Fascinating Kent Explorer - Stars, Ships & Britain's Oldest Brewer

Itinerary

Day 1

Join your coach this morning and head towards the lovely county of Kent with comfort stops en route. On arrival at your comfortable hotel there will be time to settle in and relax before your first included evening meal. Perhaps enjoy a drink in the bar to get to know your fellow travellers before your real journey begins.

Days 2 to 4

Enjoy a hearty breakfast each morning before setting off to discover the very best of the Garden of England. Enjoy three fabulous INCLUDED excursions before returning to your hotel every evening for a tasty meal and the opportunity to share your experiences with fellow travellers.

Day 5

After a final delicious breakfast it is time to say farewell to the Garden of England today as you head homewards with time to relax on board and reflect on some wonderful memories and experiences with newly made friends.

Greenwich Observatory

The Royal Observatory Greenwich is the historic home of British astronomy, Greenwich Mean Time and the world-famous Meridian Line. Established in the 17th century by King Charles II and designed by Sir Christopher Wren, it was from here that the great scientists of the time precisely mapped the stars to help navigate at sea.

Stand aside the Meridian Line with one foot in the eastern hemisphere and one in the west. Marvel at the Great Equatorial Telescope, the UK's largest historic telescope which gave astronomers new views of the universe more than 100 years ago and explore the rich history of the Royal Observatory with your complimentary audio guide. While you are here, don't forget to check out the live moving view in the Camera Obscura and enjoy one of the best views of London.

Chatham Historic Dockyard

Step into the heart of Chatham’s legendary ship building heritage and return to the ‘Age of Sail’, when the Dockyard built mighty ships that won command of the world’s oceans.

A visit to The Historic Dockyard Chatham - one of Britain’s leading maritime heritage destinations – is a guaranteed adventure. It's also your chance to walk in the footsteps of stars of the screen - box office smash hits including Bridgerton and Call the Midwife were filmed at the Dockyard. 

Climb aboard! Test your sea legs as you peer through the periscope of a Cold War Submarine, command the bridge of a WWII Destroyer and ring the ship’s bell on the deck of a Victorian Sloop.

Visit the award-winning Command of the Oceans interactive gallery and uncover the secrets of the centuries old ship beneath the floor. Imagine the crash of the waves as you explore the UK’s largest collection of RNLI Historic Lifeboats and delve into the treasure house that is No. 1 Smithery, home to incredible collections from Royal Museums Greenwich and Imperial War Museums.

Gain first-hand experience of life on a Victorian dockyard and walk in the footsteps of the master ropemakers who have been making rope for Britain’s ships on the quarter-mile-long ropery since 1618.

Shepherd Neame Brewery Tour & Faversham

This award-winning guided tour takes visitors around the Faversham Brewery site to learn about the ancient art of brewing. See brewing and fermentation vessels; taste natural mineral water from the brewery’s well; try some malted barley and smell locally-grown Kentish hops. The 80 minute tour also includes a visit to the Old Brewery Store, housed in the old wines and spirits store, which features impressive displays of historic delivery vehicles, a recreated coopers’ workshop, bygone pub signs and a collection of hop picking memorabilia. Your tour ends back in the Visitor Centre with a tutored tasting of Shepherd Neame’s Kentish ales and speciality lagers, before visitors have the chance to visit the Brewery Shop and pick up a souvenir, gift or some of their favourite beer.

You'll also enjoy some free time in Faversham, a historic town that features gabled buildings nestling along the slowly lapping waters of a creek, the aroma of hops, the taste of freshness from surrounding orchards and fields. Wander through the market square that’s barely changed since the first Elizabeth held the crown, wander past the old barge sheds of a bygone time on the creek or sample the fruits of centuries of brewing craft at a pub offering more of Shepherd Neame's fabulous beers - or indeed any of the local micro-breweries.

Tour Includes

• 4 nights hotel with full English breakfast & dinner
• Visit and entrance to the Greenwich Observatory
• Excursion and entrance to Chatham's Historic Dockyard
• Visit to Faversham including Shepherd Neame Brewery Tour
• Direct Coach Travel
• Net Zero Carbon Offset Certificate

Back to top

Accommodation

King Charles Hotel Gillingham

The King Charles Hotel is conveniently located close to Gillingham in North Kent. The comfortable bedrooms include tea and coffee making facilities. The hotel features a lounge bar, contemporary restaurant, lift to all floors and free WiFi. 

For more information, click here for the hotel website (opens in a new window)

** Please note that the hotel is currently undergoing some redevelopment work in the grounds of the hotel, in order to improve rooms and the facilities on offer. However this is purely outside at present so disruption to your stay should be minimised ** Back to top