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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Kent - where to stay, what to do

32 replies

Todayissunny · 27/02/2023 18:58

We are travelling Calais to Dover in July and planning to stay a few days in Kent.
We are me, DH, DSs (16,16 18). Where would be a good place to base ourselves? What are the best things to do (culture, nature, history, anything adrenaline/fun for the DSs)?
Thank you.

OP posts:
Todayissunny · 06/03/2023 19:54

Thanks. Cathedral Lodge hotel sounds like a lovely idea. Looking into it.

OP posts:
StillSmallVoice · 07/03/2023 21:57

Cathedral Lodge is modern. I think the bit you are talking about is slightly separate and overlooks Burgate, so you may get noise. I have stayed there quite a few times for work. The setting is glorious. The building was designed as a conference centre and to be honest, it shows. But location, location, and being in the centre of town and having free run of the cathedral and grounds is special, especially after hours.

bozzabollix · 07/03/2023 22:12

Re Folkestone, it’s a fab place to stay, Rocksalt is a beautiful restaurant overlooking the harbour and it has rooms. We’re driving distance so never stay in Folkestone but would like to, having a few drinks on the very cool harbour arm and being not too far from your bed sounds brilliant!

People do swim at Folkestone, they also paddle board around the harbour area then there’s a new mobile sauna to warm up in. The creative quarter although small is very pleasant too. But you can’t eat the Harbour Arm, it has lots of eateries, bars and crazy golf.

I live in Kent and think it’s incredibly underrated, it’s a very varied county so whatever your tastes are Kent can usually meet them.

Thanet is also worth a visit, Kingsgate, Botany and Joss Bays are stunning.

CeliaNorth · 07/03/2023 22:36

East Kent is quite a deprived part of the UK, but is really interesting in a lot of ways. I'm sure others will pile in with all the things I've missed.

Richborough Castle near Sandwich. It was closed to have work done, not sure if it's re-opened.

The Maritime Museum, Ramsgate Harbour. Run by volunteers, so don't expect fancy high tech exhibits, but there is a lot to see, all about Ramsgate maritime history, including both World Wars. There are sometimes a couple of the Little Ships in Ramsgate Harbour too. Some nice little bars and cafes under the arches along the harbour front.

Deal has a little maritime museum too.

Margate has caves to visit as well as the shell grotto.

East Kent once had coal mines, and there is a mining museum, but I've never been there, so don't know whether it's worth visiting.

And there is some lovely countryside with ancient churches and old buildings, just to drive through, or take a bus ride through.

Near to Chatham Dockyard, the Royal Engineers Museum. Both require more than a full day, so you can't do them in one day. And the (free) Guildhall Museum in Rochester, especially the hulks exhibition. There's also a newish Dickens exhibition there, but I wasn't overly impressed when I saw it. And if you're in Rochester on a Thursday or Friday in summer, the Restoration House and garden.

catfunk · 07/03/2023 22:56

Highly recommend howlettes or port lympne animal parks. You can stay over there and they often have offers on.

LadyLapsang · 17/03/2023 23:21

You can hire bikes to cycle from Canterbury to Whitstable along the Crab and Winkle Way. Rye is worth a visit, which you could combine with swim at Camber Sands. If you are members of the National Trust, lots of places to visit including Chartwell, Knowle and Sissinghurst. If your journey takes you near Shoreham, near Sevenoaks, you can get great pizzas and salads at the Mount Vineyard and the Samuel Palmer pub does a good lunch.

LadyLapsang · 17/03/2023 23:37

You could also travel on a steam train on the Kent and East Sussex railway to Bodiam Castle.

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