The Best Historical Places To Visit In Kent

Travel southeast from the city of London and you will arrive in The Garden of England, Kent. Spanning from the London Borough of Bromley, all the way down to a glorious coastline, there is so much to see and do. We have selected the most unique attractions in Kent to guide you through the county’s history.

A view from Dover Castle Courtesy of Angie Quinn

Dover Castle

Retaining beautiful towers built in the 11^th and 12^th centuries, Dover Castle is a fortress with an amazing history. Visitors can wander through the secret wartime tunnels deep within the famous White Cliffs, and watch drama unfold as real life stories are captured illustrating the Dunkirk evacuation of May 1940 and of an underground hospital. The Medieval Place in the Great Tower captures the richness of royalty, also providing guests with remarkable views of Dover. There are plenty of cafés to dine in, and special events take place throughout the year.

Castle Hill, Dover, Kent, UK, 01304 211067

The Moat Tea Rooms © ijclarke/Flickr

The Moat Tea Rooms

Located just five minutes from the historic Canterbury Cathedral, The Moat Tea Rooms is a marvellous 16th century building containing original wood interiors that take visitors back in time. A wide variety of teas are on offer, along with 17 types of freshly ground beans and homemade delicacies. Take afternoon tea like a king, with freshly made sandwiches followed by homemade scones, locally produced jam and clotted cream. Light lunches and other snacks are also available. Although there is no Wi-Fi is on offer nor background music, you can truly soak up the ancient atmosphere.

The Moat Tea Rooms, 68 Burgate, Canterbury, 01227 784514

The Hop Farm Courtesy of The Hop Farm

The Hop Farm

Having the largest collection of iconic Victorian oast houses, The Hop Farm dates back over five centuries but has only ever changed hands four times in 450 years. The land was a fully working farm before opening to the public, which now provides a wealth of entertainment. Take a trip down memory lane in Yesterday’s World, a museum processing over 1,000 artefacts from Victorian times and then prepare to be mystified in the Magic Castle. Visitors can also enter into the life of a hop farmer in the Hop Story Museum, meet friendly animals in Hopper’s Animal World and Birds of Prey Zone, and children can enjoy rides, a soft play area, outdoor adventure areas and so much more.

The Hop Farm, Maidstone Rd, Paddock Wood, Kent, UK, 01622 872068

The Oak on the Green Pub, Bearsted © Geograph.org

The Oak on the Green

Positioned upon a pretty village green in Bearsted, just a few miles from the town of Maidstone, The Oak on the Green is an authentic pub and restaurant that can historically be traced back to 1665. The cosy candle lit interior serves a whole range of fresh dishes for starters, lunch, dinner, and tasty desserts all from the cookhouse, made from good quality, local ingredients. As the pub is still a free house, a quality ale list is available – and there is wine.

The Oak on the Green, Bearsted Green, Maidstone, Kent, UK, 01622 737976

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway © Tony Dimmer

Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

The steam locomotive officially opened in the summer of 1927 and has since served the Kent coastline from Hythe along to the National Nature Reserve of Dungeness. Also known as ‘Kent’s Mainline in Miniature,’ Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway has six stations spanning along the 13½ miles of track in the picturesque Kent corner that also offers access to beaches, lighthouses, cycle rides and iconic medieval churches. Refreshments are available at some stations and train rides are suitable no matter the weather.

New Romney Station, 2 Littlestone Road, New Romney, UK, 01797 362353

Chislehurst Caves © Geograph.org

Chislehurst Caves

Natural Feature

Take a lantern and explore the dark labyrinth of Chislehurst Caves and discover tales of the Druids, Romans, Saxons and haunted pool from the guided tour. The man-made tunnels cover a massive 22 miles, and were originally constructed as chalk and flint mines. Opening to the public for the first time in the 1900s, the maze of caves famously provided air-raid shelters during World War II and then became a music venue during the 1960s and ’70s with performances from legends including Jimi Hendrix. Tours leave every hour and last for around 45 minutes.

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Old Hill, Chislehurst, England, BR7 5NL, United Kingdom

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