The Heritage Of England’s Southeast

Day 1             London – Kent – Canterbury

Leave London southeast to Sevenoaks in Kent, nearby which you can visit Knole, a magnificent 15^th century Tudor house situated in the middle of a 1,000-acre deer park. From here continue to Hever Castle, once the childhood home of one of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne Boleyn: the castle was completely restored at the beginning of the 20^thcentury and also includes a superb garden well worth visiting. Also worth visiting is Penshurst Place, one of England’s oldest family homes and a fantastic medieval manor house. After briefly passing through the pleasant Royal spa town of Tunbridge Wells, head east to the captivating and stunning Sissinghurst Castle Garden, one of the most famous gardens in England created in the 1930s by the literary couple of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson. After spending some time marvelling at the beauty of the gardens continue on to Canterbury. Dinner & hotel in Canterbury.

Day 2             Canterbury – Leeds Castle – Canterbury

Spend the day exploring the medieval cathedral city of Canterbury. Visit the great Canterbury Cathedral, a place of pilgrimage for thousands during the Middle Ages and where Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was brutally murdered by Henry II’s men in 1170. Becket’s tomb can be visited in the cathedral, as can those of Henry IV, Edward the Black Prince, and many archbishops. You can also visit the historic ruins of the abbey founded by St. Augustine in 597 AD, as well as the Canterbury Tales visitor attraction, which recreates the world of the celebrated poet Geoffrey Chaucer through his famous work. Also make time to head out to visit Leeds Castle, described by Lord Conway as “the loveliest castle in the world”. Dinner & hotel in Canterbury.

Day 3             Canterbury – Hastings – Brighton

Leave Canterbury to the south for the cobbled streets of the medieval town of Rye. This town was once an island until the Channel receded and is now well known for its pottery. From here continue on to the picturesque town of Winchelsea before arriving at Hastings, where you can stop to see the ruins of England’s first castle, built by the Normans in 1067. After this head a bit further north to Battle Abbey, built on the site of the Battle of Hastings where William the Conqueror defeated the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, Harold, in 1066, in one of the defining moments in English history. It is said that the altar of the Abbey, destroyed during the Reformation in the 16^thcentury, was built on the spot where King Harold was famously killed by an arrow in the eye. From here go west past Eastbourne to the traditional English village of Alfriston and then on to Lewes before coming to the seaside resort of Brighton. Visit the famous Brighton Pier and the strange yet brilliant Royal Pavilion at Brighton, a palace of Oriental design where English monarchs used to stay during the 19^th century.  Dinner & hotel in Brighton.

Day 4             Brighton – Winchester

Head to the west of Brighton passing the formidable Arundel Castle, seat of the Dukes of Norfolk, and Portsmouth, where Lord Nelson’s flagship the HMS Victory is moored, before reaching Winchester. Winchester, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Wessex, is famous for its links to the legendary King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The city is also well known for being the birthplace of Jane Austen, the famous author of novels such as ‘Emma’, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, and ‘Sense and Sensibility’. Her house, Chawton Cottage, can be visited, as can her grave at Winchester Cathedral, the 900-year-old Saxon building which is the main attraction of the city. Worth visiting as well are the grounds of the famous school, Winchester College. Dinner & hotel in Winchester or Southampton.

Day 5             Winchester – Salisbury – Stonehenge – Winchester

Today head out to the west to Salisbury. Visit the striking 13^th century Salisbury Cathedral, a landmark for miles around, before investigating this fascinating city. Afterwards visit Wilton House just west of the city and then move onto the world-famous circle of mysterious monoliths at Stonehenge. Dinner & hotel in Winchester or Southampton.

Day 6             Winchester – Windsor – Oxford

Leave Winchester to the east heading towards London to visit Windsor, home to the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world and Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Visit Windsor Castle and the State Apartments, with its grand rooms with works of art by Rubens, Rembrandt and Van Dyck amongst others, St. Georges Chapel, a beautiful Gothic chapel where Henry VIII and other monarchs are buried, and also Queen Mary’s Doll’s House, the most famous doll house in the world, as well as the Jubilee Gardens inside the main entrance of the castle. Then head up to the ‘dreaming spires’ of the university city of Oxford. Visit the famous Oxford colleges such as Magdalen, Merton, and New College, where part of the old city wall remains. Also take time to see the world-famous Bodleian Library and to take a stroll down the city’s numerous distinctive streets filled with many interesting shops. Dinner & hotel in Oxford.

Day 7             Oxford – Woburn Abbey – Cambridge

After seeing anything left of interest in Oxford head take some time to visit the magnificent Blenheim Palace before heading east to the market town of Aylesbury before going on to Woburn, where you can visit the 18^th century home of the Dukes of Bedford at Woburn Abbey. After this make your way to Cambridge. Visit the famous colleges such as King’s, with its breathtaking chapel, Peterhouse, the oldest Cambridge college, St. John’s, including the famous Bridge of Sighs, Trinity, where distinguished scholars such as Sir Isaac Newton and Lord Byron amongst others once studied, as well as other lesser known but equally beautiful colleges such as Magdelene, Corpus Christi, Christ’s, Emmanuel, Pembroke, and Downing. To get a different perspective of the university hire a punt down the River Cam to see the ‘Backs’ of the colleges facing onto the river with their splendid gardens and students lounging on the riverside. And make time to wander through the winding streets filled with small bookshops and typical English pubs. Dinner & hotel in Cambridge.

Day 8             Cambridge – London

After lunch in Cambridge drive south to London to drop off the hire car.