Holidays 2026
Departs: Sunday 12th July 2026 | 5 Days
Historic Kent & The Garden of England
Tour Price: £699.00 per person
Your Holiday Centre
Chatham is one of the Medway towns located within Medway. The town developed around Chatham Dockyard and several army barracks, together with 19th-century forts which provided a defensive shield for the dockyard. The engineers are still based in Chatham at Brompton Barracks. Chatham stands on the A2 road along the line of the ancient Celtic route, which was paved by the Romans, and named Watling Street by the Anglo-Saxons. Among finds have been the remains of a Roman cemetery. It long remained a small village on the banks of the river, but by the 16th century warships were being moored at Gillingham water (Gillingham), because of its strategic sheltered location between London and the continent. It was established as a royal dockyard by Queen Elizabeth I in 1568 and most of the dockyard actually lies within Gillingham. It became a shipbuilding yard; from then until the late 19th century, further expansion of the yard took place. In its time, many thousands of men were employed at the dockyard, and many hundreds of vessels were launched there, including HMS Victory which was built there in the 1760's. After World War I many submarines were also built in Chatham Dockyard.
Tour Inclusions
- All coach travel
- 4 nights half board
- Porterage
- Welcome tea/coffee
- Excursions
- Entrance to Chatham Docks
- Entrance to Hever Castle
- Entrance to Leeds Castle
- Kent & East Sussex Railway
- Courier escorted
Special Notes
- Insurance.
- Please inform us of any special dietary needs e.g: diabetic, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.
- Special requests are put forward to the hotel, and they will do their utmost to accommodate your needs.
- The itinerary could be subject to change.
Tour Price
- Price Per Person
- £699.00
Single Room Supplement: £112.00
(Double/twin for sole use)
Your Accommodation
Bridgewood Manor Hotel
Walderslade Woods, Blue Bell Hill, Chatham, Kent ME5 9AX.
Tel: 01634 201333.
The charming 4 star Bridgewood Manor Hotel is the perfect destination for visitors who wish to explore the scenic surroundings.
With excellent amenities and a convenient location that is near Maidstone. Bridgewood Manor ensures guests will have access to everything they could ever need.
All rooms have free Wi-Fi, trouser press or ironing facilities, and tea and coffee making facilities.
It also has a well-equipped health club and luxurious spa, swimming pool, sauna and steam room.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Local Area
After boarding your luxury coach, we make our way south to Kent. We will make a comfort stop and have lunch en-route. We will then continue our journey to arrive at the Bridgewood Manor Hotel. You will enjoy a welcome tea/coffee on arrival while your bags are taken to your room.
Day 2: Hever Castle & Gardens
After breakfast, we will board the coach and head off to Royal Tunbridge Wells for a little shopping/lunch and then travel on to Hever Castle. It began as a country house, built in the 13th century. From 1462 to 1539, it was the seat of the Boleyn family. Anne Boleyn, the second queen consort of King Henry VIII of England, spent her early youth there after her father, Thomas Boleyn, inherited it in 1505. The castle passed to him upon the death of his father, Sir William Boleyn. It later came into the possession of King Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. The oldest part of the castle dates to 1270 and consisted of the gatehouse and a walled bailey. The second period was when the castle, then in need of repair, was converted into a manor in 1462. Hever Castle still has one of Henry VIII's private locks, taken with him on his various visits to noblemen's houses and fitted to every door for his security. After your historic visit, we will head back to our hotel for an evening dinner.
Day 3: Leeds Castle & Kent & East Sussex Railway
This morning, you will visit Leeds Castle; it has been called the 'loveliest castle in the world'. Listed in the Domesday Book, this castle has been a Norman stronghold, a royal residence and a royal palace. Its situation is stunning, set on two islands in a magnificent lake. The Royal Manor was originally built in 857 AD and owned by a Saxon royal family. After the Norman Conquest, work began on building the first stone castle on the site. You will have time to see the castle and grounds.
Later this afternoon we take a ride on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The dream of rebuilding the old railway line running from Tenterden in Kent to Robertsbridge in Sussex has taken a major step towards being realised. Enthusiasts who took over the line years after it closed in the 1950's have restored the track and run steam trains from Tenterden as far as Bodiam. The first section of the Rother Valley was opened in 1900 to a station at Tenterden, in fact that station is now known as Rolvenden. The Kent and East Sussex Railway has provided location services for a variety of film and television productions and, over the years, has built up a diverse list of production credits that continues to grow each year.
Day 4: The Faversham Brewery
After a leisurely morning, we depart for Shepherd Neame, where you will discover the secrets of Britain's oldest brewer. There will be a guided tour which also includes a visit to the Old Brewery Store, housed in the old wines and spirits store, which features impressive displays of historic delivery vehicles, a recreated coopers' workshop, bygone pub signs and a collection of hop-picking memorabilia. It ends back in the visitor centre with a tutored tasting of Shepherd Neame's Kentish ales and speciality lagers. You will then have the chance to visit the brewery shop and pick up a souvenir, gift or some of your favourite beer.
Day 5: Return Home
After breakfast, and cases have been loaded onto the coach it is time to wave goodbye to our hosts at Bridgewood Manor and head for home. There will be a comfort stop on the route, and you should be back in your local area by the evening.