Leeds Castle, Canterbury & White Cliffs

5.0 (9 reviews) 8 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

9 reviews

5.0

Leeds Castle, Canterbury & White Cliffs — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Westgate Gardens, Canterbury — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This exclusive private tour, which is lead by a local guide with a PhD from Cambridge, will enable you to enjoy Kent's top three locations in just one day. The relaxed small group setting enables high levels of inter-action with your guide, as well as the flexibility to spend more time in locations which are most meaningful to you. Avoid the crowds of large tourist parties; get off the beaten track for an authentic taste of Kent; and have a fun and inspirational experience! Only 5 star reviews: "As a constant traveller who regularly books tours, I can easily say that this was the best tour I've ever taken! I highly recommend Anthony...[He] made me fall in love with Kent" (Jennifer W, USA); "It was like spending a day with a good friend and we enjoyed every bit of it! I HIGHLY recommend Anthony and this tour!" (Jennifer L, USA); "Perfection! Absolutely my favorite tour in England!" (Janine, USA); "Anthony is by far the best guide I've ever had!" (Nathan, Australia).

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At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Kent and Country Tours

What is included

Included

Included: Bottled water
Included: Expert local guide with PhD in History from Cambridge
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle
Included: High quality 'over the ear' wireless headset for perfect sound even with hearing aids
Included: Parking Fees

Not included

Not included: Meals
Not included: Admission fees: Leeds Castle
Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Leeds Castle

2 hours Admission not included

Guests will be picked up from Dover's cruise ship terminal and driven direct to Leeds Castle (45 minutes). On arrival, guests can either walk to the castle via the lake (c15 minutes) or use on-site transportation. This will be followed by a guided tour of the historic castle (c1.25 hours) and return via a scenic riverside walk through its spectacular grounds (15 minutes). Alternatively transportation is also available if preferred.
Chilham Village

Passing by

Guests will be driven through the country lanes of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in which you will pass through delightful villages such as Godmersham and Chilham on your journey through to the historic city of Canterbury. You will see Chilham's beautiful cobbled market square and timbered buildings which is overseen by a majestic stately home and former Norman castle.
Canterbury

2 hours

You will be driven into the centre of Canterbury and taken on a walking tour of the most significant, beautiful or iconic locations within the city. You will hear about Canterbury's Iron Age and Roman history; the city's role as the birthplace of Christianity in England and a focal point for pilgrimage; the impact of King Henry VIII and the Dissolution of the Monasteries; and more recent times including World War II. After the one hour walking tour, you will have the opportunity for some free time to enjoy popular venues for local food and drink. Guest favourites include Canterbury's oldest pub (1370AD) for a Kentish real ale and a sit-down lunch; a traditional English tea shop for scones, salad, sandwiches or pastries; or a take-away including fish and chips!
St. Augustine's Abbey

Passing by

As we leave Canterbury, we will pass by the second of the City's most important UNESCO World Heritage landmarks - St Augustine's Abbey. Founded shortly after St Augustine arrived in Kent in AD597 to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, the abbey was a residence for Augustine and his brother monks and functioned as a monastery. It was also a 'missionary school' where classical knowledge and English learning flourished. Among its library of illuminated manuscripts, only 150 survived the English Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538. One of these - 'the Canterbury Gospels' - survived from AD597 and was used in the recent coronation of King Charles III. As you leave the Abbey's main entrance, you will pass two statues depicting King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha on Lady Wootton's Green. As King and Queen of Kent, they were most responsible for welcoming Augustine into Canterbury and enabling him to build the foundation for Christianity throughout the country.
St. Martin's Church, Canterbury, Kent

Passing by

As the tour leaves the outskirts of the city, there will be the opportunity to observe the country's oldest surviving church, St Martin's (the third UNESCO World Heritage site in Canterbury), which also dates from cAD597. The church was originally a chapel used by Queen Bertha but became used as a base by Augustine. The church has Roman origins with Anglo-Saxon and medieval additions.
Wickhambreaux

Passing by

Our route will head east towards the coast via a number of pretty villages. You will first be driven to Wickhambreaux with its delightful medieval village green around which are located the church, the manor house and rectory, inn and mill. You can stop briefly for photos at the 13th century church of St Andrew's where one of the WWII Dambusters, Squadron Leader David Maltby, was both married and later buried after his death in 1943. Another famous resident of Wickhambreaux was the singer and musician, Christine MacVie of Fleetwood Mac.
Ickham

Passing by

We will then depart for the neighbouring village of Ickham with its attractive white weatherboard cottages, attractive listed buildings and 13th century church.
Wingham

Passing by

We will pass through the ancient village of Wingham which, with many buildings dating back to the 1200s including the Grade II listed 'The Dog Inn', provides a picture perfect part of the tour.
Western Heights

30 min

As we leave the countryside and turn towards the coast, you will be driven to a special vantage point on the White Cliffs which is largely unknown to most visitors. At this most iconic of locations, you will get views of Dover Castle, the harbour, the English Channel and, if the weather is clear, the nearby coastline of France. We will stop here for a history of Dover from Roman times up until the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation and Battle of Britain and how its role became commonly associated as 'the Key to England'.
Dover

10 min

As we leave Dover Western Heights, guests will be returned to the nearby terminal where they can re-join their ship.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Tour guests will be picked up as they disembark from the ship and leave via the Passenger Terminal. Guests are invited to download WhatsApp before the tour begins so that communication can be established and the exact location of the guide can be identified as they exit the ship. Guests who are not travelling by cruise ship should notify Kent and Country Tours of their point of departure eg location of their hotel or railway station.