Kent: Garden of England 2023

Arrive in London this morning and make your way in to the heart of the English Capital. After checking in to your hotel, your afternoon is free for you to spend at your leisure either relaxing after your arrival journey or perhaps getting out to explore the city. London is magnificent metropolis which combines a vibrant modern culture with a rich history and heritage. You may choose to visit a wealth of world renowned sights including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square and the London Eye on the banks of the River Thames. By evening, return to the tour hotel where we'll gather as a group with your tour leader and get to know one another over a welcome dinner.

Overnight: Tower Suites by Blue Orchid (or similar), London

Meals: Dinner included.

Departing London, we make our way from the city to the nearby county of Kent, renowned as the “Garden of England”. Embarking on a trail of statesmen and royalty our first stop is Chartwell House, once the private home of Sir Winston Churchill. A charming rust-red stone manor, Chartwell is effectively a time capsule of 1930s family life providing an insight in to Churchill's library, sitting room and study. Outside, we’ll roam some of the 800 acres of woodland, gardens and picturesque lakes. Then, we visit of England's finest public gardens at Sissinghurst Gardens; stroll the beautiful orchard or climb the castle tower for beautiful views over the Kentish and learn about the former owner and writer Vita Sackville-West's intriguing life. By afternoon we continue to the ecclesiastical capital of England, Canterbury for an evening at leisure.

Overnight: Abode Canterbury Hotel (or similar), Canterbury

Meals: Breakfast included.

We start today at Canterbury Cathedral, a dominating Gothic structure with an intriguing and murderous history; Canterbury Cathedral was the destination of the pilgrims of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, the site of the murder of Thomas Becket and today holds UNESCO World Heritage status. We'll enjoy a tour to learn about the dramatic history and see the magnificent stained-glass windows, the monks’ Chapter House and the 11th century crypt. By afternoon we'll visit nearby villages combining picturesque countryside with unspoilt coasts. Later we head for our accommodation in the grounds of Leeds Castle, where delicious dinner awaits.

Overnight: Leeds Castle (or similar), Maidstone

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

We’ll make the most of our location and take some time to explore Leeds Castle on a guided tour of the castle and grounds. We'll see the famous moat and gardens and explore the areas "below stairs" of the staff and the grand living and sleeping quarters (some of which were favoured by King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson during their frequent stays). By afternoon we head to one of England's oldest breweries at the Shepherd Neame Brewery in Faversham. Here we’ll be treated to a tour with the chance to sample some award-winning beers. We’ll round off the day with a seaside stroll in the quaint town of Whitstable before returning to our idyllic accommodation for the evening.

Overnight: Leeds Castle (or similar), Maidstone

Meals: Breakfast included.

This morning we depart for historic Tenterden, a quintessentially English town overlooking the valley of the River Rother. We'll enjoy free-time to wander the historic town before pulling up a chair at the Chapel Down winery where we’ll discover some unique English wines and sample a glass or two ourselves. Our final destination of the day will be the charming market town of Rye in the heart of 1066 country; here we’ll pay a visit to the Rye Heritage Centre and explore the town.

Overnight: Mermaid Inn (or similar), Rye

Meals: Breakfast included.

First thing today we’ll spend some time exploring Rye’s cobbled lanes and timberwork houses to experience the magic that inspired writers and artists such as Henry James and Paul Nash. Then we'll board the bus to trace the south English coastline to gain views of those famous white cliffs before arriving in Dover itself. We'll head to Dover Castle, an imposing fortress that boasts evocative interiors that tell centuries of historic tales, not to mention far-reaching views from the Great Tower and dark medieval tunnels with covert cannons every few paces. By afternoon we'll enjoy some free time back in Rye before our farewell dinner.

Overnight: Mermaid Inn (or similar), Rye

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Before we finish our tour, we are off to Hever Castle, a centuries old Royal manor set amidst formal English rose gardens and once childhood home of Anne Boleyn – we’ll step back to Tudor times as we wander the beautifully preserved rooms adorned with intricate tapestries and a collection of Tudor portraits and artefacts. Our final journey takes us back in to central London where our tour ends at approximately 5.30pm.

Meals: Breakfast included.