Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Relish A pastel-hued Victorian mansion in the heart of Folkestone, The Relish
combines boutique flair and personal care. There's a complimentary glass of wine or
beer each day, as well as unlimited coffee, tea, and homemade cakes. Rooms are
richly modern, and have rainforest showers and organic toiletries. There's a terrace
that looks over Augusta Gardens, a park accessible only to residents of The Relish and
to the spiffy Radnor Estate, which backs on to it.
Augusta Gardens, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2RR. www.hotelrelish.co.uk. &   01303/850952. Fax
01303/850958. 10 units. £95-£145 double. Rates include English breakfast. MC, V. Unrestricted street
parking. Amenities: Breakfast room. In room: TV/DVD/CD, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
Wallett's Court A Norman conquest-era manor house (mentioned in The
Domesday Book ), Wallett's Court is set in a wide-open landscape not far from the cliff-
tops. It was rebuilt in Tudor style in the 1400s, and boasts a beautiful Jacobean stair-
case, which takes you up to three bedrooms with four-posters. The rest of the rooms
are in converted Kentish hay barns, stables, and cow sheds. All are individually deco-
rated with notable Edwardian country-house chic. There's a neat old bar with open fire
for winter, a terrace for summer. The smart spa has a splendid pool, and the restaurant
is terrific (see Where to Eat). There are walks along the cliff-tops, and a path leads
down to pretty St. Margaret's Bay with its sandy beach and white cliff backdrop.
West Cliffe, St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe, Dover, Kent CT15 6EW. www.wallettscourthotelspa.com. &  01304/
852424. Fax 01304/853430. 17 units. £140-£210 double; £210-£250 suite. Rates include English break-
fast. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Dec 24-27. Off the A258 just east of Dover. Amenities: Restaurant; bar;
babysitting; health club and spa; indoor heated pool; room service. In room: TV/DVD, CD player, hair
dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
6
KENT'S CASTLES & GARDENS
Kent is home to a wealth of country houses, castles, and gardens, many of them the
finest in England. Leeds Castle is perhaps the finest castle anywhere, but there's so
much more to see around the county. Names like Anne Boleyn, Winston Churchill,
Charles Darwin, and William Waldorf Astor crop up as you tour the area. You could
spend all your time here, but will probably want to explore farther afield too. If you're
going to whittle things down, go for Knole, Hever, Leeds, Penshurst, and Chartwell.
You'll need a car to be able to get around, as most are, in the way of country houses,
in the countryside. If you're starting from London, it's an easy drive (there are many
routes heading southeast, which all reach the M25 ring road, Kent's unofficial north-
ern boundary) with many of the places do-able as a day-trip. You could also head for
Canterbury (see “Essentials,” in the “Canterbury” section, p. 240). Guided tours of
homes and castles are generally on offer, but even the most ardent historical buffs can
find themselves with information overload, so often it's best to simply wander around
and soak up the atmosphere.
Exploring the Area
Chartwell HISTORIC HOME This was the home of Sir Winston Churchill,
from 1922 until his death in 1965. It's not as grand as his birthplace (Blenheim Pal-
ace; p. 226), but it has wonderful views over the Weald of Kent. And the rooms are
as if the politician had just stepped out into the garden: maps, documents, photo-
graphs, pictures, mementos, and so forth. There are displays of his trademark suits
and hats, as well as gifts from people around the world in thanks for leading the Allies
to wartime victory. Churchill was an accomplished artist, and many of his paintings
 
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