Kent: Five reasons to visit

‘…the sky was blue, the larks were soaring high over the green corn, I thought all that countryside more beautiful and peaceful by far than I had ever known it to be yet.’ – From chapter 58 of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

A Love Affair with Kent

If you follow me on Instagram or know me well enough, you’ll probably have figured out that I’m having a bit of a love affair with Kent of late. I know when I’m onto a good thing. Situated between London and the South East coast, Kent really is worth taking some time over!

I’ve come to love Kent so much over the past couple of years that I can see myself moving there in the future. It’s definitely on my agenda to move out of London in the future. Kent is looking a strong candidate to call ‘home’ when that happens. It would be a dream to live in my own little cottage in one of the picturesque villages in the next five to ten years. I see it as the ‘county of my future’. In the meantime, I’ll continue to explore as much as possible through day trips and weekends away.

I would encourage anyone and everyone to take some time to visit Kent. In my opinion, it’s a slightly underrated county. People envisage the somewhat bleak estuary lands around the Thames viewed from a train window on your way towards Ashford. This is where landfills, industrial plants and marshland seem to dominate. But look deeper into Kent and you’ll find some truly beautiful parts to explore. It’s not called the ‘Garden of England’ for nothing. This is a rich, fertile land with distinctive architecture, a rich tapestry of history and some wonderful walking to do.

Here, I’ve outlined the top five reasons why you should go visit Kent NOW!

All of the history!

If the Kent countryside could talk, what stories we would hear. This ancient land has seen battles, revolutions and rebellions. It is the home to the oldest cathedral in the UK (Canterbury). Not only that, it’s also home to the second oldest as well (Rochester).

Castles dot the county, indicators that throughout history Kent has often been the first line of defense against marauding invaders. Stately homes and mansions have proffered the wealthy a welcome retreat from London throughout the ages. During the Second World War, Kent was again on the front line as sea-air defenses sprang up along the coastline. Night after night, streams of German planes flew overhead, on their way to bomb London.

The landscape breathes history. You only have to walk along some of its ancient pathways to feel a connection to the past. It is easy to imagine that you’re walking in the footsteps of centuries of other people.

If you love castles and history, Kent is the perfect destination to indulge your interests. I’ve so far visited Hever Castle, Leeds Castle and Ightham Mote, all of which were fantastic in their own way. Next up for me are Canterbury Cathedral and Dover Castle. I’d also like to see some of the coastal fortifications left over from the Second World War. I can’t wait to find out more about Kent’s historical past.

An easy escape from London.

I crave the countryside. A country girl at heart, I often long to escape London. When this happens, I’m grateful that I can easily hop on a train and be out in Kent within an hour or so.

It is possible, once in Kent, to wander through the countryside and not see another soul for hours on end. Kent is a retreat from the noise, the crowds and the concrete. I return from days out restored and rejuvenated, ready for my next stint of city living.

Getting to Kent from London could not be easier. There are regular and fast train services from Kings Cross St Pancras, London Bridge, Victoria and London Blackfriars. Additionally, other trains run from various other stations across the capital. Most tickets are cheap, well within even the most limited of budgets. Kent is dotted with train stations. You’ll end up perfectly situated for visits to market towns, picturesque villages or to start a hike through the Kent countryside! There are literally no excuses not to go to Kent!

All the countryside walks!

E and I are huge fans of the Saturday Walking Club’s website. It lists out countless hikes through multiple counties in the UK and the instructions could not be easier to follow. We’ve done three hikes, with an overnight, two-parter in the pipeline, and have loved every single one.

Hiking through Kent is a wonderful way to shut off the outside world and get back in touch with nature. There are gently rolling hills, acres of farmland and tracts of woodland to explore. The walks we’ve done so far have all been inland. However, our next one will follow the coastline from Folkstone to Dover and then onto Deal. The landscape variation is great, and I can’t wait to walk more of this beautiful county.

So far, we’ve hiked throughout spring and summer. There have been some remarkable variations in the flora and fauna during the two seasons. As autumn and winter inevitably come back around, I’ll be fascinated to see how the landscapes change.

If you’re craving an outdoor activity with some great views and a few nice stops along the way, then I’d recommend finding a hike and getting out there.

The chocolate box villages…

I’ve honestly never seen so many quaint, pretty little villages dotted about as I have in Kent. They’re literally everywhere. From the National Trust village of Chiddingstone to the cute village of Shoreham to the Tudor style village of Chilham. You’re definitely spoilt for choice when it comes to chocolate box villages in Kent.

Not only are these villages easy on the eye, but they usually come with a country pub where you can take the weight off. Perfect for a stop if you’re out hiking! Alternatively, most have a cute or unusual cafe to relax at and of course, the obligatory village church. Walk into any one of these ancient houses of worship and enjoy the peace, tranquility and cool air as you wander around, soaking up the history. Kent is a positive goldmine of beautiful parish churches.

Kent has some distinctive architecture, including the oast house, a kiln designed for drying hops. An oast house is recognisable by it’s sail like ‘peaks’, usually two of them. Nowadays, many oast houses in Kent have been renovated and turned into homes that people live in. In addition to these, there is also strong Tudor architecture to be found across the county. Think beautiful timber framed walls, little lead diamond winders and thatched roofs. Very easy on the eye!

Miles of coastline and some great seaside resorts!

So far, my time spent on the Kent coastline has admittedly been limited. However, just the knowledge that the county is surrounded by sea makes me happy. You’re never too far from the ocean, wherever you go in Kent!

The one seaside town I have visited so far is Whitstable. It’s sea front is lined with old clapboard houses, reminiscent of a bygone era. There is a pedestrian boardwalk running the length of the sea front. This estuarine coastline is slightly muddy, with pebbly beaches. When I visited, the tide went so far out that it was a good ten minute walk from the top of the beach to the water edge. Still, the town is charming in an oldy-worldy way. I would definitely recommend a visit, particularly if you’re a fan of sea food!

Our next adventure into Kent is likely to be the Folkstone to Dover to Deal walk. We’ll be hiking the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, potentially one of the best-known landmarks from Kent. On a clear day, you can see France on this hike! I’m excited to get to know more of Kent’s coastline.

Other coastal points of note include Margate, which has apparently become more gentrified in recent years. The salt marshes around the Thames estuary are a haven for wildlife and boast several nature reserves. Finally, Dungeness. Famous for its nuclear power plant, this area looks fascinating to explore. This is the largest expanse of shingle beach in Europe, protecting Romney Marshes to the north. An interesting ecological place to visit and a unique destination worth some time.

And if those five reasons aren’t enough to convince you…

Home to many vineyards and wineries, Kent is perfect for a wine trail. Additionally, it’s known as the ‘Garden of England’ for a very good reason! Think strawberry picking in summer and cherry picking in season. Finally, as you can see from this post, the county is incredibly photogenic! There’s a wealth of places to explore and adventures to be had in this underrated and often overlooked county. I can’t recommend getting out there highly enough!

For more about my adventures in Kent, you should check out my Monthly Recaps. A visit to Kent nearly always hits the highlights in these posts!