The White Cliffs of Dover, Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle and a host of attractive centuries-old villages are to be found on the South East England Discovery itinerary. It’s a drive that will appeal to art lovers and antique hunters, gardeners and golfers, history and heritage buffs: a route that takes you back to days of the Romans, the Tudors and the Victorians. 

Total drive approx 323 kms

Day 1 Dover – Folkestone/Hythe 12 kms
Arriving at Dover’s Eastern Docks, head for history at Dover Castle, the oldest fort in England. Discover the labyrinth of secret wartime tunnels built under Dover's white cliffs and walk through the rooms where the miracle of Dunkirk was masterminded. Operation Dynamo: Rescue from Dunkirk is a vivid recreation of the evacuation of thousands of British troops from France at the beginning of World War Two.

Sixty metres of underground tunnels are transformed into the skies and seas of May and June 1940 with tremendous sounds effects. One moment, you experience the tense atmosphere of the operations room at Dover Castle and then you are immersed in the action on the Dunkirk beaches as a German plane flies overhead, pursued by British anti-aircraft fire.

For a colourful contrast also visit the castle’s richly-furnished Great Tower where actors bring alive the atmosphere of medieval life at King Henry II's court. Costumed characters and state-of-the-art film technology bring to life famous historic figures, including King Henry II, Prince John and the King's court jester - Roland the Farter (yes, evidently he did exist, and performed his 'special talents' to amuse the king's guests).

To get to Dover Castle from the ferry arrival area, head west on Dock Exit Road for about three hundred metres, pick up the A20 at the roundabout and follow the signs. The castle is on Castle Hill Road.  The castle has two cafes (hot soups and sandwiches), the obligatory souvenir shop, and if you are travelling with children, enough space for them to run around. You should allow a couple of hours at least to explore all that the castle has to offer.

Before you leave Dover, visit the South Foreland Lighthouse on the famous White Cliffs. It’s situated in nearby St Margaret’s Bay. Discover the challenges of navigating the Strait of Dover on one of the lighthouse guided tours. You also get a fantastic view from the balcony -- a spectacular 360-degree panorama of East Kent and the English Channel. South Foreland. You can park at the White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre and take an exhilarating three-kilometre cliff top walk; or leave the car in St Margaret’s village and walk from there.

Dover is the only member of the old Cinque Ports to remain a major port. The Cinque (it’s pronounced ‘sink’) Ports date back to the late Anglo-Saxon era when there was an ever-present threat of a Norse invasion. Aware that he needed to control the English Channel to keep his throne, Edward the Confessor  granted concessions to Dover, Hythe, Sandwich and New Romney in Kent, and Hastings in neighbouring Sussex, in exchange for them  setting up a sea defence. The concessions made each of the towns quite rich.

The royal deal exempted the Cinque Ports from ‘tax and tallage, right of soc and sac, tol and team, blodwit and fledwit, pillory and tumbril, infangentheof and outfangentheof, mundbryce, waifs and strays, flotsam and jetsam and ligan,’ which might not make much sense in modern English, but it was a considerable tax break at the time.

You pass through each of these historic towns along this route and will learn quite a bit about the ancient fortifications, but you will probably remain none the wiser about blodwit, fledwit or mundbryce.

From Dover take the A20 to Folkestone. En route, visitors interested in World War Two history will want o make a slight detour to the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne, dedicated to the aircrews who fought and died in epic aerial combats over the Kent coast and countryside in 1940. Nearby Hawkinge is the home of the Battle of Britain Museum. It is open from April to October each year (closed on Mondays), and has a vast collection of Battle of Britain artefacts,  including several World War Two aircraft and relics from more than 600 crashed aircraft. The airfield at Hawkinge played a major part in the Battle of Britain, so it is fitting that the museum is based in some of the buildings on the old site.

For travellers who arrive by Eurotunnel (at a journey time of 35 minutes, the fastest route from France), the Folkestone terminal, near junction 11a of the M20, is just a few minutes’ drive from the town centre.

Folkestone has all the amenities and attractions (popular, cultural and scenic) of a seaside resort and makes a good overnight stop. An alternative is Hythe, an attractive and historic town, just a little further west.

Generations of holidaymakers have enjoyed strolling the manicured lawns of the mile-long Leas promenade and the paths that stretch along the East Cliff in Folkestone. Both provide excellent views of the Channel, and on clear days the coast of France is easily visible.

Excavations on Folkestone’s East Cliff have revealed a Roman villa and evidence of earlier habitation. Nearby is the start of another long line of fortifications – Martello towers built in the 19th century against the threat of invasion by Napoleon. The English coastline has been well defended over the years. A total of 74 Martello towers were built along the south coast: Tower 1 was at Folkestone, overlooking the harbour, and Tower 74  guarded the beach at Seaford, about a hundred kilometres to the west in East Sussex.

Well worth a visit while in Folkestone are the galleries, studios and boutiques of Folkestone’s Creative Quarter, located in shops along the The Old High Street and Tontine Street. They offer a wide variety of paintings, ceramics, sculptures and jewelry. Creative Quarter has a frequently changing exhibition programme.

Hythe is a little less than five kilometres from Folkestone. In between is the seaside village of Sandgate, worth a stop for shops selling antiques and collectables.

In Roman times the town of Hythe sat five kilometres away at Port Lympne, but when entrances to that harbour silted up, a new harbour and town grew on the present site. That too silted up over the years and Hythe’s days as a port eventually came to an end. A century of stagnation followed, until Napoleon threatened to invade England -- and Hythe found itself in the front line. Defence projects brought in money and work. The Royal Military Canal was dug, the Martello Towers and barracks built and garrisoned. Shops and trades, and especially the brewery, prospered. But the invader never came.

Nowadays, Hythe lives quietly. The Royal Military Canal is a pretty waterway that meandours across the Romney Marsh to the Sussex border. Historic buildings line the high street and lanes that lead to the 12th century parish church, where a rare ‘bonehouse’ (ossuary) attracts visitors from all parts of the world.

Romney Marsh, which was once the haunt of gangs of  smugglers, lies immediately west of the town, and can be explored either by car, or by using the world's smallest public railway – which is highly recommended if its departure times fit in with your travel plans.

The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is a fifteen inch gauge main line in miniature, built in1927 and operating steam and diesel hauled trains between Hythe and Dungeness via Dymchurch, St. Mary's Bay, New Romney and Romney Sands stations. The station at Hythe is on the banks of the Royal Military Canal. The round trip takes about two-and-a-half hours.

A ten-minute detour from Hythe brings you to Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, which is home to Siberian and Indian tigers, Barbary lions, small cats, monkeys and several other rare and endangered species. The park is also home to the largest breeding herd of black rhinos outside of Africa.

Port Lympne’s African Experiencetakes visitors across the park’s open plains where giraffe, black rhino, wildebeest, zebra, ostrich, antelope and other wildlife roam free. If you are travelling with children you might want to stay overnight at the Livingstone Safari Lodge: wake up (under canvas, of course) to the sight of zebra and wildebeest, rhino, giraffes, ostrich and a number of other exotic animals -- a great adventure that the kids will never forget.

Accommodation options: Burlington Hotel, Best Western Clifton Hotel and Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone. The Mercure Hythe Imperial & Spa, Best Western Stade Court Hotel, The Castle Hotel in Hythe.

Day 2. Depart: Folkestone/Hythe  O/night: Tunbridge Wells  Approx: 110 kms
If you are a nature lover and have the time to spare, you could spend hours shell hunting and bird watching on the sandy beaches around Dymchurch, just a short drive on from Hythe. The flat countryside here is great for stretching your legs on Romney Marsh or the shingles of Dungeness, the largest shingle beach in Europe. Spring and autumn migratory birds arriving in England head straight for the nature reserve at Dungeness.

Something to remember when exploring the marshland. The lack of road signs and few villages can make navigating across the marsh rather confusing for the unwary – and your GPS will not be of much use. Several minor roads have no directional signs at junctions at all, while at others it is possible to find two or three lanes apparently leading to the same village. It often makes for an adventure or two.

Continuing along the A259 you come to Brookland, a small marshland village about eight kilometres west of New Romney. When it comes to attractions the village punches above its weight. Its church has a rather unusual  feature -- the wooden spire is totally separate from the body of the church. Marsh myth has it that the St Augustine’s steeple once looked down at a beautiful bride marrying an ugly groom and jumped off the church in shock. Nice story, but the truth is that the spire is too weighty to be supported by the church, which sits on marshy ground.

This part of the world, rich meadowland dotted with flocks of sheep, was once the territory of notorious smuggling gangs: brandy and wine was smuggled into Romney Marshes, and wool was smuggled out to France. The smugglers were known as ‘owlers’, because of the owl-like sounds they made to communicate at night. No texting back in those days.  The smugglers would have used the old Royal Oak from time to time, a typical country inn that stands next to the church. The inn has been renovated and re-furnished, and now has five rooms for bed and breakfast accommodation.

From Brooklands you arrive in Rye, a picturesque market town perched on a sandstone hill overlooking the Romney Marshes. Medieval architecture mingles with that of the Tudor and Georgian periods, and all has been beautifully preserved.

Perhaps one of Rye’s most exciting times was during the 18th century when, like many other small towns and villages in the area, its prosperity depended as much on smuggling as any other trade. The famous Mermaid Inn was also once the haunt of smugglers who would sit and drink with loaded pistols on the table. The Mermaid Inn sits on a picturesque cobbled street in the centre of Rye, oozing with the atmosphere you would expect to find in one of England’s oldest and most charming pubs. Accommodation is available --  and for romantics some of the bedrooms have old-fashioned four poster beds.

Take time to discover Rye’s historic buildings and narrow passageways. Start with a visit to the Rye Heritage Centre, at Strand Quay where the Town Model Sound and Light Show brings seven hundred years of Rye’s history to life. The Ypres Tower built in 1249 is now the Rye Castle Museum and together with its sister site in nearby East Street has an interesting mix of displays, collections and exhibitions.

Rye has a wealth of galleries and studios offering fine art, landscape photography (many incredible shots of the marshes) and local pottery. Antique hunters will have a great time as well rummaging Rye’s several antique shops. Literature lovers might be interested in taking a stroll past Lamb House, the one-time home of the novelist Henry James.

Looking for a good place for lunch? Try the family-friendly Ship Inn in Strand Quay, which is set among the old warehouses (now antique and bric-a-brac shops) near the river. Back in the 16th and 17th centuries it was the Lord Warden's depot for storing goods confiscated from the smuggling gangs.

The town has a good choice of restaurants, with seafood a speciality: the local fishing fleet of around twenty boats bring in the famous Rye scallop, sole, cod and plaice. Succulent Romney Marsh lamb and excellent local cheeses also feature on menus at several restaurants.  The Rye Scallop Festival runs in February each year and The Taste of Rye Food Festival runs every October, making the town something of a foodie haven.

Camber is about eight kilometres south west of Rye, and makes a good detour if you are travelling with children. Camber is known for its miles of golden sands and is home to the only sand dune system in East Sussex. It’s a popular place for beachcombing. The beach does get strong winds at times, turning it into the perfect location for windsurfing and kitesurfing.  Camber Castle was built by Henry VIII in the early 16th century, but the elements havetaken their toll over the years and the castle is no longer open to the public.

Winchelsea comes next on the drive. It retains its medieval setting on a hill surrounded by largely empty marshland. The present town was of Winchelsea was founded by Edward I seven centuries ago to replace an older town of the same name that had been lost to the sea in storms. For a while the new town was one of England’s major ports – but as in nearby Hythe the silting of its harbour gradually sapped Winchelsea’s prosperity. In Norman days, the town was of great importance as a naval base, and later also played a big role in England’s cross-Channel trade. By the middle of the 16th century it had become high and dry.

In its heydays as a port, Winchelsea was greatly involved in the wine trade with Gascony, and the extensive wine cellars under the town may still be visited on open days.

From Winchelsea you could travel on to the historic seaside town of Hastings and head inland to Battle or take the inland route through Icklesham and a string of quaintly named little villages.

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was to shape the future of medieval England. The battle actually took place about ten kilometres north of Hastings in the village of Battle, which may sound confusing. The explanation is that in 1070 Pope Alexander II ordered the Normans to do penance for killing so many people during their conquest of England four years earlier.  So William the Conqueror vowed to build an abbey where the Battle of Hastings had taken place, with the high altar of its church on the supposed spot where the Saxon King Harold fell in that battle – and Battle was born.

The abbey buildings and ruins are open to visitors, and there is a visitor centre with a film and exhibition about the battle and audio tours of the battlefield site. The visitor centre includes a children's discovery room and a cafe, and there is also an outdoor themed playground.

If you decide on the inland route, take the A259 in the direction of Icklesham and on through villages with such descriptive names as Guestling Thorn, Three Oaks and Westfield. Icklesham is little more than a couple of minutes drive from Winchelsea. Historians say the village was probably a prime target during the invasion by the Normans in 1066 as in those days it dominated the River Brede. Seven hundred years later its strategic importance led to evacuation plans being drawn up in case of invasion by Napoleon.

Icklesham has several public houses, the oldest being The Queens Head, which dates back to 1632, though not always as a pub. It was used for pig keeping for two hundred years before the first pint was pulled. Today the Queens Head rates highly with the UK’s Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) – the beer drinker’s very own watchdog. The village also has a Beatles connection (sort of). The old smock windmill on Hogs Hill has been restored and has been used as a recording studio by Sir Paul McCartney.

After passing though Westfield you come to a junction where you turn right on to the A21 and continue to Robertsbridge, an East Sussex village with a cricket claim to fame.  Gray Nicolls started making cricket bats in his Robertsbridge workshop back in the late 1800s and supplied WG Grace with the record-breaking bat used to score his hundredth century and make a thousand runs back in 1894. The family-owned firm is still based in Robertsbridge today.

It’s just a short drive on to Hawkhurst, which is really two villages in one - the tranquil settlement on the Moor and a thriving commercial centre at Highgate. Back in the early 1700s the village was the home of the Hawkhurst Gang, southern England’s most notorious gang of smugglers of the time.

A little kitchen trivia: Hawkhurst was also once the home of Charles Gunther -- you have probably never have heard of him, but he was the inventor of the Oxo cube.

From Hawkhurst, head north for about five kilometres on the A229, passing though through Gills Green to Hartley, where you turn right on to the B 2026 and wind your way eastwards to Tenterden.  Along the way you’ll pass through the attractive village of Benenden, one of the few places in the area known as the Weald of Kent to be named in the Domesday Book. Benenden has largely escaped the development sprawl that has overtaken many a local village and has retained a number of small independent shops and thriving pubs.

After Benenden, the road continues through Rolvenden, home to an interesting collection of Morgan three-wheel cars at the C.M.Booth Collection, a small museum that is attached to an antiques shop specialising in car memorabilia. There is also a good example of a 16th century windmill in Rolvenden.

Known as the ‘Jewel of the Weald’, Tenterden offers the best of all worlds – a fascinating history, a wealth of architecture and some excellent antique hunting– all the ingredients of a typical yesteryear country town surrounded tranquil countryside. Georgian buildings share the streets with tall Victorian houses and tiny cottages; brick and stucco blend easily alongside traditional Kent tile and weatherboard, a ‘must’ for anybody interested in architecture.

Tenterden first became affluent as a centre for the wool trade in the 13th century. The tree-lined High Street, which is home to several antique shops, is dominated by the pinnacled tower of an ancient church.

Theatre enthusiasts will want to explore Smallhythe Place, the 16th century half-timbered house and cottage garden that Shakespearean actress Ellen Terry called home from 1899 to 1928. On display are her costumes and theatrical mementoes.

The house has an Elizabethan barn that was adapted as a theatre many years ago. It still stages theatre performances during the summer evenings. The house is open to visitors daily between March and October (except Thursdays and Fridays), and is subject to various opening hours - it is advised that you call the to check on opening times before your visit. +44 1580 762334

Wine lovers will want to head for Chapel Down Winery, home to the largest producer of English wines. Visitors can a stroll around the vineyard, herb garden and landscaped grounds or join a guided tour (available from March to October). The winery shop offers free wine tasting. Golfers are also well looked after in Tenterden. The London Beach Country Hotel, Spa and Golf Club is located just two minutes from the town and also offers a golf school for beginners.

Meanwhile, train fans can take a trip on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The line wends its way from Tenterden for about eighteen kilometres through the unspoilt countryside of the Rother Valley and terminates at Bodiam Castle in East Sussex.

It’s a two-hour round trip and there are four departures a day at certain times of the year. You should plan some time to explore Bodiam Castle. The train ride is another favourite of visitors travelling with children.

Biddenden is the next stop along the route – home to Kent's oldest family-owned vineyard. The picturesque village, with its half-timbered houses, was once the home of Flemish weavers, brought to England by King Edward III in the 14th century.

Biddenden Vineyard produces fresh, fruity, award winning wines as well as strong Kentish cider. Visitors are welcome throughout the year. The coffee shop is open daily and there are marked walks around the vineyard for customers to wander at their leisure. See the presses and bottling line in the winery and visit the shop to enjoy free samples of wines, ciders and apple juices. Connoisseurs of apple cider will enjoy the Special Reserve, a dark, rich cider matured in oak whisky casks. It has an alcoholic strength of 13.5 by volume – that’s some kick, and calls for a dedicated driver.

From Biddenden the road takes you to Goudhurst, a delightful village where the main street tumbles down a steep hill from the church to the village pond. The nearby Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest and the magnificent Georgian manor house at Finchcocks Musical Museum, with its collection of more than a hundred period keyboard instruments, both make for interesting detours while in the area.

It is not just the beautiful Georgian manor house of Finchcocks and its surroundings that makes a visit to the museum so rewarding; there is also anopportunity to study and play some of the most important historical pianos, harpsichords, organs and clavichords in the country - all guided by skilled musicians. Even non-players will find their appreciation of music enhanced by a visit.

Before reaching Tunbridge Wells you come to another vineyard at Lamberhurst, one of the oldest in Kent, and one that has a good reputation for its sparkling wines. Lamberhust Vineyard is a regular venue for the BMW Owners Club, Porsche Club, Citroen Owners Club, and Triumph Roadster Club amongst others. There is ample free parking for visitors, and free wine tasting.

Arriving in Royal Tunbridge Wells you will want to make this your base while you explore the town and a trio of nearby historic attractions. A favourite holiday destination of royalty for many years, Tunbridge Wells was finally recognised by royalty itself in 1909 when King Edward VII granted the town’s ‘Royal’ prefix – an honour bestowed on very few destinations

Accommodation options: The Spa Hotel, Royal Wells Hotel, Russell Hotel

Day 3: O/night: Tunbridge Wells  Excursion: Chiddingstone - Hever Castle –Chartwell  Approx: 56 kms

Start the day with a walk along the Pantiles in the historical heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells. This charming colonnaded walkway is now home to antique shops and specialist small boutiques, as well as the Pantiles shopping arcade which is situated in the old Corn Exchange building.

There are close to 50 antique shops dotted around Tunbridge Wells, attracting buyers from all around the world. This is the home of Tunbridge ware, decoratively inlaid woodwork, typically in the form of boxes, dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The decoration typically consists of a mosaic of many very small pieces of different coloured woods that are used to make a pictorial vignette.

You will want to visit the famous Chalybeate Spring, which was discovered just over four hundred years ago and marked the beginning of Tunbridge Wells. It still forms a central part of the Pantiles. Chalybeate (pronounced Ka-lee-bee-at) means iron-rich, and the iron taste is very evident in the water. At the height of its popularity in the 18th century, the spring water was reputed to cure all sorts of ills from infertility and hangovers to obesity and 'a moist brain'. Visitors today can still sample the spring water, which is served daily from Easter to the end of September in the traditional manner by a costumed 'dipper'

The Pantiles is also the setting for a number of events throughout the year. Jazz on the Pantiles is one of the big attractions during the summer months, with a gig every Thursday evening from June to mid-September.

Chiddingstone Castle, Hever Castle and Chartwell, which was Winston Churchill’s hideaway near Westerham are the ‘big three’ that should not be missed while in Tunbridge Wells. To reach all three and spend about an hour at each would take you a little more than five hours – so if you want to do things in a leisurely way, consider an extra night in Tunbridge Wells: it has an eclectic choice of restaurants that foodies would enjoy.

To reach Chiddingstone Castle, take the A264 westwards in the direction of Langton Green and shortly after turn right on to the B2188 that will lead you to Chiddingstone.

Chiddingstone Castle is a unique and unspoilt castle in Kent set in expansive grounds including a lake open to fishermen, a rose garden, and magnificent woodland. The castle’s attractions include a marvellous collection of Egyptian and Buddhist artefacts, magnificent Japanese armour, and beautiful Jacobean paintings.

From Chiddingstone it’s a short drive of less than ten minutes to the double-moated Hever Castle and its spectacular gardens. It’s situated near Edenbridge – just follow the signposts. Hever Castle is an important historic castle on the English landscape, once the family home of one of England’s most famous Queens – Anne Boleyn, the intriguing second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. The castle houses 16th century portraits, paintings, furniture, tapestries and many other treasures.

Hever Castle was perhaps the most romantic reason for Henry VIII’s frequent visits to Kent. It was at Hever that Henry wooed the ill-fated Anne Boleyn: her marriage to the king ended in her being beheaded at the Tower of London accused of adultery. Henry VIII then appropriated Hever Castle following the death of Sir Thomas Boleyn (Anne’s father) and gave it to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, as part of a settlement when he divorced her in 1540.

Antique enthusiasts might want to link their visit to Hever Castle with a stop off at the The Edenbridge Galleries in nearby Edenbridge, where you will find more than ten antique dealers under one roof, all of them members of two leading associations, The British Antique Dealers Association and The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers; the seal of good housekeeping in the world of antiques.

Chartwell is next on the list. It’s located in Westerham and the house was bought by Sir Winston Churchill for its magnificent views over the Weald of Kent. Chartwell was his home and source of inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life. The rooms at Chartwell remain much as they were when Churchill lived there, with pictures, books and personal mementoes evoking the career and wide-ranging interests of England’s famous statesman. The hillside gardens reflect Churchill's love of the landscape and nature, and include the lakes he created, Lady Churchill's Rose Garden and the kitchen garden. There are year-round happenings at Chartwell, and tours on selected days. Young travellers are not left out – there are children's trails and activities. Walk sheets are available at the car park.

To get to Chartwell from Hever Castle take the road that leads on to the B2027, which you follow to Four Elms, and continue along the B269 to Mapleton Road on your right. It leads you straight to Chartwell. To return to Tunbridge Wells, head back again via Chiddingstone.

Accommodation options. The Spa Hotel, Royal Wells Hotel, Russell Hotel

Day 4. Depart: Tunbridge Wells   O/night: Canterbury  Approx: 75 kms
Start your day with a 40 kilometre drive north-east to Leeds Castle, taking the A264 out of Tunbridge Wells and continuing on the A228. Leeds Castle will later become signposted and the drive should take you a less than an hour, depending on traffic.

You will pass East Peckham,  once the centre of Kent’s hop growing industry. It is still home to the Hop Farm, which is said to have the world's largest collection of oast houses –  it is now a theme park. Many other oast houses along the way have been turned into trendy homes.

Hops have been grown in Kent since the early 1500s, and in Victorian times it was the biggest industry in the county. Throughout history, well over half the hops produced in Britain came from Kent. There was a time when families from London and elsewhere would head for Kent every September to pick hops – a working holiday for many. Machines eventually replaced the hop-pickers, and the annual hop to Kent finally ended in the 1960s. Hops are still grown in Kent but it is no longer the busy industry it was at the start of the last century.

Leeds Castle is situated on the River Len and was built on two adjacent islands. The name Leeds originates from the name of a chief minister of King Ethelbert IV (856-860) called Ledian (and has nothing to do with city of Leeds in Yorkshire).

The castle was later used as a retreat by Henry VII who spent fortunes on improvements, including exquisite windows, fireplaces and banqueting halls that are still on view. You will probably be left wondering what the king would have thought of Leeds Castle today: open all year round, its blend of heritage and history, glorious gardens and attractions and programme of special events, has given Leeds Castle a theme park feel in recent times.

The gardens offer continuous colour throughout the year, from a mass of spring flowering bulbs in the Wood Garden, through roses and herbaceous perennials in the English Culpeper Garden, to the Mediterranean Lady Baillie Garden, at its best in late summer and autumn.  Leeds Castle is also home to more than a hundred species of birds from all over the world, and the aviaries are open to visitors on a daily basis.

Falconry lessons, hot air balloon trips and Segway tours of the castle are all on offer and children will love the Knights' Realm playground, maze and grotto. Older children and adventurous adults with a head for heights can test their agility and nerve on the Go Ape! experience in the castle parkland – which has all the makings of an SAS or Navy Seal assault course: climb the tree tops, slide across high wires, crawl through tunnels, cross rope bridges and zip wire back to the ground at amazing speed.

From Leeds Castle head for Canterbury, passing through Charing and Chilham along the way. It’s a little under an hour’s drive, taking the A20 to Charing and then the A252 to Chilham and the A28 to Canterbury.

The village of Charing sits on the old Pilgrims’ Way from London to Canterbury (think Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales), and is one day's walk from the cathedral city. Charing is still surrounded by farmland, but the good transport links and housing development since the 1960s have also led to the area become a popular commuter village for people working in London. Nevertheless, it has managed to maintain it's village of yesteryear appeal.

Nearby Chilham is a  ‘must’ for antique hunters. It's the home of Bagham Barn Antiques, which boasts one of the largest collections of antique furniture, collectables and art in Kent. Situated in a beautifully restored 17th century barn in the heart of the village it has almost 420 square metres of antique furniture presented in room size displays. It’s open every day except Monday and has ample car parking, as well as its own teashop.

Another attraction in Chilham is the Woolpack Inn, with its vast oak beams and inglenook fireplaces. The Woolpack is said to be haunted by the ‘grey lady’, a friendly ghost who wanders the main building. The Woolpack, which sits next to Chilham Castle (a private residence) is known for its food and also offers accommodation, with some of the rooms fitted with four-poster beds. Half the accommodation is above the inn, the rest in a converted stable block across the road.

If you set off from Tunbridge Wells after breakfast, you would probably arrive in Canterbury in the late afternoon – allowing for a couple of hours or so at Leeds Castle and time to explore the antiques in Chilham. Check in at your hotel, park the car and discover the old city centre by foot – it’s the only way to discover Canterbury.

Pilgrims have flocked to Canterbury Cathedral for centuries, ever since the martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. The cathedral, which is the oldest in England, dominates Canterbury’s skyline and would naturally be the first place to visit. The cathedral is only part of the Canterbury story: the ancient ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church form Canterbury's World Heritage site, while other ancient ruins such as the castle are reminders of the city’s long history.

The Canterbury Tales Museum should also be on your ‘must see’ list, a reconstruction of 14th century life in England. It’s located inside the historic St. Margaret’s Church where you step back five hundred years and more to join Geoffrey Chaucer and the colourful characters from his Canterbury Tales on their pilgrimage from London to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral.

Accommodation options. The Falstaff Hotel, Best Western Abbots Barton Hotel, The Victoria Hotel

Day 5. Depart Canterbury.  Arrive: Dover   Approx: 70 kms
If you are intending to return to the Continent from Ramsgate, Dover or Folkestone today, check departure times before setting off, and if you only have time for one stop along the way, make it Whitstable – a seaside town known for its oysters and seafood.

The A290 takes you north to Whitstable, and the drive should take you no more than half an hour, depending on traffic. According to old Kentish tradition Julius Caesar was enticed to Britain by Whitstable’s oysters, and it’s been attracting foodies ever since. The oyster season runs from April to September and the annual nine-day Oyster Festival is held every year starting on July 25. If oysters are not your thing, Whitstable also serves up some of the best traditional fish and chips to be found anywhere in England.

The Whitstable Museum and Gallery has a display of artifacts and portraits relating to the town's seafaring traditions, with special features on oysters, diving and shipping.

From Whitstable head east to Margate, about another half hour’s drive. You might want to visit the new Turner Contemporary art gallery on Margate’s seafront. It has a rolling programme of exhibitions featuring work by leading international contemporary artists alongside historic works from 1750 onwards. The gallery does not look very exciting from the outside with its opaque off-white glass front, but don’t let that put you off. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, though opening times vary according to season. Entry is free.

Between Margate and Ramsgate lies Broadstairs, where the famous Victorian author, Charles Dickens loved to spend his holidays. He spent almost every summer there in the mid-1800s.It was in Broadstairs that he wrote Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge. He was known to have stayed in the Royal Albions Hotel overlooking Viking Bay, where he finished writing  David Copperfield.

Ramsgate is where the ferry leaves for Ostend on the Belgian coast. You then pass Pegwell Nature Reserve on your way to Sandwich, Deal and Dover. Pegwell Bay is of interest to military enthusiasts – it was the former site of a huge army seaport used during World War One to ship much-needed supplies over to the continent. A train drove straight onto the ferry here and then drove off again the other side in France. Little remains now, but you may still see evidence of some of the old jetties. If it’s a clear day, you should be able to make out the French coastline on the horizon.

For those who enjoy Ian Fleming’s James ‘007’ Bond  films, the route from Ramsgate to Dover is Moonraker and Goldfinger country. Stop off in Sandwich and relive the classic match between Bond and Auric Goldfinger: Fleming's club Royal St George’s became Royal St Mark's in the spy novel. Fleming had his weekend home at St Margaret's Bay.

Sandwich is known for three of its famous old pubs. The Admiral Owen is set in a two storey 15th century timber-framed building The nearby Crispin Inn has similar timber framing and was built in the 16th century. Across the road on the quay is the Bell Hotel, which underwent major rebuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries. There’s been a Bell Inn on the quay since the 14th century. The three pubs cluster around The Barbican which was built in the late 14th century. It consists of two round towers with a narrow road running between them.

After Sandwich you reach Deal with its castle situated right on the seafront. The castle dates back to the late 1530s, when it was commissioned along with nearby Walmer Castle by King Henry VIII.  Walmer Castle is the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Duke of Wellington, the man who beat Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo, held the post for of warden for almost a quarter of a century and later died there.

For golfers, the big attraction of Deal is Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, which dates back to the early 1890s and has been the scene of many Open Championships over the years. Visitors are allowed to play the course, after first making reservations. The club has installed an online Tee Reservation System, which allows members and visitors to book tee times through the club web site.

From Deal it’s a short twenty-minute drive onto Dover.

Note: This route was prepared for visitors arriving in Dover or ferry or in nearby Folkestone by Eurotunne.Those arriving in Ramsgate on the ferry from Ostend can start and end their journey there. If you are starting off on your South East England Discovery from the London area or Heathrow, you may want to begin the loop in Canterbury, while for those coming from Gatwick Airport, Tunbridge Wells would be a good starting point.

If you enjoyed this itinerary you are sure to enjoy the drive across Dartmoor to the English Riviera, and the trip from London to Norfolk, the queen’s favourite getaway.