Kent & The Garden Of England 5 Days - King Charles
- Duration: 5 days
- Board Basis: Half Board
- Tour Ref: D2TALF5254M
Holiday Summary
- Travel Type: Coach
Our base is historic Gillingham, the birthplace of the Elizabethan seafarer William Adams, founder of the first Japanese Navy, made famous by James' Clavell's novel "Shogun". Today Gillingham boasts a wide range of shops, services and amenities to explore. Our tour includes excursions to explore the surrounding areas of Kent.
PLEASE NOTE: Price is per person and based on two people sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplements and upgrades are not included.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Outward Travel
Day 2 - Full Day Canterbury & Gillingham
We’ll start the day with a visit to Canterbury – a medieval walled city with the iconic Canterbury Cathedral which along with nearby St Augustine’s Abbey and the Church of St Martin have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are many walking trails through the city to discover the fascinating history or perhaps you could explore the independent boutiques in the Cathedral Quarter – the perfect spot for a little retail therapy. We'll then return to nearby Gillingham with its strong maritime and military connections and intriguing connections to Japan./n
Day 3 - Full Day Royal Tunbridge Wells & Sissinghurst Castle Garden
We’ll enjoy a visit to Royal Tunbridge Wells before making our way to Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Transformed in the 1930s, Sissinghurst Castle Garden was the backdrop to a diverse history – from time as a prison in the 1700s to being a home to the women’s land army there is so much to see and learn. Divided into a series of ‘rooms’, the gardens here re filled with informal arrangements around a theme – the White Garden, the Purple Border and the Cottage Garden for example. Amateur gardeners and keen horticulturalists are sure to be inspired!/n
Day 4 - Full Day Lullingstone Castle - The World Garden & Rochester
One of the oldest family estates in England, Lullingstone Castle dates back to the times of Domesday. The World Garden combines planting heritage with cutting-edge horticultural practises and rare and important botanical species continue to be added. The Hot & Spiky House contains over 1,000 varieties of cacti and succulents, The Cloud Garden has a ‘jungle’ feel with plants from warm climates and the Orchid House features some 200 varieties of orchid including the world’s most dangerous plant – the Deadly Stinger which sit safely behind a wired cage! We’ll also call at the historic town of Rochester./n
Day 5 - Return Travel
King Charles Hotel
Conveniently located in the heart of Gillingham, with its extensive shopping and amenities including the Royal Engineers Museum and Chatham Historic Dockyard, the King Charles Hotel offers quality accommodation and traditional dining. Lounge bar.