Knole is one of Britain’s most important and complete historic homes – with a colourful past as an Archbishop’s palace, the former hunting ground of Henry VIII, the home of the Sackville family for 400 years and a source of literary inspiration for Virginia Woolf. Within Knole’s internationally important collection are paintings by Reynolds, Gainsborough, […]
Head out in the car for up to an hour and there is so much to do. Visits must include Canterbury. This historic English cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the seat of The Archbishop of Canterbury who is the primate of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion owing […]
Dover-The most iconic of all English fortresses commanding the gateway to the realm for nine centuries. Climb the Great Tower, meet the characters and immerse yourself in vivid medieval interiors. Then delve deep within Dover’s White Cliffs to witness the drama in the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Roam through centuries of history at Dover Castle, from […]
Leeds Castle- One of England’s finest castles, this storybook medieval stronghold commands two small islands on a peaceful lake. Dating to the 9th century and rebuilt by the Normans in 1119, Leeds became a favourite home of many medieval English queens. Henry VIII liked it so much he had it converted from a fortress into […]
Another famous Cinque port town just a 20minute drive away is the historic port of Rye. Once surrounded by sea, this fortified hilltop town played an important role in the defence of the south coast of England. These days, the river no longer harbours warships and is home to the local fishing fleet. Meandering for […]
Tenterden, rich in history, has largely escaped much modern development and has consequently retained its charm. It has an attractive, broad tree-lined High Street, brimming with interesting shops that have something for everyone. Tenterden was an important wool trading centre in the 13th century and became prosperous. It is difficult to believe today that Tenterden […]
Another popular local attraction is Sissinghurst Castle Garden, at Sissinghurst, was created by Vita Sackville-West, poet and writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson, author and diplomat. It is among the most famous gardens in England and is designated Grade I on Historic England’s register of historic parks and gardens. It was bought by Sackville-West in […]
If it something a little more “grown-up” you are looking for why not visit the nearby village of Biddenden made famous by Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst (or Chalkhurst), commonly known as the Biddenden Maids, who were a pair of conjoined twins supposedly born in Biddenden, in the year 1100. They are said to have been […]
A five minute drive away is The Rare Breeds Centre, it is the only centre of its kind in Kent and is approved by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Families and adults can enjoy a perfect day out on the beautiful 100 acre farm based in the heart of the Kent countryside.From the exotic butterfly […]
Our local pub The Bonny Cravat can be walked to via a footpath from Shirkoak that leads down to The Woodchurch Windmill, this is a fine example of a Kentish Smock mill and is the remaining windmill of two that were on this site and known as ‘The Twins’. You can visit the windmill from […]
