Bespoke tours & excursions by qualified local Blue Badge Tourist Guide. Fascinating places in Kent & East Sussex, UK
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Folkestone grew from a sleepy harbour town into a major passenger port & railway link to the continent during the early part of the 19th Century. High-society had already discovered the town's charms and local landowner Lord Radnor employed Decimus Burton (of Regent's Park & Tunbridge Wells fame) to develop the seafront & the grand Leas cliff-top promenade was born.The 2 World Wars completely changed the fortunes of the town and during WW1 most of the seafront buildings were requisitioned & the local population evacuated. Over 10 million troops & personnel left for the front lines in France via Folkestone between 1914 & 1918! Today, The Leas retains its grandeur & beauty, but now has added poignant memorials to these momentous events which we will explore in depth. More recently, the Old Town & Harbour have had a huge regeneration & are a great destination for shopping and eating. Come and discover this gem on the East Kent coast with your local Blue Badge tourist guide. Folkestone is less than an hour from London St Pancras by train, so we can meet you off the train or advise on alternative transport options. This private walking tour will last around 2 hours and covers mostly easy terrain. Private tour with max 16 people.
Medieval Sandwich is one of the best preserved ancient towns in England. However, this quaint and sleepy place actually has huge significance in the history of the country and was once the main port of entry/exit for important cross channel travellers through the ages. It was also the new home to a large number of "strangers" people persecuted for their religious beliefs in mainland Europe who settled here in the 16th Century. Learn about an earthquake destroying one of the churches, the silting-up of the sea channel that once meant Sandwich was such an important port, the visit of a Queen of England, the wedding of a founding father of the USA and even the arrival of the Romans in Britannia. This walking tour will take you on a remarkable journey through English history in the idyllic setting of one of the prettiest towns in England. Sandwich is well connected by road or train, so your local guide can meet you at an appropriate place convenient to your mode of transport.
Canterbury is steeped in history. The city can trace its roots back to the Celtic Tribe, the Cantiaci, who were here before the Romans. The city developed after the Roman invasion during the 1st Century AD, and it became known in Latin as Durovernum Cantiacorum - “Stronghold of the Cantiaci by the Alder Grove”. Through the centuries since the Romans left in around 410AD the city has witnessed many events that have inexorably altered its character & influenced its charm. From the start of the Roman occupation in the 1st Century, to the arrival of the Papal emissary Augustine in 597AD, to the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170, to the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry VIII, to the bombings of World War 2 - we will show you the many facets of this beautiful & intriguing city! This is a walking tour that will show you the most important & interesting parts of the city of Canterbury. The tour involves mostly flat terrain, but this is an ancient city with uneven cobbles in parts. However, it is mostly accessible for those with needs. It doesn't include entry to the Cathedral (or its precincts) or St Augustine's Abbey as these need separate tickets at extra cost. We can begin & end our tour at a location of your choosing (the Buttermarket is usually the most convenient) & we can build the tour around your interests. Alternatively, we can suggest a tour that covers the most interesting & historical parts of the city.
Rochester is a city full of treasures. The second place settled by the Christian missionaries sent from Rome by Pope Gregory the Great to convert southern England in 597AD, the Cathedral is the second oldest after Canterbury. However, the Romans were here long before as this is the perfect place to cross the River Medway & the bridges are still an important part of the city today. Fast forward to 1066 and the arrival of the Normans heralds the gradual rebuilding of the cathedral as well as the construction of a huge stone castle - second only to the Tower of London. Kings have stayed in the city on their way to mainland Europe whilst escaping political tumult and also on their way back to reclaim their thrones. Henry VIII met his 4th wife Anne of Cleves here for the first time & he also had one of the city's most famous Bishops executed for not supporting him as supreme head of the Church of England. More recently Charles Dickens spent his childhood here and chose to live here in his later years - see the many buildings and sites that inspired some of his famous works including Great Expectations. On this walking tour you will discover a city with many layers of history well preserved and waiting to be explored. Rochester has fast train links to London (St Pancras) and is well connected by road. We can meet you centrally at a convenient place. The terrain is mostly level easily accessible.