Travelling east from London out through the suburbs to the Garden of England and the county of Kent which traditionally has been connected with the production of hops used in the beer making process in England. We head towards Dover, the nearest land point from Calais in France approximately 22 miles across the English channel, we will
enjoy fine views of Dover Castle. Built during the reign of Henry II in the 12th Century, Dover also has a rich history going back to Roman times where the ‘Pharos’ lighthouse was built, and in Napoleonic times. Martello towers can be seen on the famous White Cliffs of Dover. The sky’s over Kent was the scene for Britain’s famous defeat of the Luftwaffe` during the battle of Britain in the summer of 1940, a huge turning point in the 2nd World War.
We continue to Canterbury and to the Cathedral which is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury the most senior figure within the Anglican Church Christianity was reintroduced to these islands. By St Augustine in 597 a.d. Canterbury’s status as the most important Christian centre is sustained even further by the martyrdom of Thomas Beckett murdered in his own cathedral in 1170 and canonised as St Thomas in 1173, where pilgrims would visit to the shrine of Beckett and many miracles were said to have taken place.
From Canterbury we enjoy a scenic drive to Leeds Castle said to be the loveliest castles in England by Lord Conway, it was started in 1278 as a half way house by Edward 1st midway between London and Calais, and then extended by Henry the VIII in the 16th century, the castle is totally surrounded by water giving it a charm that is unsurpassed anywhere.
