KENTSTAYCATION
Kent ’ s Historic Towns and Cities CONT .
UPNOR CASTLE
OLIVER ’ S
MERCURE MAIDSTONE GREAT DANES
Keeping it Dickens themed all the way into lunch , visit Peggotty ' s Parlour ( www . peggottysparlour . co . uk ) which has been providing homemade cakes , scrumptious lunches and cream teas since 1982 . For a more substantial lunchtime meal , stop by at Smoqe ( www . smoqe . co . uk ) for seriously great tasting burgers , rubs , sides , and sauces with a side order of superb service - indulge in bite after bite of BBQ heaven . Run by the Tierney family , and inspired by their own family holidays to the USA , diners can delight in house-special burgers and , if you are lucky and book in advance , Smoqe ’ s sell-out ( and utterly divine !) ribs .
Fill your afternoon with even more history centred around the iconic River Medway . Upnor Village and Castle ( www . upnor . co . uk ) is a real hidden treasure , beautifully picturesque with a cobbled main street that slopes all the way down to Upnor Beach and the castle itself . A rare example of an Elizabethan artillery fort , the castle is beautifully preserved for guests to explore and study ; it dates back to 1559 and provides glorious , far-reaching views out across the river . In the neighbouring town of CHATHAM , find Chatham Historic Dockyard ( www . thedockyard . co . uk ) and return to the ‘ age of sail ’ when the Dockyard built mighty ships that mastered the world ’ s oceans . Visitors can visit the Victorian ropery or test their sea legs as they marvel at HMS Ocelot , a Cold War submarine , explore HMS Cavalier , a Second World War destroyer , or walk the deck of HMS Gannet , a marvellous Victorian sloop .
Two ancient monuments that sit side-by-side and can not be missed , are Rochester Castle ( www . english-heritage . org . uk / visit / places / rochestercastle ) and Rochester Cathedral ( www . rochestercathedral . org ). Built in about 1127 , the castle is an imposing fortress with a complex history of destruction and rebuilding , steeped in jaw-dropping stories and legends that will amaze both adults and children . Rochester Cathedral is famous for its stunning stained glass windows beautifully depicting biblical scenes and capturing the sunlight through colourful hues of sapphire blues , ruby reds and emerald greens .
Squeeze in one more Dickens character before bed when you dine at Oliver ’ s ( www . oliversrochester . com ) for dinner . A cosy , intimate restaurant in the heart of the town , Oliver ’ s weekend menu consists of truly divine dishes that cater for any tastes . Seafood lovers should try the baked sea bass on a bed of sauteed leeks served with roasted new potatoes and finished with orange , and those who love a prime piece of mouthwateringly good steak , should opt for the 8oz grilled ribeye with a side of chips , portobello mushrooms and grilled tomato . Finish with a heavenly dessert such as the cashew nut tiramisu , with layered amaretto-soaked sponge , cream , cashew nuts and cocoa .
The River Medway links Rochester with Kent ’ s county town of MAIDSTONE . Maidstone has been a settlement since the Stone Age , with much of its unique history centered around the river and its link to the Thames Estuary . When visiting Maidstone , stay at Mercure Maidstone Great Danes ( www . mercuremaidstone . co . uk ) which is in excellent proximity to the breathtaking Leeds Castle ( www . leeds-castle . com ), famous for once being home to various English Queens and the iconic Great Gatsby-esque figure of Lady Baillie . Once you finish a busy day exploring , guests can either hit the exercise machines , work out on the running track situated in the 26-acre estate , or simply relax in the heated indoor pool , sauna , solarium , steam room or spa bath .
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