The capital is a whirlwind of glitzy West End theatres, energetic East End markets, green swathes of royal parkland and architectural feats. Think gothic spires, Georgian townhouses and abstract skyscrapers resembling razors and shards – even gherkins. Step outside the 'big smoke' and relax in green spaces including Kent's (known as the Garden of England), the undulating Sussex downs and Hampshire's lush New Forest – pack your bike and riding hat. History lessons in the Home Counties transport you back in time with Irons Age forts, motte-and-bailey castles and Jacobean mansions. The scenic southeast coastline is a Hollywood star, making cameos in iconic films like Brighton Rock and The White Cliffs of Dover.
London and South East England
Learn the ropes at Chatham’s The Historic Dockyard
Immerse yourself in 400 years of discovery at the world’s most complete dockyard from the Age of Sail.
Location: Chatham, Kent
Fall in love with your loved one again…but don’t lose your head
Sneak away to Hever Castle, where one of history’s greatest love affairs blossomed when Henry VIII courted the young Anne Boleyn.
Location: Hever, Kent
Full steam ahead on the Kent and East Sussex Railway
Bring out your inner Casey Jones by stepping onto the footplate and heading out across the stunning Kent countryside.
Location: Tenterden, Kent
Spend the night in Peverell's Tower
Pack your suitcase for a hair-raising and luxurious stay in Dover Castle’s former prison tower.
Location: Dover, Kent
Murder in the cathedral
Visit one of England's most beautiful cities - and the site of one of its most famous murders
Location: Canterbury, Kent
Discover something for all ages to enjoy at Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle in Kent – once described by Lord Conway as ‘the loveliest castle in the world’ – is the perfect place for families to escape to.
Location: Lenham, Kent
Solve the mystery of Margate’s Shell Grotto
Explore atmospheric underground passages, marvel at walls covered with millions of shells, can you solve the mystery of the grotto?
Location: Margate, Kent
Discover Charles Dickens’ Broadstairs
Go to the quaint part of Kent that was inspiration to novelist Charles Dickens and drew him to return time and time again.
Location: Broadstairs, Kent
Drift along on a Canterbury Historic River Tour
Take a boat trip along the River Stour for a relaxing and slightly different Canterbury experience.
Location: Canterbury, Kent
Visit the tranquil Sissinghurst Castle Gardens
Sissinghurst is known to green-fingered enthusiasts the world-over as the epitome of an English country garden.
Location: Sissinghurst, Kent
See aviation history come alive at RAF Manston
Manston, Kent is home to not one but two museums dedicated to aviation history and one of the few remaining wartime Spitfires
Location: Manston, near Ramsgate, Kent
Discover murder, marvels and mojitos in Canterbury
Explore the vibrant city of Canterbury, with its intriguing mix of dramatic history and cosmopolitan culture.
Location: Canterbury, Kent
Unlock Kent's Magna Carta secrets
Celebrate historic England and mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta by exploring Kent’s weird and wonderful connections to the great charter.
Location: Canterbury, Kent
Rainy Day Activities: Explore underground history at Ramsgate Tunnels
Take a step back in time to discover what life was like in this network of underground tunnels, home to thousands of people during the Second World War.
Location: Ramsgate, Kent