UK Staycations are expensive and even then, I went on an amazing weekend getaway to Kent with my girl pals and we have the best time. As a solo traveller, travelling in a group has not always been something I aspire to have but this is not to say I won’t go on them when an opportunity presents itself. I am glad that I have a great group of girl pals who I can enjoy trips with. Our recent amazing weekend getaway to Kent is proof of it and we can not wait to do more.
The county of Kent is situated in South East of England and is home to the oldest cathedral in England in a small town of Canterbury. Kent is also home to the English Channel and the White Cliffs of Dover and also borders with four other counties (Greater London, Surrey, Essex and Dartford. The county is filled with beautiful beaches and castles and we had an amazing weekend getaway to Kent and highly recommend it for a short escape.
Places to Explore for an Amazing Weekend to Kent
Recently, I shared a post on why the UK staycations are more expensive than travelling abroad. This post received a lot of positive feedback with people sharing their own experiences of spending more on a short trip within the UK and travelling abroad. Unfortunately, this is our and whilst it is still expensive, it is still possible to have an enjoyable and affordable trip within the UK.
But, for those like me who are still itching to travel abroad, I can recommend Greece and right now you can *find deals in Mykonos and Santorini. In the meantime, I want to share information on having an amazing weekend getaway to Kent, things you can do and where you can stay. I won’t include places to eat as we chose to cook every single day of our visit instead.
Whereto Stay in Kent
Kent is a big county in the South of England and is covered by stretches of seas coast making it an expensive county. When we were looking at accommodation options for 5 people, we knew that Airbnb and apartments would be our most affordable options. We also wanted something within walking distance to the beach but not too expensive.
We booked a chalet in Kingsdown near the White Cliffs of Dover which came equipped with three rooms and can accommodate up-to-6 people. Whilst hotels are still an option, they were not for us and we found them to be very expensive for a weekend getaway. I would definitely recommend booking a chalet for an affordable getaway or a hotel for a nice little treat.
Things To Do in Kent
A visit to Kent is not complete without visiting the oldest cathedral in England and we knew we would need to include it onto our itinerary. Another icon feature of the county of Kent are the White Cliffs of Dover, you definitely have to include them onto you itinerary for an adrenaline-filled adventure.
As a frequent traveller, I spend a lot of time planning must-see places and must-do things. Our city escape to Kent is the exception to the rule, we went to relax, lie on the beach, enjoy each other’s company and soak in the last of the sun before summer officially ends and that is exactly what we did.
If you are planning a trip to Kent, then we recommend the following locations to be on your list.
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in England and dates back to the 11th century. The history of the cathedral began back in 597AD when a monk named Augustine who was sent by Pope Gregory arrived and commissioned the building of the cathedral, his seat and the seat of every Canterbury archbishop since. The cathedral offers stunning architecture and incredible history including that of the death of the Thomas Becket who was murdered inside the cathedral.
Canterbury City
The village of Canterbury is not only home to the oldest Cathedral in England but it is also a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE city. During our visit to the village there was a #cityfest ongoing which is a food festival and we were glad to have visited then as it was ending that weekend. The city lies on river Stour and is one of the most visited cities in the UK so much that much of its economy is reliant on tourism. Though the city is small compared to other UK cities, it has lots to offer.
Sandwich a small town in Kent
The town of Sandwich is one of the best-preserved medieval English-town, once a famous Cinque Ports town and lies on River Stour. Something that might seem surprising is that the town of Sandwich is famous for golfing and holds two championship courses. The town is also famous for foods and has plenty of different culinary fayres. During our visit, we made sure to enjoy a nice stroll around the medieval town checking out all the little alleyways, coffee shops and the weekend market.
If you are ever in the town of Sandwich and has town on your hands then I would recommend a walking tour of the town, visit the various churches and a spot of showing.
Dover, Kent
Dover is a coastal city and home of the famous and iconic White Cliffs and is a major port for ferries into France. The town of Dover is every outdoor lovers dream location with multiple countryside and coastal routes to get lost into as you enjoy the panoramic views the coast line offers. Visiting Dover and seeing the iconic White Cliffs was the highlight of our trip and would definitely recommending anyone visiting the area to take the approximately 5 mile (or 50-minutes) walk to the light house.
Deal, Kent
Deal is one of the prettiest towns in Kent and lies where the North Sea meets the English Channel. No visit to the White Cliffs and surrounding towns is complete without a visit to this quant and quirky English seaside town. On clear days, France is visible from Deal, a former fishing and mining town which lies 40 km from France. King Henry VIII commissioned the building of Deal Castle, it is one of the finest Tudor artillery castles in England. Deal has a picturesque town centre that I recommend visiting.
Walmer Castle, Kent
Built between 1539 and 1540, Walmer Castle was commissioned by the order of King Henry VIII and is an artillery fort. Inside the castle is a pair of Wellington boots which I find very fascinating. We were fortunate that from our accommodation in Kingsdown, Walmer Castle was only 5 minutes drive and for English Heritage members entrance to the castle is free and non-members need to pay. The castle is also the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. I would highly recommend a visit if you are ever in the area.
We had such an incredible time exploring the East side of Kent from the white cliffs of Dover through to the quaint town of Deal. There is so much we want to do but we run out of time. We recommend planning your visits in advance so you get a chance to explore more of the area.
This is a sponsored post in collaboration with TravelScoop, all opinions shared are my own.
Leslie Hernandez says
Wow! Kent is a beautiful place loved all the details of places to visit there and the pictures are stunning. I can tell you had an amazing time there. I didn’t go on Vacation this year but hopefully by next year we can travel somewhere. Thank You for sharing your experience to Kent!
Leila says
I love visiting Kent so many beautiful places to visit out there. Great post. Thanks for sharing.
Playdays and Runways says
We have never visited Kent, however after seeing your photos I think we will definitely put it on our ‘to go to’ list. looks beautiful.
Kara says
My Aunt lives in Kent and we love visiting the area, but we have so much more to explore. I would love to explore the coastline
Rebecca Smith says
I haven’t been to Kent for so long but it is such a lovely part of the country. Looks like an amazing getaway – I have always wanted to visit Canterbury and explore it more.
Kristine Nicole Alessandra says
What a beautiful place! Castles, cathedrals and scenic views! What more could I wish for. This is an ideal vacation place. I wish we could resume traveling again. It seems like its been years!
MELANIE EDJOURIAN says
I’ve been to Kent but it’s been ages. Such a lovely place to visit. The Chalet near the cliffs sounds ideal for a family visit. The kids love going to the beach.
Yeah Lifestyle says
I have yet to visit Kent although I have heard how beautiful it is. Seeing your photos has made me want to ensure I get a holiday booked for next year as I love cathedrals. The White Cliffs of Dover is another another place I want to visit.
Linda Hobbis says
I went to Canterbury Cathedral years ago and I would love to go back. Full marks for braving the sea – I bet it was chilly!
Sarah Bailey says
I have to admit it has been a long time since I went to Kent and I always forget it is such a beautiful place with so much to do and see there.
Lianne says
I’ve never actually travelled to Kent before, but it looks beautiful, the white cliffs just look amazing and remind me of the Isle of Wight 🙂
Samantha Donnelly says
I love Kent it is such a beautiful part of the world, and luckily not too far from me. We are hoping to go to Canterbury at some stage soon as I have never been
clairelomax2018 says
I have family in Kent so foolishly I’ve never thought of it as a place to have a few days away.
But it looks absolutely beautiful. I’m heading to air bnb right now!
Miranda says
I think it’s always like that for everyone lovely, I am from Cambridge and I don’t see it as a destination just home lol