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Literary Kent and Sussex
In this, England’s oldest county, we offer a tour of unsurpassed variety. Those wanting to experience the full breadth of over 2000 years of English history. Literary buffs will enjoy viewing sites connected with Dickens, Virginia Wolf, Kipling, Henry James and AA Milne. And last but not least, for those seeking timeless villages, medieaval towns, traditional pubs and real English ‘culture’, there’s no finer place to find it than Kent, where there is truely something for everyone! Welcome to a region almost impossibly rich in treasures!
Tour Dates: Your choice! Begin on any day of the week. (Note that some attractions may not be opened daily.)
Available at any date for private groups of 2 – 15 people, subject to availability. Rates are based upon vehicle and guide hire per day; groups of 7 - 15 would have a per person rate same/similar to one of our scheduled tours of the same length.
Price: dependent upon how many are in your party; please contact us for a quote. Contact us for availability and rate quote: specialgrouptours@yahoo.com
Please note, this is a suggested itinerary. It may be revised to suit your individual group needs.
What your tour package includes: The private services of your driver/guide for 3 touring days, your accommodation for 2 nights while on the tour including breakfast and dinner daily, all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide.
Airport transfers, accommodation pre and post tour, London city tours, London attraction passes and London transport passes are not included but can be added to your package as you wish. Ask us for details.
This tour begins and finishes in London. You will be picked up from your London hotel at approximately 09:00.
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
Day One, Monday
We depart London via the old coaching route, tracing the path of Chaucer’s Pilgrims. This was an area of London also well known to Shakespeare and Dickens.
Our first stop is Charles Dickens’ Rochester. This gem of a city, with its cathedral and Norman castle, overflows with Dickens's sites, such as plaques on the places mentioned in his books, Mrs Haversham's house and Dickens himself lived here.
Kipling’s home of Batemans is our next port of call. Here, much of the house and grounds, with its tranquil river side setting and pretty gardens, is as the author left it, including his study. The interiors reflect Kipling’s love of the East.
If we’ve time and there’s an interest, we may be able to find time for some sites of Arthur Conan Doyle and his timeless creation, 'Sherlock Holmes.'
Our night stop location for these two nights is in a lovely Kentish village.
NIGHTSTOP: Kent, Severnoaks or Cranbrook
Day TWO, Tuesday
Chaucer’s mediaeval city of Canterbury will be our first stop. Nearby is the former home of Jane Austen’s brother, Goodnestone Park. We will visit this charming Regency garden where Jane herself was a frequent visitor. It is said that a stay here inspired the start of Pride and Prejudice. We’ll also visit Broadstairs, where we’ll find the inspiration for ‘Bleak House.’ All in all, another fantastic day!
NIGHTSTOP: Kent, as above
Day THREE, Wednesday
“Bloomsbury in Sussex” today as we explore the homes of Virginia Woolf at Monk’s House, her final home and that of her sister Vanessa Bell, Charleston Farm. Here we visit the farmhouse that was the weekend getaway for Woolf, Lytton Strachey, EM Forster and TS Elliot as well as many others. Entering these rooms is like stepping back in time…
Also today, we will discover the world of AA Milne and Ashdown Forest. Perhaps we’ll find time for a game of Pooh Sticks from the original bridge before making our way back into London.
Please note: All opening times are correct at time of printing this website.
To comply with the opening hours at the mentioned popular attractions, we recommend to stay with the described days of operation. Other attractions can be substituted for travel on different operating days, as and if appropriate. While we will do our utmost to include all of the properties mentioned as central visits, we reserve the right to change an attraction should it become impossible to deliver a planned visit due to changes in opening days or times that we could not have been aware of at the time of loading this tour to our website.
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