The Attractions of Sevenoaks Kent

An attractive little town located in the west of Kent, Sevenoaks is a charming place to visit if you are in the region this year. Deriving its name from a chapel sat beside seven oak trees in Knole Park, Sevenoaks has a history going back to Anglo-Saxon times. Despite its early beginnings, there is little written about its history before the 13th century at which time it became a market town, later 2 hospitals were founded in the town by religious orders to help the sick and elderly. The famous Sevenoaks School was founded in 1432 and is generally considered to be the oldest secular school in England. These days Sevenoaks has a population of around 20,000 and there are several interesting places to visit around the town. Close to the villages of Chipstead and Dunton Green you will find the Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve, run by the Kent Wildlife Trust, to the south east of the town you will find the huge Knole Park, where the story of Sevenoaks began, part of the National Trust, this is one of the oldest surviving deer parks in England, Knole House was built by Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Bourchier between 1456 and 1486. Sevenoaks is easily accessed from the M25 or M26.

Ramsgate and Broadstairs 2 Kent Resorts

Two popular seaside resorts located on the Kent coastline of south-eastern England, Ramsgate and Broadstairs are well worth a visit if you are travelling around this area. Once one of the major coastal resorts in England, Ramsgate still relies heavily on tourism though its heady days as a primary holiday destination are long gone. The 1970’s and 1980’s saw millions of the UK’s holidaymakers heading for the guaranteed sun of Spain, Portugal and Greece, leaving behind the damp, unpredictable climate of such previously popular resorts as Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate. Among places to visit in Ramsgate these days are the Maritime Museum, in Clock House Pier Yard, the Ramsgate Museum (Guildford Lawn), the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum (Manston), Minster Abbey (Minster) and Pugin’s Grange. Broadstairs, still very popular as a holiday resort and as a place to retire, is perhaps the most pleasant of the Isle of Thanet’s resorts, worth a look in Broadstairs is the Crampton Tower Museum, situated adjacent to the train station, it is dedicated mostly to the work of Thomas Russell Crampton, a famous designer of locomotives and railways, it also features a five inch guage miniature railway, great for the kids. Kent Map.

Attractions in Ashford

If you are visiting the town of Ashford in Kent this year, you may be looking for some interesting places to visit, so here is a brief overview of what you can find in the area. The Rare Breeds Centre is located about 5 miles south of Ashford at the Highlands Farm, Woodchurch and is set amongst 120 acres of beautiful countryside. Godlington House and Gardens is situated just 1 mile west of Ashford and is set in extensive parklands. Leeds Castle is just 12 miles north-west of Ashford and is well worth a visit with an aviary, yew maze and hawk centre amongst other attractions, it is set in 500 acres of beautiful countryside. Finally take a trip to Chilham Park and Castle, situated about 8 miles north of Ashford, featuring extensive parklands, a 12th century castle and a 17th century manor house.

A Short History of Luton Bedfordshire

A large town located in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, Luton dates from a Saxon settlement established on the River Lea during the 6th century. Listed as Loitone in the Domesday Book, Luton developed as a mostly agricultural town. In 1240 the town was called Leueton, though most of the town was later destroyed by a great fire (1336). The arrival of a brick-making industry in the 16th century, led to most of its houses being rebuilt in brick rather than the traditional wood. Luton has for a long time been associated with hat-making and this industry in fact started during the 17th century, but had declined by the early 20th century, being largely replaced by an emerging car manufacturing industry, as Vauxhall Motors opened a new plant in 1905, at the time the largest car manufacturing factory in the UK. Map of Luton.