p. 251.
6
CANTERBURY
56 miles SE of London
This medieval city appeared in
The Canterbury Tales,
Chaucer's story of pilgrims tell-
ing tales as they journeyed from London to the shrine of Thomas Becket, Archbishop
of Canterbury, who was murdered by four knights of Henry II in 1170. The shrine
was finally torn down in 1538 by Henry VIII, as part of the Reformation, but Canter-
bury was already a tourist attraction.
The city, on the River Stour, is the
ecclesiastical capital of England
and still gives
its name to the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Church of England. The slaying
of Thomas Becket was its most famous incident, but it witnessed other major events,
too. Richard the Lionheart popped in on his way back from the Crusades, Henry VIII's
Catholic daughter Bloody Mary ordered 41 Protestants to be burned at the stake
between 1555 and 1558, and Charles II passed through on the way to claim his crown
in 1642. There are still plenty of traces of the old city walls, but the city suffered badly
during the Blitz of 1941, when much of its medieval feel was destroyed. Today it's a busy
(very busy) mix of day-trippers and students from the University of Kent. And there's still
plenty to see, not least the
cathedral:
one of the great religious monuments. The city is
also a good place to use as a base for exploring the coast and countryside.
Essentials
GETTING THERE
There are trains to Canterbury from London's Victoria, St.
Pancras, and Charing Cross stations (calling at Waterloo East and London Bridge).
