• Leeds Castle - Guests will be collected from Dover’s cruise ship terminal and transported directly to Leeds Castle (approximately 45 minutes). Upon arrival, guests can choose to walk to the castle via the lake (around 15 minutes) or use the available on-site transportation. This will be followed by a guided tour of the historic castle (approximately 1.25 hours) and a return journey through its stunning grounds via a scenic riverside walk (15 minutes). Alternatively, transportation is available if preferred.
• Chilham Village - Guests will travel through the picturesque country lanes of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, passing through charming villages such as Godmersham and Chilham on the way to the historic city of Canterbury. Visitors will admire Chilham’s beautiful cobbled market square and timbered buildings, overseen by a grand stately home and former Norman castle.
• Canterbury - Guests will be driven to the heart of Canterbury for a walking tour of the city’s most significant, beautiful, or iconic locations. They will learn about Canterbury’s Iron Age and Roman history, its 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 history including World War II. After the one-hour walking tour, guests will have free time to enjoy popular local food and drink venues. Favorites include Canterbury’s oldest pub (1370 AD) for a Kentish real ale and a sit-down lunch, a traditional English tea shop for scones, salad, sandwiches, or pastries, or a takeaway including fish and chips!
• St. Augustine’s Abbey - As the tour departs Canterbury, guests 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 AD 597 to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, the abbey served as a residence for Augustine and his fellow monks and functioned as a monastery. It was also a ‘missionary school’ where classical knowledge and English learning thrived. 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 AD 597 and was used in the recent coronation of King Charles III. As guests leave the Abbey’s main entrance, they will pass two statues depicting King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha on Lady Wootton’s Green. As King and Queen of Kent, they were instrumental in welcoming Augustine into Canterbury and enabling him to establish the foundation for Christianity throughout the country.
• St. Martin’s Church, Canterbury, Kent - As the tour leaves the outskirts of the city, guests will have 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 around AD 597. The church was originally a chapel used by Queen Bertha but later became a base for Augustine. The church has Roman origins with Anglo-Saxon and medieval additions.
• Wickhambreaux - The route will head east towards the coast through several charming villages. Guests 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. There will be a brief stop 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 McVie of Fleetwood Mac.
• Ickham - The tour will then proceed to the neighboring village of Ickham, known for its attractive white weatherboard cottages, charming listed buildings, and 13th-century church.
• Wingham - The tour 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’, offers a picture-perfect part of the tour.
• Western Heights - As the tour leaves the countryside and turns towards the coast, guests will be driven to a special vantage point on the White Cliffs, largely unknown to most visitors. At this iconic location, guests will enjoy views of Dover Castle, the harbor, the English Channel, and, if the weather is clear, the nearby coastline of France. There will be a 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’.
• Dover - As the tour leaves Dover Western Heights, guests will be returned to the nearby terminal where they can rejoin their ship.

• Expert local guide with PhD in History from Cambridge
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Bottled water
• Parking fees

• Meals
• Admission fees
• Gratuities

This exclusive private tour, led by a local guide with a PhD from Cambridge, offers the opportunity to explore Kent’s top three destinations in just one day. The intimate small group setting allows for significant interaction with your guide and the flexibility to spend more time at locations that resonate with you. Escape the crowds of large tourist groups, venture off the beaten path for a genuine taste of Kent, and enjoy a fun and inspiring experience! Consistently rated 5 stars: “As a frequent traveler who often books tours, I can confidently say 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 felt like spending a day with a good friend, and we enjoyed every moment! 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).

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.