I spent the last week of August in gorgeous sunny  Kent on the south east coast of England.  It is a place that I have wanted to visit for a long time, having seen it featured on many property programmes.  One of my cousin now lives in historic Sandwich and so I have more than one reason to visit.  Here is a round up of the places I visited.

The weather has been beautiful and sunny so I’ve been able to visit two costal towns and enjoy the last few days of Summer.  I was recommended, by Life in Warwick, to visit Whitstable and I’m so glad I did.  It has a lovely charm about it and is full of independent shops and boutiques.  As you drive into the town there are lots of vintage and antique shops, which I just couldn’t resist. These independents pave the way right through to the harbour.  I thought the little huts were a good idea for a starter business and also couldn’t resist the fresh crabs.  Whitstable is a lovely place to visit, I’d quite happily stay for a few days.

The next costal town I visited was Deal.  This was more of a traditional seaside town, with a pier and lovely seafront which went on for miles. From here you could see the White Cliffs of Dover.  I spent most of the time soaking up the sun near the shingle beach.  Only venturing into the town to buy lunch, where I found the most delightful French deli called No Name Shop. Away from the high street I did find some independent and vintage shops.

I also spent two days sight seeing visiting Canterbury Cathedral and Scotney Castle, a National Trust property.  The architecture and stain glass at Canterbury Cathedral are just stunning. I learnt more about the history from one of the guides and took a full tour.  Whilst I was there the choir were practising for a service later that afternoon.  It really finished off what was a amazing historic few hours.

I wanted to take the opportunity to visit a National Trust property whilst in the South East. I chose Scotney Castle as it has two properties and gardens to explore. The property, which has been owned by three generations of the Hussey family, came into the ownership of the National Trust in 2007 and has as not been touched.  The 14th century moated castle is beautiful sitting with the gardens surrounding it.  The Victorian country manor has been changed over the years and you can see the different eras throughout.  

I also visited historic  Sandwich taking in the gorgeous architecture, quay and historic buildings. As one of the Cinque Ports it is now two miles from the sea, but you can see all of the history that made this town once a major port.  It was a shame to see quite a few empty properties both residential and business.  There were a few independent shops, but I have to admit it is the medieval history that makes this town special.  There is a town trail that you can follow to make sure you don’t miss anything and there are some stunning buildings.

If you are looking for a destination for a staycation I couldn’t recommend Kent highly enough. There is still lots left for me to explore and I can’t wait to make my next visit.

Lula Belle x