2025 - A Tribute To Elvis In Autumnal Kent

Itinerary

It's Now or Never - Elvis Tribute

Day 1 - Start your holiday at your chosen point, onto interchange and head eastwards to Kent. Rochester makes an excellent break in the journey with time to explore. Rochester has a unique William and Mary period High Street and 75% of the buildings that you see today would have been known to Charles Dickens and 50% to Oliver Cromwell, as many facades received a make-over following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Enjoy time for lunch in one of many High Street eateries before setting off to the Orida Hotel Maidstone to arrive late afternoon for the next 3 nights with breakfast & buffet dinner on Friday and Saturday and a sit-down dinner served in a private room with entertainment on Sunday night 

Days 2 - 3 At leisure with two included excursions.
On Sunday evening, enjoy a night of musical nostalgia with one of the country's top tribute acts - a salute to Elvis, the legendary performer. Afterwards a disco will get you up and dancing. Nostalgic fun for everyone!

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS
Hever Castle & Gardens
Dating back to the 14th century, Hever Castle, in the heart of the Kent countryside, was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. Its splendid panelled rooms contain fine furniture, tapestries, antiques and an important collection of Tudor portraits. Spanning more than 600 years, the history of Hever Castle is rich and varied, starting with the original medieval defensive castle built in 1383. Much of what you see today is the result of the remarkable efforts of a wealthy American, William Waldorf Astor who used his fortune to restore and extend the castle in the early 20th century. There will be time to explore the magnificent award-winning gardens set in 125 acres of glorious grounds. Marvel at the Pompeiian Wall and classical statuary in the Italian Garden as well as the giant topiary chess set or take a stroll through the Tudor Garden or along Anne Boleyn's Walk.

NB The castle is not suitable for mobility scooters due to its historic nature. There are three floors to view in the castle and the ground floor is arranged on one level (a few steps). The other two floors are accessed by staircases (with banister rails). The paths in the gardens are loose gravel, tarmac, stone or grass with gradual inclines.re are accessible paths (some slopes) around the gardens
 
Canterbury 
Enjoy a relaxed start this morning to enjoy the hotel facilities before heading off to Canterbury, the beautiful medieval walled city which been hosting visitors for more than 1,000 years - a warm welcome for any 'pilgrim' is guaranteed! It certainly tops the charts for English cathedral cities, with its World Heritage–listed cathedral one of Europe’s finest (entrance not included - approx. £17 pp in 2024). Explore the town’s narrow medieval alleyways, riverside gardens and ancient city walls as well as its bustling centre full of independent and high street shops and plentiful restaurants and cosy cafés.

Day 4 - Enjoy a relaxed breakfast in the hotel, before checking out today. Set off this morning and time permitting, a stop will be made in Royal Windsor, crowned by stunning Windsor Castle (entrance not included), the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world and an official residence of His Majesty The King. Then later on this afternoon, it's back to interchange and onwards to your home towns.

Weekend Highlights

• Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast & dinner (2 nights buffet dinner / 1 night sit-down dinner in a private room)
• Tea / coffee after dinner
• Porterage
• En-route visits to Rochester & Windsor (time permitting)
• Entrance to Hever Castle & Gardens
• Visit to Canterbury
• Sunday night Elvis tribute act & disco

Back to top

Accommodation

Orida Hotel Maidstone

This 4* modern, low-rise hotel is located just off the M20 just outside Maidstone and just 5 miles from Leeds Castle. Warmly furnished, traditional guestrooms provide TV, hairdryer, Wi-Fi desk and tea / coffee making facilities. The hotel features a relaxed restaurant as well as a lounge bar and Starbucks cafe. The Health Club amenities include an indoor pool, a gym, a sauna and steam room. NB there is no lift but there are plenty of ground floor rooms. Singles are doubles for sole occupancy Back to top