My wife and I are heading to the south of England for about 13 days in October and want to find the best central locations to stay in Kent and Sussex. We prefer finding a good place to stay, with a good hotel, and then to put a big circle around it and head out each day to explore. We are not interested in moving to new hotels or B&Bs day-to-day, which some people would prefer. We will have a car and would be happy to drive and hour or so in any direction to get to a preferred site -- but also are happy to hop trains. We have found a host of historic sites and estates in the region, such as Leeds Castle and Chartwell, and would love spend days in Canterbury and Dover and Brighton, and points in between. Someone mentioned Royal Tunbridge Wells as a good site, and a central one. Someone else suggested staying in Canterbury for five or six days and then finding another location somewhere west of Tonbridge. Yet another offered that we should stay at the Marriottt property near the racecourse in Lingfield. Some of you folks, I'm sure, know this area very well and may have better ideas for central locations and good hotels. I appreciate any thoughts you might have. .
Posted by
Buckinghamshire
127 posts
The only good roads in Kent and Sussex are the motorways (highways)that run ro the coast from London. The cross country roads tend to be slower and go through towns etc
I think the idea of a week in Canterbury and a week elsewhere (Brighton??) would be better. It’s worth noting that many of the things to see are at or near the coast but Chartwell (well worth seeing) is much closer to London.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7317 posts
It may surprise you that there is a red London bus to Chartwell on a Sunday - number 246 from Bromley South and Bromley North Railway Stations (served by South Eastern trains).
It takes 45 minutes and runs hourly from 9.23 am (outwards from Bromley) to 5.34pm (return from Chartwell).
The normal £1.75 London bus fare applies.
Posted by
OP
Hanover, NJ, USA
74 posts
Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Buckinghamshire
127 posts
Thinking about it, Arundel might be a better location after Canterbury. Brighton is worth a day trip - direct train from Arundel (parking difficult and expensive) - if only to see the Pavilion.
Posted by
Nashville, TN, USA
3838 posts
You may wish to visit Hever Castle. You could do Hever and Chartwell on the same day.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
7556 posts
Royal Tunbridge Wells looks pretty central to me, and the photos of it look very nice. One of these days I want to get back to that area (I say "back" loosely as the only places I stopped at were Canterbury Cathedral and Hever Castle). But still I hope you will write a report, Larry, wherever you go.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2200 posts
How about the Mermaid Hotel in Rye? It dates from 1420 although the cellars are a lot older. It has loads of character,. Rye is also a very interesting town with narrow cobbled streets, with lots do do and see in the area.
Posted by
Buckinghamshire
127 posts
Whilst Rye is very attractive, it isn’t really close to Chartwell, Dover or Canterbury in Kent, nor Brighton, Arundel and Chichester in Sussex.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2200 posts
Chichester and Arundal are going to be 80+ miles driving and I agree possibky too far. The others are within a 50 mile radius of Rye - an hours (ish) drive so not so bad. Canterbury is 35 miles, Dover just under 40 miles.
With that choice of places,nowhere is going to be suitable for all of them. Rye is sort of equidistant to all of them ....
Posted by
Portsmouth
5477 posts
How about the Mermaid Hotel in Rye?
My parents recently stayed there and were very disappointed. It wasn't particularly clean, the rooms were tired and the service was definitely lacking. They felt that the proprieters were relying on the history of the hotel for custom rather than making an effort in providing a good service.
Posted by
Buckinghamshire
127 posts
My point about Rye is that the OP would be better to stay in Canterbury for a few days and then move to Arundel, perhaps taking in Rye on the way