kent mini-tour

Includes Greenwich, Canterbury, Leeds Castle, Dover, Hastings, Churchill's Chartwell, Battle of Britain sites, maritime tradition, scenic countryside AND MUCH, MUCH MORE! Welcome to a region rich in treasures. There's arguably not another area in the country that can boast so deep and varied a range of attractions to entertain, educate, and simply be enjoyed by the holiday-maker.

Naturally, as an area closest to the continent, it has seen many an invader. Some enjoyed more success than others did but all left their mark as the region's castles and defences attest. Not all invasions were military ones. Trade and ideas crossed the channel too, and they too left their mark in harbour towns, great cathedrals and literary homes.

It's also known as the 'garden of England' and not without good reason. The gentle undulating 'Weald' is dotted with hop fields and fat cattle graze in lush green meadows. And in the tiny, picturesque, flower-filled villages, life continues much as it has done for centuries.

This is a lovely tour and has always received great plaudits and praise from past participants. You'll be sure to add yours.

We offer another mini-tour of this region concentrating on its fabulous and world-famous homes and gardens such as Sissinghurst, Hever and Great Dixter. Stately Homes & Beautiful Gardens.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY	NIGHTSTOP

DAY ONE - WEDNESDAY
We leave London, following the Thames towards the North Sea. Our sightseeing today features a range of fantastic sites, many evoking London's maritime past including a pub with connections to 'the Mayflower', and the wonderful Greenwich (where you'll straddle the meridian line separating east from west, see the Cutty Sark and visit the naval museum). Then there's the Pocahontas memorial, Henry VIII's Chatham docks and last but certainly not least, the tiny city of Rochester. Rochester is an undiscovered pearl and deservedly on a Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd itinerary taking you behind the tourist facade. There's an exquisite cathedral, a well-preserved 12th century castle and a medieval shopping street. It also boasts connections with Charles Dickens who lived here and set many of his tales in the city.	Kent
DAY TWO - THURSDAY
The mighty Canterbury cathedral, the pretty Leeds Castle and historic Dover are the main features of our day's touring. All are major icons and, being essential must-sees for the visitor to the UK, are often visited as a day tour from London. As we're based in the area, we'll be enjoying a much more leisurely day than the day-trippers will be having! And, in typical Back-Roads style, we'll be able to add one or two other attractions, such as the fishing village of Whitstable, an emotive Battle of Britain memorial and a few real back road drives through this scenic county of England.	Kent
DAY THREE - FRIDAY
We'll begin another memorable day's touring with a drive across Romney marshes, once a haunt of smugglers, to the old cinque port of Rye. This picturesque town, so loved by the novelist Henry James, always has our tour participants cooing with delight and expending much film! Its another day where you'll see coastal fortresses built to repel the invader, though this time Napoleon. Then to a place all have heard of, Hastings! We'll explore the site of this most famous of battles. 1066 changed the course of the history of the English-speaking peoples and it is a spine-tingling exercise to walk part of the actual battlefield. Next on our itinerary is Chartwell, home to Winston Churchill. Here you can almost still smell the great man's cigar smoke as we tour the house to discover his life and times. Add to these attractions more scenic touring through 'the garden of England' and a few 'serendipity stops' and you have a perfect day! We'll arrive back into London by 6 pm. This tour can be combined with some departures of our 4-day Legendary Englishmen tour which leave from London on Sunday.
NOTE: Includes: three days touring, two night's accommodation with breakfasts and dinners, all entrance fees and services of driver/guide and companion.