Southeast & East Anglia

The Southeast is England’s most populous and prosperous region. Despite the degree of development, though, there is huge variety of rural and heritage attractions, together with many major coastal resorts. Interests range from the traditional seaside attractions of Brighton, Great Yarmouth and Southend-on-Sea to historic cities like Cambridge, Colchester, Norwich and St Albans. The rural charms of ‘Constable Country’, straddling the Suffolk/Essex border, draw many visitors, as do the more urban attractions of Windsor and Dover, with their mighty castles.

Kent

Known as the ‘Garden of England’ for its copious production of fruit, hops and garden produce, Kent is the southeasternmost county in England. Canterbury is the major visitor magnet, retaining much of its Medieval charm. Canterbury Cathedral, where Thomas à Becket was slain in 1170, is also headquarters of the Anglican Church. Nearby, St Martin’s Church is one of the oldest churches in use in the country, having held services since AD 500.

At Dover, the main cross-channel port, massive Norman Dover Castle rises above the famous White Cliffs, while the White Cliffs Experience portrays a multimedia interpretation of the town’s importance over the centuries. Rochester is a charming old town with strong Dickensian connections, including Restoration House, thought to be the prototype for Miss Haversham’s home in ‘Great Expectations’.

Tunbridge Wells, in the west of the county, is an elegant 18th-century spa town. Historic highlights in the county include Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn, and Leeds Castle, said to be the world’s most beautiful.