England

Kent & East Sussex

Stunning houses, spectacular gardens and sea air

Rolling hills meet dramatic cliffs in Kent, the garden of England. Orchards and vineyards heavy with plump fruit demonstrate the fecundity of the land, which is dotted with elegant stately homes with carefully manicured grounds and intimate walled gardens. Where the fertile landscapes of Kent and East Sussex meet the sea, towering chalk descends into beautiful stretches of beach. Lovely seaside resorts or ancient, historic towns provide a perfect base for exploration.

CASTLES AND COAST IN KENT & EAST SUSSEX

Relish history & heritage in the poetic scenery of the south east

  • Walk through history at Scotney (NT) & Bodiam (NT) castles
  • Brighton – explore this cosmopolitan city and visit the Royal Pavilion
  • Hever Castle – discover the history of Anne Boleyn’s childhood home
  • Kent & East Sussex Railway – relax on a scenic railway journey through the countryside
  • Stunning views from the Birling Gap, with vistas of the Seven Sisters cliffs
  • Bateman's – explore this National Trust property, former home of Rudyard Kipling
  • Executive coach travel from your choice of pick up points
  • 4 nights half board accommodation

From £539
per person

based on two sharing in a twin/double room, with a minimum of 30 passengers travelling in a specific month

Best time to go

April, May, June, July, September, October

Suggested Hotel

Best Western York House Hotel, Eastbourne

  • Excellent seafront location
  • Close walk to the pier and town centre
  • Restaurant and terrace with sea views
  • Small indoor swimming pool
  • Comfortable en suite rooms

Not the hotel for your group? Other hotels are available, contact us.

Attractions:

  • Scotney Castle (NT)
    Castle-in-kent-1204447

    Discover fine paintings, lavish textiles and furniture, and a plethora of books in this moated 14th century castle. Set within over 770 acres of peaceful woodland and parkland, there’s an abundance of fine flora to appreciate.

  • Royal Pavilion, Brighton
    Brighton-Royal-Pavilion- -Visit England-Visit-Brighton

    King George VI’s outrageously exotic pleasure palace has to be one of the UK’s most outlandish and dazzling buildings. The décor and architecture merges Far Eastern influences from China and India with Regency grandeur, making it a wholly unusual and visually arresting place to explore.

  • Brighton
    The-old-derelict-West-Pier-in-Brighton-at-sunset-from-the

    This thriving seaside resort has something to entice everyone with an eclectic mixture of vintage shops and markets, a range of art galleries and museums, and the iconic pier that is reminiscent of traditional seaside holidays. This vibrant city has a bohemian, artsy vibe making it a wonderfully quirky place to visit.

  • Hever Castle
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    Steeped in 700 years of history, this 13th century moated castle was the home in which Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII and mother to Elizabeth I, lived as a child. You’ll see an extraordinary range of antiques and artwork, considered to be one of the finest collections of Tudor portraits outside of the National Portrait Gallery. Enjoy a serene stroll through the award-winning formal gardens within the grounds.

  • Kent & East Sussex Railway
    IKAP6752- Kentand East Sussex Railway

    Step aboard the beautifully restored coaches dating from the 1880s and sightsee in style. On the country’s finest and first example of a rural light railway, you’ll be able to relax and fully take in the picturesque Wealden countryside from the comfort of your carriage, before terminating at Bodiam castle.

  • Bodiam Castle (NT)
    VE20498-View-of-Bodiam-Castle- -Visit England-1066-Country-Marketing

    Dating back to the 1300s, Bodiam Castle is grand and impressive with turreted towers, spiral staircases and the rarity of having its original wooden portcullis still intact. Climbing up the corkscrew flights of stairs, you’ll be treated to some incredible views of the undulating Sussex countryside.

  • Bateman's (NT)
    Batemans_DSC_0094

    Nestled within a sheltered valley sits the family home of famous English writer, Rudyard Kipling. This 17th-century National Trust property is a Success Tours favourite; despite its modest size, the house oozes character and intrigue, with wooden beams, mullioned windows, and Eastern furnishings harking back to Kipling’s childhood in India.

Enquire

Jackie

Team Comments:

“Bateman's is a small, history-packed, warm and welcoming National Trust house with perhaps the friendliest volunteer room guides I’ve ever encountered! Really interesting artefacts and exhibition on Rudyard Kipling himself.” (Jackie)

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