Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
people went abroad for their holidays, but which is now back on its feet. Explore
the seafront and jolly beach, but you're here for the
Turner Contemporary
(p. 251) the country's newest major art museum. The stark, white building on
the seafront celebrates J. M. W. Turner, whose iconic seascapes were painted at
this very spot when there was a lodging house here. Grab a coffee and a snack
at one of the trendy places on the
Harbour Arm
pier, and then make the
30-minute drive to
Canterbury
(p. 240). Check into your hotel and then head
for the
cathedral;
St. Augustine's Abbey
next door; and the fascinating, sub-
terranean
Roman Museum.
You might even fancy
The Canterbury Tales
(p. 243), a lively, garish attraction devoted to Chaucer's classic tale. There are a
number of good places for dinner but the
Goods Shed
(p. 245), a farmers'
market and restaurant, showcases the food of this area, known as the Garden
of England.
Day 7: Leeds Castle & Chartwell
You've got less than an hour's drive to get to
Leeds Castle
(p. 259), England's
most perfect castle, which is in the middle of a serene lake, in rolling grounds.
Some castles you can get away with simply looking around the outside, but this
one, with its royal apartments, demands to be explored further. The gardens are
an attraction in themselves.
Half an hour away, just off the M25 (your route back to London), is
Chart-
well
(p. 256), the long-time home of war-time prime minister Winston
Churchill. Not only do you get to see his papers, you also see the gardening work
he did in his spare time. From here, allow 2 hours to get to London.
3
ENGLAND FOR FAMILIES
England's offerings may appeal as much to your children as to you. Let them experi-
ence sights they've seen on TV, great buildings, and history. London can be quite
tiring, so this tour begins and ends there, cutting a happy swath across the country-
side in between.
Day 1: London
The heart of England's history and culture is the
Tower of London
(p. 112),
and this is the place to start. The megafortress is not only a splendid castle, it
also has enough
Horrible Histories
about it to please the pickiest youngster: Trai-
tors' Gate, where miscreants were unloaded from barges, never to be seen again
until their heads popped up on spikes at London Bridge, is one example. The
tour, led by a Yeoman, has an air of timelessness about it. Allow 2 hours.
Afterward, cross
Tower Bridge
and take a stroll from here to the South
Bank, passing the warship HMS
Belfast.
From London Bridge, take the Tube to
Hampstead (the journey is less than 30 min.), a village-like northern suburb that
opens onto
Hampstead Heath.
This vast area of open space has ponds, woods,
and hills, not least Parliament Hill with its views across the City, with St. Paul's
Cathedral looking like a toy below.
