KENTSTAYCATION
Kent ’ s Historic Towns and Cities CONT .
DEAL SEAFRONT
DEAL PIER KITCHEN
Pause for lunch at Marlowe ’ s Restaurant ( www . marlowesrestaurant . co . uk ). Named after the famous Elizabethan playwright that was born in the city , this 16th-Century building is bristling with character and was originally used to house those on pilgrimages to the cathedral . Today , Marlowe ’ s has a delicious á la carte menu , with the likes of pan fried duck with creamy dauphinoise potatoes , griottes à l ’ alcool cherries and veal jus . During your afternoon opt to immerse yourself in the history of the city with a brilliant round-up of events and facts with Canterbury Historic River Tours ( www . canterburyrivertours . co . uk ). Sail past sights such as the witch ’ s ducking stool , Blackfriars Monastery and the tranquil Solley ’ s Orchard , all from a boat rowed by a knowledgeable guide .
Upon an evening in Canterbury , you might like to take in a play at The Marlowe Theatre ( www . marlowetheatre . com ) which recently won the prestigious title of Theatre Of The Year at The Stage Awards . Before this , dine at The Old Weavers Restaurant ( www . weaversrestaurant . co . uk ) which dates back to the 12th Century and comes complete with creaky floorboards , low hanging beams and oodles of character . Specialising in hearty British food , tuck into comforting favourites such as roast beef , fish and chips , and vegetable pie , all made with tender love and care and the finest ingredients . Before retiring to bed , head next door to Houdini ’ s Magic Bar ( www . houdinis . co . uk / canterbury ) guaranteed to astonish you with 23 resident magicians , magic bartenders and enchanting cocktails .
The Cinque Port Town of SANDWICH can be found just 13 miles away from Canterbury . Set astride the River Stour , it still has many original medieval buildings , such as The George and Dragon ( www . georgeanddragonsandwich . com ) a delightful pub which dates back to the 24th year of the first reign of Henry VI , in 1446 . Today it serves local , seasonal , fresh produce on a menu that is constantly changing and prides itself on its warm , friendly and quintessentially English atmosphere . Spend the night in Sandwich at the Tudor-built Bell Hotel ( www . bellhotelsandwich . co . uk ) which has 37 en-suite bedrooms , all individually decorated with many featuring exquisite touches like roll-top baths and four-poster beds .
The neighbouring seaside town of DEAL has an incredible history of smuggling and was first mentioned in the Doomsday book of 1086 . Today it boasts of a lengthy pier with panoramic views , at the end of which you can find Deal Pier Kitchen ( www . dealpierkitchen . com ) famous for its outstanding bottomless brunches . A significant landmark on Deal High Street for over 200 years , The Rose ( www . therosedeal . com ) boasts of eight unique bedrooms , complete with luxurious beds and a mix of vintage furnishings and walk-in showers . You can even rent a tandem to explore the town the next day !
History seeps through the cobbled streets of ROCHESTER and reveals itself through ancient landmarks , intriguing buildings and an atmosphere brimming with culture and vibrancy . This riverside town where the life of Charles Dickens began and ended is still full of the character which inspired many of his stories . Perhaps the best place to learn about Dickens and the town ’ s history is the Rochester Guildhall Museum ( www . visitmedway . org / attractions / rochester-guildhallmuseum-2132 ). Delve into the details of Dickens ’ life with their exhibition ‘ The Making of Mr Dickens ’, from which you can enjoy an exciting and immersive journey through the author ’ s time in Medway .
Before filling yourself up on historical knowledge , fill yourself up with breakfast at the fittingly named Tiny Tim ’ s Tearoom ( www . tinytimsrochester . co . uk ) go all out with their ‘ Artful Dodger Breakfast ’, a classic full English to set even the most hardy of Victorian pick-pockets up for the day . Sip your coffee as you peer out onto the high street , look hard enough and you might even imagine Oliver Twist himself disappearing round the corner or maybe miserly Scrooge shuffling his way to the bank .
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