Hever Castle & The Garden of England

The romantic county of Kent offers a multitude of historic treasures, from enchanting castles and imaginative gardens to charming towns and glorious old fashioned train lines. We delve into Kent's heritage on this captivating five-day break with a visit to the beautiful Hever Castle & Gardens and a journey on the quaint Kent & East Sussex Railway. We also explore the historic town of Rye in East Sussex and have the chance to visit the delightful city of Canterbury for a holiday to remember in Britain's oldest county.What’s Included?
IncludesReturn coach travel4 nights at the King Charles Hotel, Gillingham (JG2+ rating) with dinner & breakfastExcursions to Rye & Hever Castle & GardensHeritage train journey on the Kent & East Sussex RailwayOptional excursion to Canterbury (£14pp)

Itinerary
Included ExcursionsHever Castle & Gardens (full day)We pay a visit to the magnificent Hever Castle. This double-moated historic gem was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and what an incredible place to grow up; it's a veritable fairytale setting comprising of 125 acres of award-winning gardens. Highlights include the Loggia terrace that looks out across the lake, a myriad of meandering walkways; don't miss the Sunday Walk, the Rhododendron Walk and the Church Gill Walk, along with the formal Italian Garden, the Tudor Garden and the English Rose Garden. There are also secret grottoes to discover along with the famous water maze. Inside offers plenty of atmospheric panelled rooms packed with antiques and Tudor portraits.Kent & East Sussex Railway & Rye (full day)We begin the day with a journey on the Kent & East Sussex Railway, which happens to be England's original light railway that tootles its way through the flower-crested Kent countryside from Tenterden to Bodiam. Fans of The Darling Buds of May TV series may recognise Tenterden Railway Station as the place Charley first arrives when visiting the Larkin family.After a relaxing 50-minute journey we travel by coach to Rye for a couple of hours to explore at our own pace. This medieval citadel is a tangle of pretty cobbled streets studded with cosy pubs, historic buildings and museums dedicated to its shipbuilding heritage.Optional ExcursionCanterbury - £14pp (full day)Join us on our optional excursion to the beautiful city of Canterbury, with its famous timber-framed buildings and medieval city walls. It is also home to the oldest cathedral in England, dating back to Norman times. It features awe-inspiring architecture and contains one of England's largest collections of early medieval stained glass.Hotel
King Charles Hotel, GillinghamJG2+ ratingThe King Charles Hotel is a friendly, family-run hotel situated in the heart of the Medway, within easy reach of Gillingham town centre. The hotel offers a restaurant and lounge bar while all the comfortable, en-suite rooms have Freeview TV and tea and coffee-making facilities.Hotel RatingJG2+ ratingJG2+ rated hotels offer a slightly higher standard of hospitality, often with good home cooking plus enhanced décor, facilities and services, which is recognised and welcomed by our customers. Food may be buffet style in some of the larger hotels. They may also enjoy an enviable location and/or higher levels of satisfaction on online hotel rating sites and our own customer feedback surveys.