Located within touching distance of London, England’s southeast corner offers a fabulous wealth of history, heritage and landscapes, and within just an hour or so of the nation’s capital, you could have your imagination stirred by tales of intrigue at royal palaces and castles, be mesmerised by dazzling white chalk cliffs on a South Downs walk, or be dumb-struck amid the beauty of a bluebell wood.
The gentle charms of Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire are an invitation to unhurried exploration, from quaint rural villages to internationally important gardens and an ever-changing coastline that once witnessed the approach of Julius Caesar and William the Conqueror, and is now a playground for sailors, pleasure seekers and lovers of the natural world.
Britain’s food revolution now extends well beyond London, and you could be feasting on world-class oysters on the North Kent coast, tucking into freshly foraged porcini from the New Forest or sipping an award-winning English wine among rolling vineyards. And that’s not to mention the countless atmospheric country pubs where real ales are proudly served alongside innovative cuisine.
West of London, the Thames Valley offers a range of quintessentially English experiences, from a lazy boat trip on the willow-lined Thames to the glamour of a day at the races at Royal Ascot to a picnic hamper in the grounds of Windsor Castle. For those who would like to enjoy a rural base within easy striking distance of London, there are plenty of places such as Cliveden House Hotel that offer country pleasures, palatial luxury and an extraordinary history.
Whether you’re visiting Britain as a family or are travelling with a loved one, Southeast England offers an extraordinary variety of experiences, and while we would definitely recommend taking your time and staying a couple of nights, even if you are just visiting for the day you will find a cornucopia of English delights to enjoy.
Chewton Glen
Southeast England, England, United Kingdom
