An artist painting the coastline of the Dover Cliffs from the top of the chalky hill, Dover, United Kingdom.

Kent

Kent isn’t described as the garden of England for nothing. Within its sea-lined borders you’ll find a fragrant landscape of gentle hills, fertile farmland, cultivated country estates and fruit-laden orchards. It could also be described as the beer garden of England as it produces the world-renowned Kent hops and some of the country’s finest ales and wines from its numerous vineyards. At its heart is spellbinding Canterbury, crowned by its enthralling cathedral. You’ll also find beautiful coastal stretches dotted with beach towns and villages, from old-school Broadstairs to gentrified Whitstable and the aesthetically challenged port town of Dover.

Best Things to Do

Attractions

Must-see attractions for your itinerary

Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury
A rich repository of more than 1400 years of Christian history, Canterbury Cathedral is the Church of England’s mother ship, and a truly extraordinary…
Leeds Castle
Kent
Leeds Castle, an immense moated pile just east of Maidstone, is often considered the world’s most romantic castle. It's certainly one of the most visited…
Chartwell
Kent
The Chartwell Estate was home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924 until his death in 1965. It offers a breathtakingly intimate insight into the life of…
Turner Contemporary
Kent
Turner Contemporary is a blockbuster art gallery, bolted together on the site of the seafront guesthouse where master painter JMW Turner used to stay…
Down House
Kent
Down House, on the edge of the quaint Kent village of Downe, was Charles Darwin's home from 1842 until his death in 1882. It was here that he developed…
Dover Castle
Dover
Occupying top spot, literally and figuratively, in Dover’s townscape, this most impressive of castles was built to bolster the country’s weakest point at…
Banksy Brexit Mural - removed
Dover
Despite voting leave, the poor port town of Dover is possibly the Southeast community set to suffer most post-Brexit. It was perhaps for that reason that…
Secret Wartime Tunnels
Dover
The biggest draw at Dover Castle is the secret wartime tunnels. The claustrophobic chalk-hewn passageways were excavated during the Napoleonic Wars and…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

11 of the best things to do along Kent’s Heritage Coast: art, history, and nature

Curated by Sophy Grimshaw

South Foreland Lighthouse
Kent
From the Langdon Cliffs tourist office, follow the stony path east along the clifftops for a bracing 2-mile walk to the stout Victorian South Foreland…
St Margaret’s Bay
Kent
A mile further along the clifftop trail from the South Foreland Lighthouse, you will reach the delightful village of St Margaret’s Bay, a gap in the chalk…
Coastguard Pub
Kent
This welcoming seafront pub at St Margaret’s Bay is the closest tavern to France in England. Kept continually fresh, the bar and dining room are a cosy…