Local Information

Sandwich

The medieval town of Sandwich is one of the five ancient Cinque Ports established by Royal Charter in 1155. The network of narrow streets are full of charm and character. It has the highest density of listed buildings of any town in England and the remains of the triumphal arch, built to mark the Roman landing in AD43 at Richborough Roman Fort can still be seen today.

Sandwich is surrounded by small villages and is in close proximity to the larger towns of Deal and Walmer.

A diverse selection of pubs and restaurants can be found in the town centre along with local convenience stores and a small supermarket.

The railway station offers easy connection between Sandwich and the surrounding towns, and a regular service to London.

Deal

This delightful seaside town has avoided commercialisation. With its narrow streets, alleyways and buildings of many styles, some of which date back 200 years this, picturesque town has a pebble beach, pier, and fishing boats along the promenade to the Timeball Tower and Castle. Deal is closely linked to Walmer where Henry VIII built forts in the 1540s. Deal Castle is the most unchanged with its round tiers and distinctive battlements.

The town provides excellent shopping and leisure facilities and also has one of the south-east's few remaining piers, popular with anglers and said to be the same length as the Titanic! At the end of the pier is a now famous restaurant offering all day food, and superb fish and chips. There is also a good range of specialty food shops, including hand made chocolates and a French delicatessen.

A main line train station offers easy connection to Sandwich and there is a regular service to London.

Walmer

Neighbouring Walmer is a relatively quiet, mainly residential area.

Walmer's unspoilt shingle beach is especially popular with walkers and cyclists, who take advantage of an extensive hard-surfaced promenade. Excellent views of Channel shipping and the coast of France.

Walmer Castle is the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. Normally open to the public from March to October, it features links to many famous men and women – including the Duke of Wellington and the late Queen Mother.

Kingsdown

The pretty seaside village of Kingsdown is situated immediately to the south of Walmer, on the English Channel coast of Kent.

This is known as “White Cliffs Country” and cliff top walks from Dover to Deal can be undertaken, with views across to France. There is also a 3 mile cycle track along the seashore between Kingsdown and Deal, with good restaurants and pubs at either end of the track.

The resort towns of Deal and Walmer with their Tudor castles are 5 minutes away.

St. Margarets

St Margaret’s is a lovely seaside village set on the White Cliffs of Dover. It is the closest part of England to the European mainland. There are plenty of places to eat and drink in the village.

Leading down from the Lighthouse to the Bay is the beautiful South Foreland Valley which is designated a site of special scientific interest. Shops in the centre of the village provide for the needs of villagers and visitors.

On the beach is The Coastguard Pub and Restaurant, famous for its fish and chips, and on the beach in the Bay is the house where James Bond author Ian Fleming once lived.

Worth

The nearby village of Worth, a stone’s throw from Sandwich is a picturesque village set amidst orchards and fields, with a central conservation area arranged around a duck pond.

There are two pubs, including the award winning St Crispin Inn and a playing field which frequently hosts cricket matches and village events in the summer.

It is only a 15 minute picturesque walk from the village down to the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory