Castles and Houses of Kent

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Summary

There can’t be many tours that feature references to such a diverse range of characters as this - Charles Darwin, Sir Winston Churchill, Henry VIII and Sir Cliff Richard! The county of Kent is overflowing with historical castles and houses which we will explore and learn all about the characters associated with them.

First up is Down House, where Charles Darwin lived, worked and wrote his seminal work ‘On the Origin of Species’. We continue with visits to Penshurst Place, whose Baron’s Hall dates to 1341 and which was once used as a hunting lodge by Henry VIII, and Chartwell, the much-loved family home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1922 until 1964. In the evening we have a very special private tour of Hever Castle, the childhood home of Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn, along with a private dinner. Leeds Castle also connections with Henry VIII as well as more recent figures such as Pavarotti and Sir Cliff Richard. A visit to Canterbury and an optional steam-train journey round off a fascinating tour of this historic county.