A low cost excursion from London to the County of Kent in England to Canterbury and Dover. What to see, what to admire and where to stop, but above all how to move low cost in England.
THEEngland it has always been a popular destination for thousands of people but often only the capital is known. It is well known, London it is a fascinating city full of attractions for every taste but if we leave the hustle and bustle of the city a few kilometers away, we discover a completely different world.
From Victoria Station, London's central station, we can decide to take both the train and the bus, in direction Canterbury and then continue towards Dover, both located in Kent, a county on the south coast of England. From London, travel times are around two hours, depending on the vehicle on which you decide to travel.
Enchanting landscapes, almost fairy, and immersed in history that marry with the modern creating a breathtaking contrast. Let's start from London to discover some of the most fascinating places in the English south coast.
Canterbury
Let's start with the city of Canterbury. Canterbury has two railway stations, named Canterbury East and Canterbury West. You can choose either of the two. Canterbury isn't that big. A splendid medieval city of 40.000 inhabitants, it was founded by the Romans and became a military and commercial center on the main road from Dover to London.
Thanks to his typically medieval atmosphere, Canterbury, presents a strong contrast between ancient and modern. On the one hand you can admire the streets and period buildings, on the other the modern makes room with the presence of impressive shopping centers and more modern architecture.
Canterbury is the ideal destination for a trip full of history and romance thanks to the presence of dream landscapes and a wide choice of museums and places of worship. Here is a list of places not to be missed.
La Canterbury Cathedral it is one of the most famous and oldest Christian buildings in England and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Roman Museum it is an important Roman Museum that not only documents an era but reconstructs it. The Museum showcases artifacts dating back to Roman times such as the remains of a typical Roman house and a traditional mosaic. Also not to be missed is the reconstruction of a characteristic Roman market with the display of some of the main figures: cobblers, fabric sellers and fruit sellers.
The Canterbury Museum It is also known as the Canterbury Heritage Museum, housed inside the old medieval clerical hospital, which houses finds belonging to various eras, from pre-Romanesque to the present day.
The Canterbury Tales. At Margaret's Church, (a beautiful church with the appearance of a castle), you will find an interesting themed itinerary that faithfully reconstructs England in the fourteenth century, offers the opportunity to learn about the art and culture of medieval Canterbury. An adventurous pilgrimage in the "company" of the great English poet Geoffrey Chaucer. To find out more about the famous English writer and his stories, you can participate in guided tours. For more information on this, the site www.canterburytales.org.uk could help you.
Walking through the city, you will also find the Greyfriar's Chapel, the oldest Franciscan building in Great Britain, which joins the banks of the River Stour.
It is possible to visit the ruins of the Norman Castle where you can admire Westgate Towers, the gate that has dominated the road to London for six centuries. Eastbridge Hospital founded following the assassination of St Thomas Becket in order to provide accommodation for poor pilgrims who visited his tomb. After visiting the beautiful scenery of Canterbury, we continue our journey to Dover. Reachable both by train and by bus.
Dover
Dover is one of the many towns in Kent that deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime. Founded in about 2.000 BC, it is renowned for its famous White Cliffs of Dover. Many ships, during the Bronze Age, ventured into the city port with the intent of crossing the canal. In 1992 it was discovered in Dover oldest ship in the world, now on display in the city museum.
The most important monument in the city is Dover Castle which offers fantastic views of the landscape below. Next to the Castle you will find the Church of St. Mary In Castro dating back to the XNUMXth century.
After a long tour of the city, you certainly deserve a break to recover your energy. And what better place than the beach to recharge? Take a relaxing stroll by the sea and be enchanted by the famous cliffs of Dover. Composed mainly of limestone and formed about 136 million years ago, the White Cliff of Dover reach a maximum height of 105 meters. Unfortunately, due to erosion, visitors have to stay at least at a distance five meters from the cliff.
For more information on train costs and timetables, you can consult the Southern Railway website. A valid alternative to the train is the bus. For more information on prices and frequency of trips to and from London visit the website nationalexpress.com.
