The Best of Kent: White Cliffs, Canterbury and Cathedral Evensong
5.0 / 5 · 32 traveler reviews
You have visited London. Now escape for the day and experience the very best of Kent - quintessentially English villages, White Cliffs, rolling countryside and coastlines, the beautiful historic city of Canterbury - and ending with Evensong at the Cathedral! If you would like a tour lead by a local guide with a History PhD from Cambridge, this carefully crafted one day minibus and walking tour is just for you. Lead by Dr Anthony Medhurst, you will be taken to Kent's iconic locations and the hidden gems that large tour groups never see. Only 5 star reviews received including: "This guided tour is beyond exceptional" (Brad, USA); "Anthony is by far the best guide I've ever had!" (Nathan, Australia); "This is a MAGICAL tour.." (Len, USA); "Given his local upbringing and unparalleled education, we felt like we had won the tour guide lottery." (Jenn, USA); "Canterbury and, OH, so much more!" (Mike, USA)
Your experience
Stop 1
You will be met by your guide, Dr Anthony Medhurst, at Canterbury West railway station (or the Hampton by Hilton if already in Canterbury). We will meet at 08.30 for the one day tour and is timed to meet the high speed, direct train from London St Pancras (54 minutes). The 3.5 hour autumn to spring tour between Nov-March will start at either 8.30am or 13.00. Please note that you can also start your tour from Dover cruise ship terminal, Folkestone Central railway station (55 minutes) or nearby hotels and cover the same locations. You will then be escorted to the nearby minibus.
Stop 2
As you leave the Canterbury city centre, you will stop briefly by the second of the city's most important UNESCO World Heritage landmarks - St Augustine's Abbey. Founded shortly after St Augustine arrived in Kent in AD597 to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, the abbey was a residence for Augustine and his brother monks and functioned as a monastery. It was also a ‘missionary school’ where classical knowledge and English learning flourished. Among its library of illuminated manuscripts, only 150 survived the English Reformation and the dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538. One of these – the ‘Canterbury Gospels’ – survived from AD597 and was used in the recent Coronation of King Charles III.
Stop 3
As you leave the Abbey, you will pass two statues depicting King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha on Lady Wootton’s Green. As King and Queen of Kent, these two people were most responsible for welcoming Augustine into Canterbury and enabling him to build the foundation for Christianity throughout the country.
Stop 4
As the tour leaves the outskirts of the city, there will be the opportunity to observe the country’s oldest surviving church, St Martin’s, which also dates from cAD597. The church was originally a chapel used by Queen Bertha but became used as a base by Augustine. The church has Roman origins with Anglo-Saxon and Medieval additions.
Stop 5
Our route will head east towards the coast via a number of pretty villages. You will first be driven to Wickhambreaux with its delightful medieval village green around which are located the church, the manor house, rectory, inn and mill. You can stop briefly for photos at the 13th century church of St Andrews where one of the WWII Dambusters, Squadron Leader David Maltby, was both married and later buried after his death in 1943. Another famous resident of Wickhambreaux was the singer and musician, Christine MacVie of Fleetwood Mac.
Stop 6
We will then depart for the neighbouring village of Ickham with its attractive white weatherboard cottages, attractive listed buildings and 13th century church.
Stop 7
We will pass through the ancient village of Wingham which, with many buildings dating back to the 1200s including the Grade II listed ‘The Dog Inn’, provides a picture perfect part of the tour.
Stop 8
As we reach the coast, you will be driven to a special vantage point on the White Cliffs largely unknown to most visitors. This is a series of WWII gun emplacements which were created to protect this critical stretch of water from German shipping. At this most iconic of locations you will get views of Dover Castle, the harbour, the English Channel and, if the weather is clear, the nearby coastline of France. After a brief stop here for a history of Dover from Roman times to the Second World War, we will head back towards Canterbury through delightful country lanes and rolling hills in order to view a number of breath-taking villages.
Stop 9
Stroll along the iconic White Cliffs and enjoy spectacular close up views of the harbour, Dover Castle and, on a clear day, France
Stop 10
View the grounds of former Battle of Britain fighter station in 1940 and hear what it was like to be a pilot defending this country from invasion.
Stop 11
You will take in the delightful village of Barham with its rolling hills, newly planted vineyards and quaint narrow street. You will pass the 13th century church of St John the Baptist with its green copper spire, quaint Kent peg tiled cottages and impressive views over the valley below.
Stop 12
After Barham you will head towards Bishopsbourne which is located within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You will pass the elegant stately home of Bourne Park which the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visited in 1865.
What’s included
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Comfortable 'over the ear' headsets for high quality sound transmission even with hearing devices
- Entertaining local guide with a Cambridge PhD in History
Not included
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic beverages
- Lunch
Meeting and pickup
Meet outside Canterbury West railway station (or the Hampton by Hilton, St Margaret's St if already in Canterbury)
Before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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