Visiting London and looking to escape the city for a day? We’ve got you covered. These 10 days out in Kent are the perfect ideas for a fun-filled day with family and friends. Whether you’re into winery tours or looking to visit some of England’s finest castles and quaint old villages or maybe a safari in the English countryside might interest you? Read on to discover the best ways to spend a memorable day in Kent.
After having spent the last 2.5 years of my life in Ashford, Kent, I’ve been able to slowly tick all of these awesome experiences off my bucket list. Kent is full of exciting history, it’s home to some of England’s oldest towns and churches, it’s known as the ‘Garden of England’ (thanks to King Henry VIII who first used the phrase) and it has a stunning coastline – the iconic White Cliffs of Dover.
There is truly so much beauty to be discovered in this part of England and it’s all conveniently located within close proximity to London by train! I’ve put together a list of some of my all-time favourite day trips from London to Kent. These fun days out in Kent are all easily accessible if you’re traveling from London or anywhere in the Southeast area.
The beautiful Westgate Gardens of Canterbury
Table of Contents
The 10 Most Epic Days Out In Kent
Canterbury
One of England’s oldest towns, the history of Canterbury dates all the way back to the Roman times in the 1st century AD when a fortified Roman town was built in the area. Recent discoveries have found ancient artefacts from old buildings which are now on display at the Roman Museum in Canterbury.
Today, Canterbury’s town centre is full of picturesque streets lined with historic buildings from the Tudor era. It’s easy to spend a day getting lost down the charming cobbled lanes and finding endless beautiful old pubs just calling you in off the street.
Being only 15 minutes by train from Ashford, I spent my fair share of time exploring this lovely town, each time finding a different old pub or another unique angle to photograph. It’s no surprise that visiting Canterbury is my favourite of all the days out in Kent!
A peek at Canterbury Cathedral from Butchery Lane
Highlights of Canterbury
River Cruise – One of the most popular things to do on a day trip to Canterbury is taking a historic river cruise along the canals that run through the town. Escape the busy town centre and learn all about the history of Canterbury from an experienced local guide. You’ll get a unique angle of some of the town’s most iconic old buildings while enjoying a relaxing 40 minute journey through time.
Hours of Operation: River cruises run throughout the high season from April 1st to November 7th from 10am – 5pm daily. You can find the staff located on Kings Bridge on the high street next to the Old Weaver’s House. They operate on a first come first serve basis so you can either show up on the day or book your river cruise ticket in advance. If you wish to find more information about prices and booking ahead, click here.
Canterbury Cathedral – Dating back to the year 597 when St. Augustine first landed on the shores of England as a missionary sent from Rome, Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most iconic Cathedrals in England! The history of this magnificent old church is so fascinating and the inside of the building is truly an impressive sight.
During your visit you’ll wander passed the Shrine of Thomas Becket, stroll through the Romanesque crypt, explore the beautiful Cathedral gardens and admire the medieval stained-glass windows.
The Cathedral has gone through many changes over the centuries and as of today it has been under renovation since I first arrived in England in 2017. Scaffolding surrounds the church, sadly ruining any photographs from the outside but don’t worry! This does not prevent tourists from visiting the inside.
Opening Hours and Tickets: The cathedral is open daily, click here for visiting times. Canterbury Cathedral tickets cost £12.50 per adult and £8.50 per child.
A look inside the incredible Canterbury Cathedral
Historic Pubs – My favourite thing to do when visiting Canterbury is checking out all the epic old pubs the town has to offer. There really is no shortage and each old pub is just as quaint as the next! Coming from Canada, old English pubs really are a novelty for me that never wore off.
The Parrot – Hidden away down a cute side street, The Parrot is the oldest pub in Canterbury dating back to the year 1370! Stepping into this historic building really feels like you’re taking a step back in time. It’s the perfect place to stop for lunch to break up your busy day trip.
They’ve got a lovely patio at the back which is great for sipping pints on a sunny summer’s afternoon. If you visit during winter, there’s a fireplace and a cozy interior to escape from the cold.
Some other old pubs worth checking out are: The Bishops Finger, The Old Buttermarket, The Dolphin, The Shakespeare.
Classic Canterbury Walking Tour – Familiarize yourself with Canterbury by taking a small group walking tour. This popular 1.5 hr guided tour will bring you on a journey through Canterbury’s 2,000 years of history. An experienced local guide will walk you through the highlights of the town, stopping at the most popular attractions and a few hidden gems along the way.
The tour passes by the medieval Westgate, the Marlowe Theatre, the Christ Church Gate, St. Thomas of Canterbury Church and many more fascinating historic landmarks. This tour operates at several times every weekend and caps numbers at 10 people per tour. Note that entrance to attractions is not included in the ticket price.
→Click here to book the Classic Canterbury Walking Tour←
Take a scenic river cruise along the canals of Canterbury
Getting from London to Canterbury
Train – The train to Canterbury runs daily and departs from London’s St. Pancras Station. The journey takes one hour. Click here to view train times and purchase tickets.
Car – The drive from London to Canterbury takes on average 1.5 hours depending on traffic conditions. For full driving directions click here.
The Best Canterbury Tour – If you love the idea of not stressing about train times or being stuck in traffic behind the wheel, an organized tour might be just the thing for you. This highly rated tour of Kent will depart London in the morning and set out to explore the beautiful White Cliffs of Dover.
After a scenic coastal stroll, the tour carries on to Canterbury and begins with a guided walking tour of the town. The tour allows for a total of 2.5 hours to spend in Canterbury. It includes time to visit the Cathedral, explore the town at your own leisure and stop for lunch before heading back to London.
→Book the White Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury full day tour←
Canterbury has an endless amount of awesome sights to see, if you fancy spending the night instead of making the trek back to London in the evening, find the best hotels in Canterbury by clicking the link below.
→Click here to browse the best accommodation options in Canterbury←
Dover
Dover has been the gateway from the continent of Europe to England since the beginning of time. Due to its location on the English Channel, Dover has been a major port and played a significant role as defence throughout England’s history in the wars and invasions.
From the year 55 AD when Julius Caesar first arrived in Dover to the 11th century invasions of William the Conqueror, all the way up to Hitler’s planned invasions of Britain in World War II; Dover has always been a target.
Nowadays, Dover is the busiest ferry terminal in the world as well as being one of the most important ports in Britain for freight items such as fresh produce. It attracts tourists from far and wide to witness the beauty of its White Cliffs and its beautifully preserved 11th century hilltop castle.
Visiting Dover is an exciting and fun day out in Kent. I recommend starting your day at the White Cliffs of Dover and then making your way to Dover Castle in the afternoon. It is possible to fit both attractions into one day trip as this is what we did when we visited.
Exploring the amazing Dover Castle
Highlights of Dover
White Cliffs of Dover – When you hear of Dover, it’s the striking white cliffs that most likely come to mind and for good reason. There aren’t many other places in this world that you can find such a magnificent sight of chalky white cliffs against a blue ocean backdrop with bright green grass; it’s like a painting!
Enjoy a scenic coastal walk on the path that runs along the cliffs starting from the Visitor’s Centre. Take in the spectacular views as you follow the edge of the cliffs, on a clear day you can even see France in the distance.
You have the option to walk 2 miles along the path until you reach the 19th century South Foreland Lighthouse and a tea house. But it’s not necessary to go that far to catch the best views of the cliffs.
The Visitor’s Centre at the beginning of the walk also sells teas, coffee and food in case you’ve walked up an appetite by the time you finish the hike.
Click here for a downloadable map that will help guide you along the cliffs!
Dover Castle – One of the most impressive and largest castles in all of England, Dover Castle’s history extends back to the year 1066 when William the Conqueror settled in the area and built the first castle. In 1180s, King Henry II expanded and remodelled the existing castle to the building that still stands today, over 800 years later.
Due to its strategic location, the castle’s main purpose was to serve as defence. It truly stood the test of time having been held under 2 sieges during the medieval years and surviving through 2 world wars in its later years.
Visiting Dover Castle can easily take up to 4 hours as there really is so much to see. Explore the inside of the Great Tower and admire the fully furnished medieval chambers. Panoramic views from the top are sure to impress.
Here’s Rick chilling on King Henry II’s throne – Don’t get too comfortable there mate!
Descend into the medieval tunnels beneath the castle that were once used for defence during the sieges. Make sure to check out the underground hospital that was used for injured troops during World War II.
Dover Castle frequently holds fun events throughout the year. When we visited in the summer, we were excited to find a jousting tournament taking place on the castle grounds. Click here to find an event that might interest you.
Tickets: £20.90/Adult, £12.50/Child. Save time and purchase your ticket online before visiting.
Opening Hours: 10am-5pm daily
→Buy your tickets to Dover Castle here←
Medieval vibes at Dover Castle
Getting from London to Dover
Train – Trains depart daily from London’s St. Pancras Station. The high-speed rail service takes just over an hour to get from London to Dover. Click here to search train times and buy your tickets.
Car – The drive from London should take just under 2 hours depending on traffic conditions. For full driving directions click here.
The Best Dover Tour – Enjoy a fully organized day trip to Dover, leaving London in the morning and stopping first at the Canterbury Cathedral. Afterwards, you will continue to the White Cliffs of Dover where you will take a coastal walk and admire the gorgeous cliffs and the epic views over the English Channel. The tour continues on to Dover Castle where you will spend the rest of the day diving into centuries of English history.
This guided tour includes entrance to the Canterbury Cathedral, a visit to The White Cliffs and entrance to Dover Castle as well as round-trip transportation by a luxury coach.