Reculver Towers is the remains of a 12th century church, which is located on the remains of Roman…read moreand Saxon buildings. The Towers themselves are perched on the top of a large cliff, which has been heavily eroded in the past and is the reason why there are only partial remains of the church left standing. Due to its location on the north coast, the towers lend themselves to some lovely photographs with the sunset to their rear and the sea to one side. There is a large stony beach at the base of the cliffs, which is ideal for dog walking rather than bathing, as the Thames Estuary leaves it somewhat muddy. Also be aware that the tide can come rather far in at certain times of the year, partially cutting off some areas at the base of the cliffs!! There are reputed to be a decent number of fossils to be found along the beach, especially following storms, though me and the dog have never found anything exciting. There is ample parking in the vicinity of the towers, good paths suitable for wheelchairs and buggies along the cliff top. There is also a pub very close by and a small shop/amusements arcade associated with the nearby caravan park. All in all, a nice place for a picnic or for a stroll.

A beautiful area to have a picnic on a sunny day. About 3k walk from Herne Bay. Not easily…read moreaccessible by public transport. Very good toilet facilities though, which is important on a picnic! Worth a visit if you're in the area, as it really is a beautiful spot.

I thought the Grand Shaft, was Grand. Built between 1806 and 1809. We got the local bus to drop us…read moreoff at the top, and we walked down. What a great piece of history. Not open every day, check out the Facebook site for up to date info.

The Grand shaft was built to allow easy access for soldiers in the Napoleonic times from the…read morebarracks to the seafront. It incorporates a triple staircases in one so that if you are going down and someone is climbing up you will not meet each other or even be aware that you have passed them. This well worth a visit as there are some lovely walk to be had at the top of the shaft. Although the old barracks have all gone you can still see where they stood.

Very striking eighteenth and nineteenth century defences of Dover built to protect it against the…read moreFrench. Difficult to access without prior appointment so look out for the open days. Stunning architecture once you;re inside; huge dry moats, gunnery emplacements bastions etc and the remains of the twin of the Roman lighthouse that stands over at the castle. Bring a torch and be prepared for a general lack of health and safety measures. Great fun!

When visiting Dover, obviously, the White Cliffs are king…read more That being said, there's significant World War history attached to the Channelside town. There's the Dover Marine War Memorial (Marine Station in the Western Docks), British Legion War Memorial (on the promenade), and this beautiful, must-see memorial (also on the prom). The main words read: "Es flogen gegen England" ... German for "It flew against England." Its claim to fame is the memorial is armored plating, and gives the dates shells were fired from a long range gun at Sangatte (a township in the Pas-de-Calais district, on the northern coast of France on the English Channel). Erected by the Dover Harbour Board in 1954, it reads: "PRESENTED TO THE TOWN OF DOVER / BY THE BRITISH LEGION, CALAIS BRANCH Section of armoured plating dismantled from one of the German long range guns at Sangatte, Calais. The 84 rounds recorded formed part of the 2226 shells fired from these batteries at the harbour and town of Dover during the period 1940 to 1944. " It has a perfect location ... right off the promenade, overlooking the water, just a stone's throw from the deep, pebbled beach on Dover's Outer Harbour. To me, it joins the White Cliffs as a must-see while in Dover!

Great memorial facility! Free to enter and very nice and friendly people that work here. There…read moreare a bunch of nice things to see inside as well as a few large items like status and planes outside. The view is also amazing. The facility is small but worth a stop. Use it as a nice place to stop and use the restroom while learning some history and paying respects.

Situated on the outskirts of the village of Capel-le-Ferne between Dover and Folkestone, this…read morereally is a must see place for those interested in our military history. The central point is that of a statue of an RAF pilot looking out over the skies towards France, with the statue itself situated in the centre of 3 paths, which when you see them from a height actually represent the three blades of a propeller. The whole site feels quiet and respectful, and like all war memorials is extremely moving.

Thatcher would be proud…read more Looking around Hever, many would be left with the impression that the owners are enormous fans of Anne Boleyn. The unfortunate wife of Henry VIII is, after all, the main focus of the exhibition and makes an appearance on much of the marketing material. But look a bit closer, and the more astute visitor may notice a different, more 'true blue', streak permeating the house. Yes, Labour voters clutch your pearls, but the proprietors appear to be worshippers of none other than Margaret Thatcher. (More so than Ms Boleyn, I would wager.) In the castle, visitors are treated to a near life-size oil painting of the union basher. And for those lucky enough to stay in the guest house for the price of £300 per night, they will find a letter written by the Iron Lady to thank the castle for her stay that has been framed and hung in one of the hallways. Among the owners personal possessions, I note Ms Boleyn has not received a similar dose of affection. Of interest is also the fact that this castle, its stunning gardens and water maze, owe their amazing condition to our friends across the Atlantic. Most stately homes in Britain are now virtually on their knees, with years of decline and underinvestment in the country reflected in their faded carpets, moth-eaten curtains and peeling paintwork. Hever, however, has avoided this fate for the good reason that it was bought by... gasp... an AMERICAN. Horrifying as it may sound, Mr Astor - who owes his astounding wealth to the rise of New York City - purchased the castle and injected nothing short of a fortune into it in order to create the attraction that we see today. Demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit so often absent in Britain, he then had the vision to order the construction of a second moat, a lake, a walled Italian garden complete with artefacts from Pompeii, a 'wall waterfall' and to direct the gardeners to shape some bushes like a chess set. I don't think he was involved in the water maze, so loved locally, but its presence reflects Hever's enduring ambitious spirit. Perhaps it was this spirit that so inspired Margaret Thatcher to write of Hever: 'I have seen several castles and large country houses but none as perfect as Hever.'

If you are visiting London, Hever Castle is a must do. Only a 90 minute drive from London hotels,…read morethe trip is well worth the wait upon arrival. From its sprawling vistas to the castle itself this place is a real treat. There is a large lake on site that offers rowing, an area that allows you to try your hand at archery and even a place to see falconry. There are jousting exhibitions and plenty of food from the cafe or restaurant on site. The REAL gem is the castle. Home for Queen Anne Boleyn from 5 years old to 12 one can only imagine the wonder this place brought her. The castle provides an audio tour in several languages so there is no issue there. (The staff are marvelously kind and helpful in the castle and in the dining areas and gift shop.) It's small but chock full of informative history about Anne Boleyn as well as those who lived in the castle after her death. If you are looking for a respite from the concrete jungle and noisy planet that is London, Hever provides you with lots of peace and quiet Tour the rose garden or just sit and enjoy the views and shade from the trees. It's an idyllic setting and a trip that will make your visit to the UK complete.