Nick Kennedy Kentish Lady River Cruises
MEET THE CAPTAIN
Synonymous with Maidstone , The Kentish Lady River Boat is one of Kent ’ s premier excursion providers . Discover Upper River Medway by water on one of their river Medway cruises , including a unique tour of Allington Castle .
How long have you been a Captain ? My wife Linda and I took over the Kentish Lady in 2014 . Prior to that I ’ d been an engineer in the printing industry , but always had a huge love for boats . In the summer of 2014 , The Kentish Lady actually went past my parents ’ house in East Farleigh with a for sale sign on it ! We just couldn ’ t resist , and by September of 2014 , we were the new owners of The Kentish Lady . To start with business was slow and we were unsure as to how it would look long term , but some 8 years on , the business is running successfully and has changed our lives in many ways , all for the better of course .
What is a highlight of a journey on the Kentish Lady ? Spending time on the river with residents and their children is always special . Seeing how people react to things along the way , and the beautiful river , especially those who were unaware of it being there . We have lots of people who visit from abroad and other parts of the UK , and it ’ s always a pleasure to show and educate them on the beautiful river and the surrounding town and countryside .
What are the must-do experiences in between stops ? Visiting Kent Life Museum at
Allington has to be one of the highlights on the 3-hour tour . Kent Life is an open-air museum located next to Allington Locks . But our tour of Allington Castle is such a unique experience ; our customers get the chance to explore one of Kent ’ s best kept secrets . The 13th century medieval castle is nestled in 42 acres of beautiful gardens that are adjacent to the River Medway . When arriving back in the town , customers must also make a visit to Maidstone Museum in the centre ; it is free and offers exhibitions , collections , workshops , and more .
What is the best time of year to book a trip ? April – September is the best time to book . The river is a fantastic place to visit all year round , uncovering the abundance of wildlife , the various river uses and seeing the public using the Maidstone River Park tow path is always a pleasure . There is so much rich history in Maidstone and the River Medway plays a huge part in that .
What do you enjoy most about being Captain ? I believe we are the 3rd family to own and operate the Kentish Lady since it was founded in Maidstone over 40 years ago . It ’ s such a privilege to be part of the Kentish Lady ’ s history , plus I get to travel the beautiful river every day , be a part of the local community and meet the thousands of people who every year come onto the boat to experience the river .
www . kentishlady . co . uk
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