Difference between revisions of "Kent"

Latest revision as of 00:33, 28 November 2012

For other places with the same name, see Kent (disambiguation).

Kent [1] is the most south-eastern county of South-East England. Popularly known as the "Garden of England".

[edit] Cities

Map of Kent

[edit] Cities

• Canterbury
• Rochester

[edit] Towns

• Maidstone - the administrative capital
• Ashford
• Broadstairs
• Canterbury
• Chatham - one of the Medway Towns
• Dartford
• Deal
• Dover
• Faversham
• Folkestone
• Gillingham - one of the Medway Towns
• Gravesend
• Hythe
• Margate
• Ramsgate
• Rochester - one of the Medway Towns
• Sandwich
• Sevenoaks
• Sittingbourne
• Tonbridge
• Tunbridge Wells
• Whitstable

[edit] Villages

• Bethersden
• Biddenden
• Cliffe
• Elham
• Otford
• Pluckley
• Tenterden
• Walmer
• Wye

[edit] 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 21 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 part of what 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".

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• Kent International Airport [2], located at Manston, is serviced by flights from numerous European airports.
• Gatwick International Airport is half an hour's drive from Kent's western borders. It is linked by a 40 minute rail journey to Tunbridge Wells.
• Lydd Airport flights to France

[edit] By train

Wikitravel has a guide to Rail travel in the United Kingdom.

Kent has an extensive rail network, with lines running all along the coast and up through all the major towns and into London. The London terminus stations into which Kent rail services operate are Victoria, Charing Cross, Cannon Street, Waterloo East, London Bridge, Blackfriars and St.Pancras International.

Ebbsfleet and Ashford International Stations are railway stations which provide transport between UK and Europe. Several trains operate each hour direct to Ebbsfleet, Ashford and Paris, Lille or Brussels.Ebbsfleet is located on purpose developed land, with onsite car parking for over 9000 vehicles. Domestic trains are operated by SouthEastern From London St Pancras to Ebbsfleet (typical journey time 15 - 17 minutes)and Ashford (typical journey time from St. Pancras being 30 minutes). As of December 2009 the new high-speed trains on the St Pancras International routes will have a full timetable. Also from December 2009 the high speed services will be further extended to Gravesend, the Medway towns, Sittingbourne, Faversham, Whitstable, Herne Bay and stations to Margate and Ramsgate. An off-peak service will operate via Gravesend and the Medway towns, terminating at Faversham. A high speed service will also be offered to the Thanet towns via Ashford and Canterbury West, bringing the Cathedral city within an hour from London.

• From London, take the A2 arterial road from either London or the M25 Orbital motorway to Ebbsfleet.
• Local Fastrack [3] buses are operated by Arriva [4].

[edit] By taxi

Streamline Kent operate Taxis, Coaches and Executive Cars all over Kent and Sussex. Streamline Website

Expresscabs operate Taxis, Minibuses, Coaches in and around Kent. Expresscabs Website

[edit] 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.

[edit] By boat

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bus

Arriva [5](throughout) and Stagecoach[6] (mainly east Kent) operate in this area.

[edit] By train

A network of frequent train services is operated as part of the National Rail network by Southeastern. Times can be checked and journeys planned at the National Rail website [7].

[edit][add listing] See

• Dover Castle in Dover.
• The White Cliffs of Dover - spectacular chalk cliffs over which was fought the Battle of Britain in Dover.
• Scotney Castle [8] near Tunbridge Wells.
• Hever Castle near Sevenoaks- where Henry VIII spent his honeymoon(s).
• Leeds Castle near Maidstone - built in 1119 and held by six medieval queens.
• Cathedrals at Canterbury and Rochester.
• Kent & East Sussex Railway[9] Operates between Tenterden and Bodiam in east Sussex, passing through some very attractive countryside in the process.
• The Historic Dockyard in Chatham.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• The New Inn, Canterbury Road, Etchinghill, Folkestone. +44 1303 862026. The closest pub to the Channel Tunnel (at either jnc 11 or jnc 12 on the M20). A 16th century coaching inn, village pub and highly popular restaurant. Fantastic reputation for fine cuisine, open seven days a week for lunches and evening meals. Terrific food, real ale, oak beams & cosy atmosphere.

[edit][add listing] 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.

[edit] Stay safe

Kent is a generally safe area and you are very unlikely to experience any trouble during your visit.

[edit] 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.