Places to visit and things to do in Kent and East Sussex

Houses we like to stay in. Places we like to stay.

Whatever your tastes Kent and East Sussex offer a unique collection of places to visit during your stay. Whether you're looking for simple days on the beach, exploring castles, cycling, walking or even kite and windsurfing, it's all there. Otherwise known as The Garden of England Kent boasts traditional English countryside with rolling hills and wooded valleys as well as ancient cathedral cities and quaint villages. East Sussex hosts many of Britain's favourite seaside destinations and beautiful market towns, you will be spoilt for choice !

Towns and villages

When you want to get the sand out from under your toes, pop into Rye, a town in a rather pleasing time-warp. Wander through the maze of lanes, taking time to browse around the many and varied shops selling everything from old fashioned sweets weighed out of jars to hand blown glass. Climb the tower in the Church and enjoy fabulous views across Romney Marshes, stop for a cream tea, buy some fish straight off the boat, relax and let life take you by the hand. www.visitrye.co.uk Sussex has a great tradition of Bonfire Societies who celebrate the thwarting of the Gunpowder Plot with a bonfire, procession and fireworks. The Rye Bonfire Society holds their event in early November.

Just 12 miles along the coast is Hastings, with its artists community, delightful old town, fisherman's' huts, funicular railway, Smugglers Adventure and seaside pier. For the odd rainy day there is Clambers Indoor Play Centre and The Blue Reef Aquarium. For a more educational trip, visit the site of The Battle of Hastings in the aptly named Battle, a delightful market town with the English Heritage site of Battle Abbey where King Harold fell and history changed forever.

The ancient town of Winchelsea set high above the surrounding marshes is well worth a visit. Once a thriving port but now a picturesque village with central church and traditional village shops.

For a little more excitement and a lively atmosphere try the favourite seaside town of Eastbourne, with traditional Victorian architecture and pier complete with funfair and candy floss stalls! William the Conquerors Pevensey castle is located along the coast on the outskirts of the town.

Further along the coast towards West Sussex you will find Brighton, another favourite seaside destination with a very cosmopolitan feel. The famous “ Lanes “ with their antique and quirky shops is a lovely place to meander before enjoying a refreshment stop in one of the many bistros and restaurants.

A short drive in land from Brighton is Sussex’s County Town of Lewes which is currently enjoying a revival with new restaurants and interesting shopping . The world renowned Glyndebourne Festival Opera running from May to August is held at the opera house just 4 miles outside Lewes.

A visit to Kent would not be complete without appreciating some of the ancient Cathedral cities such as Canterbury or the Dickensian Rochester. The North Kent coast is also famous for its fishing ports such as Whitstable. Enjoy a day here sampling the famous Whitstable oysters.

The Kent countryside has a wealth of small towns and villages such as Tenterden with its fascinating architecture, and excellent shopping. Nearby Cranbrook is a pretty town with a medieval layout of streets and alleys with many buildings dating back to the 15th century and being overlooked by the imposing Union Windmill.

Beaches

There are few beaches to rival Camber Sands, one of the only sandy beaches in the South East. With fabulous undulating dunes, perfect for hide and seek, running along and launching yourself off no matter what your age. When the tide goes out, it goes out a long way unveiling a myriad of paddling pools. The damp sand makes perfect temporary cricket pitches as the beach more than doubles in size.

Further along the coast there are many more interesting beaches, mostly shingle but all perfect for long walks and beach-combing at any time of year. Try Winchelsea or Pevensey Bay as well as the main resorts of Eastbourne or Hastings.

The outdoors

On the eastern shores of the River Rother lies Rye Nature Reserve - just perfect for a walk or cycle along its flat paths towards Winchelsea. Discover Camber Castle, one of Henry VIII's coastal forts on your way and look out for any number of bugs, beetles, reptiles and birds. www.wildrye.info

Beachy Head with its dramatic white cliffs and undulating South Downs is located in an area of outstanding Natural beauty. Across the border into Kent the White Cliffs of Dover are one of Britain’s Iconic landmarks, having been featured in countless movies. Enjoy a bracing walk and then maybe lunch or tea in the vibrant seaside town of Dover.

Lots of environmental activities are on offer for all the family at Hastings Country Park, Pett Level, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Camber, Dungeness RSPB and the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre.

Late spring sees the start of the 'Open Garden' season, with lots of private gardens generously open to the public throughout the spring and summer months. Great Dixter, the home of the late Christopher Lloyd in the village of Northiam is open until the end of October and keen gardeners could do no better than attend a course there with Head Gardener Fergus Garrett. A great opportunity to be inspired by other people's efforts and go back to your Bramley & Teal house for tea and scones and do - nothing!

There is a wealth of amazing places to visit in this part of the country and we are recommending the places we have visited and enjoyed with our families and friends. If you come across a hidden gem, please let us know. For more information on any of the below properties just click on the the name to visit their website:

Cultural

Clive Sawyer Photography 01797 222213 - Some of our pictures on our website have been taken by Clive Sawyer

Rye Art Gallery 01797 222433
The Churches of Romney Marsh 01580 241529

Historic Houses and Castles

Bodiam Castle, Bodiam – National Trust 01580 830196

Scotney Castle – National Trust 01892 893820

Pevensey Castle – English Heritage 01323 762604

Battle Abbey – English Heritage 01424 775705

Batemans, Burwash – National Trust 01435 882302

Hastings Old Town 01424 451111

Gardens

Great Dixter, Northiam 01797 252878

Pashley Manor, Ticehurst 01580 200888

Merriments, Hurst Green 01580 860666

St Johns Lodge, Ticehurst

Batemans, Burwash – National Trust 01435 882302

Sissinghurst - National Trust 01580 710701

Stuff to do with the kids

Go Ape at Bedgbebury Pinetum Bedgebury 0845 6439215
(Kent) Near Tunbridge Wells The Forest with it all. Bedgebury Forest is the wild outdoor adventure in the South East of England. With a new lakeside visitor centre as the hub, Bedgebury offers excellent bike trails, a great Go Ape tree top adventure and the best children’s adventure play trail any little monkey will ever come across. The beautiful National Pinetum is also a stone’s throw away, making Bedgebury an ape-solutely fantastic day out.

Rare Breeds Farm 01233 861493

David Lloyd Centre. Bowling, laserquest and pool. Eastbourne. 0845129 6787

Drusillas Zoo 01323 874100

Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway 01797 362353

Blue Reef Aquarium 01424 718776

Kent & Sussex Steam Railway 01580 765155

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Hythe 0844 8424647

Hastings Roller Skating Rink

Bewl Water 01892 890661

Go Ballistic Paint ball 0845 745 5000

Ocean Bowling Hastings. 01424 730014

Smugglers Adventure