An English Man's Home Is His...
If the castles and fortresses of Southeast Kent are anything to go by, England has always been doing its best to keep out of Europe! Nowadays, at the beginning of the twenty first century with a general sense of peace between the European nations, these magnificently imposing and virtually impregnable structures are open to visitors.

Dover Castle (+44 (0) 1304 201628) contains two thousand years of history, having been a strategic military site since the Roman times. See the tunnels where wartime personnel were stationed during World War II, and the nerve centre for the Dunkirk Evacuation. See the Tudor Court of Henry VIII and do not forget to experience the 'Siege of 1216' when Prince Louis of France besieged the castle. The castle is easily accessible from Dover Priory train station or by bus (phone +44 (0) 870 6082608 for details) from the town centre. Admission to the castle is £7.50 for adults and £5.60 for students.

Walmer Castle & Gardens (+44 (0) 1304 364288) is where you can see the room where the Duke of Wellington died on September 14th 1852 at 3:25pm. It has been left exactly as it was at the time of his death. Also there is the opportunity to view rooms used by the late Queen Mother and stroll around the gardens created for her 95^th birthday. The castle is easily accessible from Walmer train station or by bus (phone +44 (0) 870 6082608 for details). Admission to the castle is £5.00 for adults and £3.80 for students.

The low, menacing Deal Castle (+44 (0) 1304 372762) was built as a powerful coastal fortress for Henry VIII to beat off the threat of invasion from the Catholic alliance of France and Spain in the 16^th century. A free audio tour allows you to discover its turbulent history, the battlements, and the long dark eerie passageways while experiencing breathtaking sea views. Its close proximity to Dover and Walmer castles means that you could pack a picnic and do them all in the same day. The castle is easily accessible from Deal train station. Admission to the castle is £3.20 for adults and £2.40 for students.

Okay, okay, I am going to admit it now. I could not solve the yew tree maze at Leeds Castle. The worst part was seeing everyone else standing at the top of the central mound when my girlfriend and I could not figure out a way to get in there. Our embarrassment about having to ask a guide for help was more than made up for by the sight of the shell lined underground grotto. The castle itself is also very beautiful.

Built on two islands in the middle of a lake, and surrounded by five hundred acres of parkland, it is one of the oldest yet best preserved castles in England. Make sure that you do not leave the castle without seeing one of the most unique museums ever, the Dog Collar Museum. Housing dog collars dating from the 16^th century to the present, it is a little bit of eccentricity within the Garden of England. An adult all-in-one ticket from Canterbury (includes train, coach from train station to the castle, and entrance fee to Leeds Castle, gardens, and attractions) is £20.90.

Tigers, Elephants, and Hundreds of Stores All Under One Roof
The fact that the water is actually clear, not blue as the name suggests, does not stop Bluewater Shopping Centre (Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent, +44 (0) 845 6021 021) from being the place for Shopaholics. With over 330 shops and restaurants and three leisure villages, every trip to Bluewater is guaranteed to be a memorable one. The shops are open till late and there are many restaurants and bars in which to relax after a hard day's shopping. With a National Express coach from Canterbury bus station costing around £7.25, you'd be a fool to miss this unique shopping experience.

Despite having the world's largest group of captive-bred Lowland gorillas, England's largest herd of African elephants, and many other exotic animals, Howletts Zoo (Bekesbourne just south of Canterbury off the A2, 09068 800605, calls cost 60p per minute) is most famous for tigers. More expressly, they are famous for problems with tigers. The most recent unfortunate incident resulted in the death of one of the tigers when it was shot after escaping from its enclosure. Although the event happened during the night when there were no visitors at the zoo, it is slightly unnerving. I walked past the zoo that very same night on my way back from Whitstable and wondered about the possibility of a tiger attack.

Mais Oui
A Day Trip to France is a great way to experience a different way of life, get some nice food, and pick up some cheap drink. With the journey time from Dover to Calais being just over an hour it is a perfect, hassle free way of spending a day or even a little bit longer. Check the websites of Seafrance, Hoverspeed, and P&O Stena Line.

Sampling Butter in Plucks Gutter
For a little bit of amusement and a unique slice of Kentish life, Canterbury bus station (Bus Station, St. George's Lane, +44 (0) 870 608 2 608) is an essential port of call. Pick up a couple of bus timetables and visit a village that has a funny name. Suggestions include Manna Hutte, Plucks Gutter, and Pfizer but there are many many others. While sitting in a local village pub supping a pint of Kent ale or a Bacardi Breezer just be careful of the time. Buses from villages are not traditionally known for running much later than 5pm.

Questions?
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