Kent + Canterbury, Dover, Castles
2019 Guided Tours from US$2989
London
London
6/5
3* / 4*
2 / 5
Itinerary
Day 1 – Canterbury + Whitstable
The tour starts at London St Pancras where we pick up all guests. We travel out to Canterbury by high speed train (in 45 minutes) and give guests a full safety briefing before heading out on the bikes. Our kent bike tour begins with a leisurely cycle along a disused railway line, brilliantly named the Crab and Winkle, to Whitstable for lunch. We visit Faversham, home to Shepherd Neame, the oldest Brewery in England, before returning to Canterbury for a tour around the magnificent Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey, dating from 597 AD.
Day 2 – The Kent Coast + Dunkirk History
We bike from Canterbury, up to the North Kent coast, visiting the Turner museum in Margate. Hugging the coast we cycle through the wonderful seaside towns of Broadstairs and Ramsgate and along the off road coastal path. We visit the Cinque Ports of Deal and Sandwich, with their castles and trading history spanning back to 1066. Mostly traffic free, the routes are flat and suit cyclists of all abilities. We return through gentle but beautiful countryside to Canterbury for the evening.
Day 3 – Dover
We bike through the beautiful Kent countryside and stop at the Battle of Britain Memorial for coffee. We visit the magnificent castle with its rich history dating from before Norman times, keeping England safe against all who tried to invade. And what Kent bike tour would be complete without a visit the iconic White Cliffs of Dover! A day for the history buffs, Dover is unsurpassed as destination and is a favourite iconic location for our guests.
Day 4 – Leeds Castle
We leave Canterbury and head for the iconic Leeds Castle, approaching 1000 years old, frequented by Henry the VIII, Catherine of Aragon and the American heiress Lady Baillie. With its stunning architecture and famous surrounding lake it is an iconic visit not to be missed. The afternoon ride is gentle and into the Spa town of Tunbridge Wells, where many opt for an early finish or a day off the bike totally.
Day 5 – Sissinghurst Gardens + Wine Country
Right in the heart of the Garden of England, the route travels between the quaint villages along the route or the magnificence of Sissinghurst. Its distinct character is set out in a number of different gardens, designed as “rooms” each with their own unique flavour. After, we visit one of England’s premier vineyards where we challenge guests not to love both the award winning white and sparkling wines. We return in the afternoon to the our hotel in Tunbridge Wells.
Day 6 – Hever Castle + Chartwell
We cycle through the beautiful countryside to the magnificent Hever Castle, home to Anne Boleyn and Anne of Cleves (wives two and three of Henry VIII) and more recently the Astor family. We make the short journey to Winston Churchill’s home at Chartwell, and his wife Clementine’s wonderful rose gardens. This visit heralds the end of our kent bike tour, when we transfer guests back to London by train, a journey of 40 minutes.
Accommodation, support and equipment
Guests stay in the best 4* and 3* hotels in Kent, with unbeatable settings, wonderful accommodation and stunning food. Four Dinners are included in the price of this tour.
Bike as much or as little as you like, a support vehicle is with the guided tours at all times. With a fleet of hybrid bikes and e-bike options, most of the biking is off road and traffic-free. Helmets as standard, just bring you shoes and pedals if you have them and away you go. All activities are optional and you can choose to have a ½ day or full day off whenever you like! Our guides and mechanics will fix all major equipment issues and get you back on the road as soon as possible.
