The county of Kent is situated on the south-east of England on London's eastern border and is one of the home counties. It is often referred to as "The Garden of England" because of its relative abundance of fruit-growing and hop gardens. It also has some of the richest people in the UK.
Kent has provided inspiration for several notable writers and artists. Canterbury's religious role gave rise to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, a key development in the English language. The father of novelist Charles Dickens worked at the Chatham Dockyard; in many of his books, the celebrated novelist featured the scenery of Chatham, Rochester, and the Cliffe marshes.
During the late 1930s, Nobel Prize-awarded novelist William Golding worked as a teacher at Maidstone Grammar School, where he met his future wife Ann Brookfield. William Caxton, who first introduced the printing press to England, was born in Kent; the recent invention was key in helping many Kent dialect words and spellings to become standard in English. Below is a list of the cities and towns in Kent :-
Aylesford
Ashford International
Birchington Secluded beach and coffee houses
Broadstairs is known for its lovely sandy beach, restaurants, coffee houses and Bleak House where Charles Dickens lived for many years. It's quite possible to walk along the coast to Ramsgate.
Canterbury Lovely city with the Chaucer Tales, Dane John Gardens (including a maze) and Canterbury Cathedral
Charing
Chatham Charles Dickens worked at the Chatham Dockyard.
Conyer Small marina alongside a creek.
Cranbrook
Dartford Darrent Valley hospital with views over the bridge
Dymchurch
Deal
Dover Cinque port, famous white cliffs and Dover Castle
Edenbridge
Faversham Market Town of Kings with lots of old pubs, live music in historic old pubs and lovely creek. Photos
Fordwich
Gravesend
Herne Bay Amazing coastal views
Hythe One of the Cinque ports
Lydd
Marden
Margate Famous coastal town
Maidstone Well known for Leeds Castle which is about 5 miles (8.05 km) away.
New Romney
Northfleet
Rainham
Ramsgate Lovely marina and restaurants. It's quite possible to walk along the coast to Broadstairs.
Rochester Very historic docks
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Queenborough
Sandwich One of the Cinque ports
Sevenoaks
Sheerness Small island on the north Kent coast
Sittingbourne
Snodland
Southborough
Strood
Swanscombe
Tenterden One of the Cinque ports
Tonbridge
Westgate-on-Sea
Westerham
West Malling
Whitstable Well known for seafood and art
Photos from around Kent
This is Broadstairs. It's well-known for its lovely sandy beach (Viking Bay), restaurants and Bleak House which is where Charles Dickens lived for many years.
Before he died it was called Fort House but took the name Bleak House when he died. It is shown on the photo below on the right side on high ground. Bleak House also has a dungeon ... although it's no longer in use !
This is the Butter Market in the heart of Canterbury. It is the main entrance to Canterbury Cathedral.
Nearby are many fine restaurants and pubs.
Faversham is situated on the north Kent coast in between Sittingbourne and Whitstable. It has a market in the town centre on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturday and sometimes on a Sunday.
It is well-known for its historical pubs that often host live music (from Kent-based bands) and a picturesque creek with restaurants either side.
This is Leeds Castle near Maidstone. It is a Grade 1 listed building since 1952. A castle has been on the site since 1086.
In the 13th century it came into the hands of King Edward I; in the 16th century, Henry VIII used it as a place for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon to live. The castle today dates mostly from the 19th century and is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds.
It has been open to the public since 1976 and every year it holds a Classical Concert which includes fireworks, classical music, Spitfire flybys.