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Wartime Kent & Ian Fleming/James Bond Weekend...including Dover & Canterbury

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Dover Castle, Churchill's Chartwell, Canterbury, WWII Battle of Britain sites & History of Espionage

2 days from London

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Ian Fleming & James Bond book/film/real life locations

Overviewicon Itineraryicon

This is a suggested tour itinerary for private departures, adjustable to best suit your specific wishes. Price based on how many travelers, your chosen package inclusions and your chosen level of accommodation.

 

This tour begins and ends in London.

 

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

Day 1

The “Hornchurch Sector” during WWII covered the county of Kent, over which many dogfights took place. See some splendid scenery as we drive through towards Dover, pinpointing some of the plane crash sites and the later V1 and V2 rocket targets – over 1400 of which fell on Kent. Your guide will paint a poignant picture of what life was like for local residents during the turbulent 1940s.

 

This area is also the place where Ian Fleming lived and found inspiration for his great creation 'James Bond.' Explore some of the villages where he spent real life times, perhaps raise a glass in his honour at his favourite local pub! See charming St Margaret’s Bay, the coast with history dating back to Julius Caesar, and former home to the “Moonraker rocket plant.” Royal St George’s Golf Club at Sandwich was Fleming’s own golf club, noted as the setting for the famous golf match in another novel/film, Goldfinger.

 

Dover Castle is where we’ll find a wealth of history from the mediaeval times of Henry V through to modern times with the WWII secret wartime tunnels. Interestingly, Dover Castle was recently used as a filming location for Philippa Gregory’s novel The Other Boleyn Girl. Yes we’ll have a photo opportunity of the famed White Cliffs of Dover too!

 

Overnight: Canterbury area, Kent

Day 2

This morning some free time in historic Canterbury, pay our respects much like Chaucer’s Pilgrims inside the wonderful Canterbury Cathedral. As this is our overnight location, we should miss the main and madding throng of ‘daytrippers’ from London.

 

Visit Winston Churchill’s home of Chartwell, where one can discover both the public and private life of this great man. Churchill lived here from 1922 until his death in 1965; he chose this property because of the wonderful views over The Weald countryside. Inside, the rooms remain much as they were when he lived here, with pictures, books and personal mementoes scattered throughout. Churchill tended the gardens, painted the landscapes and even built the lakes and part of the garden stone walls himself. The gardens of Chartwell include Lady Churchill’s Rose Garden, the kitchen garden, the walled garden and Churchill’s painting studio.

 

Return to London this evening.

 

 

 

Please note: All attraction opening times are correct at time of printing this website. 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 beyond our control.

 

Please note that your final day to day itinerary may fluctuate to accommodate variable opening times/days for listed attractions, special events and places of interest. Please discuss your needs with us for an individual itinerary with rate quote.

 

Oft imitated, never duplicated! This is an original SGT itinerary, property of Special Group Tours and to be used only with express permission/in conjunction with SGT.

Inclusionsicon

What Your Tour Package Includes

This is a suggested tour itinerary and can be modified to best you your individual wishes.

 

Suggested tour package includes: # of touring days with vehicle & exclusive services of your driver/guide/companion, your accommodation for # nights while on the tour including full breakfasts, all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide. Your price also can include dinners and/or entrance fees to attractions or these items can be left out of the up front package/to be paid directly for maximum flexibility. Airport transfers, accommodation pre and post tour, scheduled city day tours/attraction passes/transport passes or theatre/event tickets can be added to your package as you wish, subject to availability.

 

SGT is at your service!

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The Special Group Tours Advantage is our unique and intimate understanding of what you expect traveling in the UK and Europe. We have not only visited but have spent many years living in and loving the cultures you will experience down the ‘B’ Roads and off the beaten track. We have worked with local suppliers and our guide/companion team for over a decade, creating unique special interest itineraries. Special Group Tours offers our “insider” knowledge to you.

 

The SGT Small Group Touring Concept is traveling with just 4 - 14 guests per departure. It is our aim to introduce you to the 'real' country and its people, not just ticking the boxes of a standardized route and treating you as an individual and not a number. Our concept allows for a leisurely touring pace and flexibility to get off the beaten track to discover hidden gems. Of course you'll see the major sites but so much more too!

 

At Special Group Tours, it is our priority that you have the most enjoyable holiday possible. You deserve it!