Kent

World : Europe : Western Europe : United Kingdom : England : South East : Kent

Kent is the most south-eastern county of South-East England. Popularly known as the "Garden of England".

Cities

Understand

Kent was originally one of the kingdoms of the Jutes, although its name derives from one of the Celtic tribes of Britain, the Cantiaci. As the closest part of England to the continent of Europe (it is just 12 miles from Dover to Calais), it has historically been the focal point for invasion attempts, and is traditionally the major embarkation point for travel to mainland Europe.

Due to the extensive agriculture, orchards and hop farms, Kent is known as the "Garden of England", a fact reflected in the new car registration plates - the letter representing Kent is "G" for "Garden" rather than "K" for "Kent".

Get in

By plane

  • Kent International Airport [1], located at Manston, is serviced by flights from numerous European airports.
  • Gatwick Inernational Airport is less than an hour's drive from Kent's western borders. It is linked by a 30 minute rail journey to Tonbridge.

By train

Kent has an extensive rail network, with lines running all along the coast and up through all the major towns and into London. Be prepared for high ticket prices, dirty, slow, delayed and cancelled trains, though.

The Eurostar runs from Ashford to Paris and the rest of France, Belgium and The Netherlands.

By car

From Junction 5 of the M25 the A21 leads to Hastings via Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

The M20 leads from the M25 to Dover and Folkestone via Maidstone and Ashford.

By boat

Get around

By bus

Arriva (throughout) and Stagecoach (mainly east Kent) operate in this area.

See

  • The White Cliffs of Dover - spectacular chalk cliffs over which was fought the Battle of Britain in Dover
  • Bodiam Castle
  • Hever Castle - where Henry VIII spent his honeymoon(s)
  • Leeds Castle
  • The Cinque Ports
  • Bedgebury Pinetum - a beautifully landscaped country park with a large selection of native and exotic plants and trees

Eat

Drink

Kent-based Shepherd Neame is the oldest brewing company in Britain.

Kent also produces wine, with the vineyards in Tenterden and Lamberhurst probably the most well-established producers.

Stay safe

Get out

East Sussex lies to the west, and Surrey and London to the north. France, The Netherlands and Belgium are just a short hop over the channel.

External links

Kent Tourist Office