Although things have changed and modern Britain is not as she was; there are many excellent reasons to come and visit her. Small remnants of passed glories still exist for the persistent travellers willing to peruse old roads and alleys.

There are many of these wonderful olde English haunts. However, we will start with a small part of Kent. Called 'The Garden of England', the scenery is absolutely stunning. Picturesque cafes tucked in remote places, one even situated on the monumental Dover cliffs; towering over the shore line.

One of the most spectacular sites is of course Dover Castle, which belongs to The English Heritage Sites. Built long the before the 12 Century, parts of the castle go back to the Roman occupation. In fact a Roman light house also stands on the site and is said to be haunted. I have to say it was creepy standing, looking into it!

There is also a wonderful enactment of the siege of 1216. This is educational and fun and all the children flock to the trebuchet outside! Dover Castle has been added onto extensively over the years; as well as works by William the conqueror, there were also fortifications and improvements by others; including the formidable Henry VIII. Inside the castle there are scenes showing what it looked like when Henry did actually visit in 1539. The medieval tunnels are appealing; if you appreciate medieval history.

Dover castle is so big, it has more than one café; a large shop and excellent facilities. Also at Dover castle one can go and visit the war time tunnels from WW2 and see where the battle was planned, where War staff ate, communicated and slept. Definitely worth a look!

The shops in English Heritage sites sell some wonderful period pieces; armour for adults, swords, and one of my favourites, medieval alcohol; Port made with elderberries as well as Honey Mead, Lovely! There’s more but I leave you to find that out for yourselves! Obviously the smaller sites do not sell the whole range. The castles are not always open so it’s good to check before you go. Many of them do family stuff too.



Going a little further, just a bus ride along the coast is the quiet sleepy seaside town of Deal. If you wish for peace and quiet, away from nightclubs and amusement arcades; you will find it in abundance here. Once a rough and dangerous smuggling town, Deal has buildings dating back hundreds of years, including original smugglers houses. Now it’s peaceful with no more pirates and smugglers threatening the local inhabitants!

From little cafes and shops on the seafront, and an interesting museum, there are places for to you go and enjoy. There is a quaint antiquity kind of shop on ‘The strand’, a road by the Sea that leads into Deal Town; this also has a lovely large picnic lawn area, that has Brass Bands playing for free in the summer with a café on the local green. Also situated here is a paddling pool and bouncy castles for small children and crazy golf for the larger ones!

Deal and Walmer castles, two splendid castles also belonging to English Heritage; they are within walking distance. Deal castle was a purely military fort built, in Henry Viii’s time. There is a small shop but no café there; however there are cafes within walking distance.

Also built in the reign of Henry VIII for military reasons; Walmer castle is not to be missed. The Castle itself has evolved to become much more than just military and has amazing peroid furniture, including the bed Queen Victoria herself slept in. The gardens of Walmer castle are both vast and beautiful, especially the Queen Mothers Garden; which has the most beautiful formal fishpond in it. The walk around its moat is tranquil, pretty and so relaxing, one can take lovely picnics there. There is also a shop and a café.

There so much to do, I could go on but I am going to stop as I intend to have that great English mainstay; a cuppa tea! So there’s a bit to think on and that’s just a tiny little bit of Kent!! Fancy a visit across the pond? We would love to see you! The long and short of it is that Britain may have gone modern, but for those who want to find it, her rich Heritage is just beneath the surface.

Thank you to English Heritage for all their fantastic factual information which I read for writing this article. Please do go and visit their informative website at: www.english-heritage.org.uk