Leeds Castle, Canterbury & White Cliffs
Description
This exclusive private tour, which is lead by a local guide with a PhD from Cambridge, will enable you to enjoy Kent's top three locations in just one day. The relaxed small group setting enables high levels of inter-action with your guide, as well as the flexibility to spend more time in locations which are most meaningful to you. Avoid the crowds of large tourist parties; get off the beaten track for an authentic taste of Kent; and have a fun and inspirational experience! Only 5 star reviews: "As a constant traveller who regularly books tours, I can easily say that this was the best tour I've ever taken! I highly recommend Anthony...[He] made me fall in love with Kent" (Jennifer W, USA); "It was like spending a day with a good friend and we enjoyed every bit of it! I HIGHLY recommend Anthony and this tour!" (Jennifer L, USA); "Perfection! Absolutely my favorite tour in England!" (Janine, USA); "Anthony is by far the best guide I've ever had!" (Nathan, Australia).
Tour Options
Itinerary
Guests will be picked up from Dover's cruise ship terminal and driven direct to Leeds Castle (45 minutes). On arrival, guests can either walk to the castle via the lake (c15 minutes) or use on-site transportation. This will be followed by a guided tour of the historic castle (c1.25 hours) and return via a scenic riverside walk through its spectacular grounds (15 minutes). Alternatively transportation is also available if preferred.
Guests will be driven through the country lanes of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in which you will pass through delightful villages such as Godmersham and Chilham on your journey through to the historic city of Canterbury. You will see Chilham's beautiful cobbled market square and timbered buildings which is overseen by a majestic stately home and former Norman castle.
You will be driven into the centre of Canterbury and taken on a walking tour of the most significant, beautiful or iconic locations within the city. You will hear about Canterbury's Iron Age and Roman history; the city's role as the birthplace of Christianity in England and a focal point for pilgrimage; the impact of King Henry VIII and the Dissolution of the Monasteries; and more recent times including World War II. After the one hour walking tour, you will have the opportunity for some free time to enjoy popular venues for local food and drink. Guest favourites include Canterbury's oldest pub (1370AD) for a Kentish real ale and a sit-down lunch; a traditional English tea shop for scones, salad, sandwiches or pastries; or a take-away including fish and chips!
As we leave Canterbury, we will pass by the second of the City's most important UNESCO World Heritage landmarks - St Augustine's Abbey. Founded shortly after St Augustine arrived in Kent in AD597 to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, the abbey was a residence for Augustine and his brother monks and functioned as a monastery. It was also a 'missionary school' where classical knowledge and English learning flourished. Among its library of illuminated manuscripts, only 150 survived the English Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538. One of these - 'the Canterbury Gospels' - survived from AD597 and was used in the recent coronation of King Charles III. As you leave the Abbey's main entrance, you will pass two statues depicting King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha on Lady Wootton's Green. As King and Queen of Kent, they were most responsible for welcoming Augustine into Canterbury and enabling him to build the foundation for Christianity throughout the country.
As the tour leaves the outskirts of the city, there will be the opportunity to observe the country's oldest surviving church, St Martin's (the third UNESCO World Heritage site in Canterbury), which also dates from cAD597. The church was originally a chapel used by Queen Bertha but became used as a base by Augustine. The church has Roman origins with Anglo-Saxon and medieval additions.
Our route will head east towards the coast via a number of pretty villages. You will first be driven to Wickhambreaux with its delightful medieval village green around which are located the church, the manor house and rectory, inn and mill. You can stop briefly for photos at the 13th century church of St Andrew's where one of the WWII Dambusters, Squadron Leader David Maltby, was both married and later buried after his death in 1943. Another famous resident of Wickhambreaux was the singer and musician, Christine MacVie of Fleetwood Mac.
We will then depart for the neighbouring village of Ickham with its attractive white weatherboard cottages, attractive listed buildings and 13th century church.
We will pass through the ancient village of Wingham which, with many buildings dating back to the 1200s including the Grade II listed 'The Dog Inn', provides a picture perfect part of the tour.
As we leave the countryside and turn towards the coast, you will be driven to a special vantage point on the White Cliffs which is largely unknown to most visitors. At this most iconic of locations, you will get views of Dover Castle, the harbour, the English Channel and, if the weather is clear, the nearby coastline of France. We will stop here for a history of Dover from Roman times up until the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation and Battle of Britain and how its role became commonly associated as 'the Key to England'.
As we leave Dover Western Heights, guests will be returned to the nearby terminal where they can re-join their ship.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Tour guests will be picked up as they disembark from the ship and leave via the Passenger Terminal. Guests are invited to download WhatsApp before the tour begins so that communication can be established and the exact location of the guide can be identified as they exit the ship. Guests who are not travelling by cruise ship should notify Kent and Country Tours of their point of departure eg location of their hotel or railway station.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(7)
Extremely knowledgeable and very flexible. Loved that the van could get into locations that a big tour bus cannot. Anthony gave us personalized tours at every location. Would book tour again with Anthony if visiting the area again!
A Most Glorious Progress Through the Garden of England Marry, if ever there did walk a guide most worthy of all commendation, it is Anthony. Verily, the man is a very treasury of knowledge, whose discourse doth flow as freely as the Stour, and whose love of history kindleth wonder in every heart that hath the good fortune to hear him. What seemed at first but a simple day's journey became, by his learned wit and merry telling, a noble progress through the ages. From the steadfast White Cliffs of Dover and the valiant memories of Hawkinge, unto the solemn peace of those brave souls who lie together in the Commonwealth War Graves; from the fair village of Chilham and its ancient castle, to the stately beauty of Leeds Castle; and at last to Canterbury, with its crooked houses, hallowed ways, and venerable gate—each place did live and breathe by virtue of Anthony's excellent narration. Naught escaped his knowing eye. Every lane had its tale, every church its history, every stone its voice. His learning is profound, yet worn with such good humour and grace that one might think History herself had chosen him for her herald. As the immortal Bard hath writ, "All the world's a stage," and upon this day Anthony proved himself the finest player therein, bringing the past to life with rare eloquence and boundless delight. I can but say this: if thou seekest not merely to behold Kent, but to know its very soul, then pray thou findest Anthony to be thy guide. A richer day could scarcely be imagined, and for such an adventure I give my heartfelt thanks. God save Anthony—and long may he lead such merry companies upon England's storied roads.
Our first stop was Dover’s magnificent White Cliffs, where Anthony guided us through the gun batteries and observation posts that played such a vital role during the Second World War. His descriptions of the desperate circumstances and the immense courage of the young airmen who flew daily from the nearby airfield—many never to return—were both moving and unforgettable. Anthony’s knowledge of history is exceptional, but what truly sets him apart is his ability to bring the past to life. He welcomed every question with enthusiasm, insight and humour. The day also included a wonderful tour of Canterbury, and we especially appreciated his willingness to tailor the itinerary to our preferences. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with Anthony and would recommend him without hesitation to anyone looking for an engaging, informative, and memorable tour. C, J, T Canada
Thank you all for your fantastic review. It is hugely appreciated! I very much hope that it won't be too long before we might meet again. I hope that you are enjoying your onward travels!
We thoroughly enjoyed our day on July 9 with Anthony. He is a delightful, friendly and very thoughtful guide. His knowledge and experience are vast, and he is most anxious to share it all with his clients. Due to some last minute changes that became necessary on our part, we very much appreciated his flexibility in adapting our itinerary to fit our situation. We also saw places that many others are probably unlikely to visit. He obviously loves what he does. Not only did he guide us through our tour, but he also gave us recommendations for other places to visit on future trips to the U K , and referred us to books that he considers helpful in covering its history. All in all, it was a great day!
Thank you for your incredibly kind review Cynthia. It was so appreciated.
Anthony was very knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly loved his job. For the 6 of us, he made are day unforgettable, and an excursion which we will never forget. He knows his stuff, and presents it in a way that visitors can easily relate to.
Many thanks for your lovely review Ray. It was great to show you the beauty of Chilham and Leeds Castle in addition to all those incredible locations very close to your hotel in Dover. You were great company indeed. Please pass on my very best wishes to everyone!
A great tour guide who customized our day to meet our needs and interests. Very knowledgeable about all places local. Leeds Castle and Canterbury, fabulous countryside and charming medieval villages. Pubs and WWII scenic sites. Could not be more pleased. Absolutely a great day and experience. Super nice man. 👍👍
Thank you for your amazing review Lisa, that's really appreciated. You guys were great fun and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with you. All best wishes, Anthony
My husband and I had two days in London last month and wanted to get out of the city for one of them. We contacted Anthony and almost immediately had a reply back with his availability for the weekend in question. Before our trip even began, Anthony gave us helpful hints about train travel and recommendations about post-tour musical and dinner options. He stayed in touch during the weeks and days leading up to the trip to ensure we knew how to get in touch with him and how to find him at the train station. Anthony was waiting for us at the Canterbury West train station exactly as we had planned and then he whisked us away on our adventure, but not before providing us with cold bottles of water. We had a fantastic day exploring the White Cliffs of Dover, Leeds Castle and Canterbury. Anthony was clearly passionate about each of the areas we visited and was able to share both historical and personal tidbits of information. With the amount of ground we covered in one day, there was quite a bit of driving. Anthony is a great conversationalist and made sure that there were never any awkward silences. He never dominated the conversation and seemed truly interested when we were sharing about our lives and work back home. It was so much fun to have a private tour from someone so knowledgeable and passionate about his home area.
