Whenever an English person asked us about our trip and we said that we had gone to Dover the response was Why? Seriously every single time. Seems like Southeast England can’t get any love from travel guides or from the people of England. Personally I liked it. I wasn’t there for long enough to say that I loved it (I have commitment issues) but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Kent and would definitely go back, explore more and stay a bit longer because 36 hours really wasn’t enough time in Kent.
My system for avoiding jet lag is getting on the move the first day. My sister, niece and I landed at Heathrow, found each other (which was harder than it sounds because we arrived at two different terminals) , picked up our rental car and headed to Canterbury. The easy 90 minute drive on divided highways was a great way to ease into driving on the wrong side of the road.
We started with lunch at Oscar & Bentley’s, a dedicated gluten free bistro. I love gluten but my sister has celiac (coeliac) disease and my niece has a plethora of food allergies so this was an ideal spot for them. The food was excellent, I didn’t miss the gluten at all! There are a ton of cute shops and restaurants around town. You could wander for hours but we were on a mission so we headed to the cathedral.
We walked through the towering Christchurch Gate into the cathedral close. I was awestruck by the beauty and size of the Canterbury Cathedral. It was my first English cathedral and it did not disappoint. Beautiful rib vaulting and stained glass, ornate cloisters and as a bonus the tomb of Edward, the Black Prince. Founded in 597 by St Augustine, Canterbury became a pilgrimage destination after the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket. This is where the pilgrims in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales were headed. It has some of the world’s oldest stained glass and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of my favorite parts was walking the cloisters and looking at the beautiful carvings.
After walking about town a little more we were on to Dover for the night. Our hotel was on the harbor so we had a great view of the water and of the white cliffs, which was my intention since we were only going to be there for one night. We enjoyed a light dinner and a couple of drinks at a nearby restaurant and made it back to the hotel before it really started to pour.
The next morning we took a dip in the ocean. Ok my niece took a dip and I dipped my toe in. After breakfast we headed to the White Cliffs of Dover and hiked for a bit. We enjoyed the sweeping view and were amused by our phones jumping back and forth between France and England because we were so close to France, although it wasn’t clear enough to see it that day.
Next stop: Dover Castle. The complex is quite large and you really could spend the entire day here exploring. We started with the ruins of the Roman Lighthouse or Pharos. It is 2000 years old and one of only three remaining Roman Lighthouses in the world. Next we toured the Great Tower which is set up as it would have been during the medieval court of Henry II. It is really well done with interesting props that gave you a feeling of what it was like back in the day.
Finally we got in line for a tour of the secret tunnels. Originally built in the early 1800’s, they were expanded and modernized for use during WWII. The educational audio visual tour explained Operation Dynamo to rescue Allied soldiers stranded in Calais. No photos are allowed (because it’s secret duh!).
We had a delicious lunch (with lots of gluten free options) at the White Horse Pub. Judging by all the names and times on the wall, people who have swam the English Channel hang out here after their swim. It was quiet when we were there for our late lunch but it seems like it would be a busy place at night and have an entertaining crowd. I guess there is always next time.
Last stop in the South East was Sissinghurst Castle and Gardens. My sister loves flower gardens and this was a great place to break our journey to Salisbury. Even though it was autumn there were still blooming flowers for bright pops of colors and an apple orchard. In the springtime I imagine it is overwhelmingly beautiful. It’s said to be one of the best gardens in England. It was the perfect place to stretch our legs and relax a bit (especially after white knuckle driving on the left side of some narrow roads). There is nothing like a little nature to calm you down.
There you have it. My 36 hour affair with Kent. This time it served its purpose and distracted me so I could avoid jet lag. Next time we hook up I will spend more time really getting to know the South East. I hope you will give Kent and the South East a chance. Already visited? I would love to hear your thoughts.