Kent

Cathedrals, castles and orchards close to London, with white chalk cliffs and seaside resorts on the Channel coast.

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Kent is a county in South East England, on the country's southeastern corner, facing France across 21 miles (34 km) of water. Visitors come for Canterbury Cathedral, founded in AD 598 and a World Heritage Site, and for Dover Castle, whose nickname, the key of England, refers to its strategic importance. The White Cliffs of Dover, where the North Downs chalk ridge meets the English Channel, sit near the castle. The county is called the Garden of England after its orchards and hop gardens.

High Speed 1 links London to Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International, so a long weekend or day trip from London is practical. The Thanet coast towns of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs offer a seaside change of pace, while Rochester, on the River Medway, has its own cathedral and castle. Late spring to early autumn suits orchard walks and coast days. Two to three days covers Canterbury and Dover, and a countryside loop needs more time.

Kent in five

Take the high-speed train from St PancrasSoutheastern high-speed services run from London St Pancras to Canterbury West, Margate, Ramsgate and Dover Priory. Check the National Rail site for which services call at your stop.
Give Canterbury Cathedral a morningThe cathedral, with St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check the cathedral's own site for opening times, since services and events can change access.
Pick a coast: Whitstable, Margate or BroadstairsWhitstable is oysters and beach huts, Margate has arts and sandy beaches, and Broadstairs is quieter. Each is a different mood, so choose one for a night rather than hopping between all three.
Visit a castle or garden by carLeeds Castle, Sissinghurst and Hever are in the countryside, away from main rail lines. Combine them with a driving loop, and check opening dates, since gardens and castles often shorten their seasons.
Add the White Cliffs for a dayDover is a short train ride from Canterbury, and the National Trust's White Cliffs site is free to enter. Use the Dover guide to plan the cliffs and the castle.Dover travel guide

Things to do in Kent

See all attractions in Kent

Sight · KentChartwell

Sight · KentRichborough Roman Fort

Sight · KentRamsgate Maritime Museum

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KentPut the places you like in Kent on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: No large airport; London Gatwick, Heathrow or City, then train
Getting there: High-speed trains from London St Pancras; slower services from Victoria
Getting around: Trains between towns; a car for gardens and castles
Best base: Canterbury, or a coast town such as Whitstable or Margate
Time needed: 2–4 days

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Cold, quiet
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cold, quiet
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Cool, dry
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Mild, blossom
MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Mild, green
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Long days
JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Warm, busy
AugustPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Warm, busy
SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Mild, calmer
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Autumn color
NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Wet, quiet
DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Cold, lights

Average daily high and low in Kent, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kent

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 6°
Humidity: 83%
Wind: 23 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Kent

10:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today11°7°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 100%.
Tue11°8°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 100%.
Wed10°7°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu8°4°1%Thursday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 1%.
Fri10°4°10%Friday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 10%.
Sat9°6°12%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 12%.
Sun11°4°12%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 12%.

Updated 09:32 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP

Amount

Converted to

GBP · British Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Kent

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

May–AugGlyndebourne Festival OperaBrighton & Hove, a day trip
MayBrighton FestivalBrighton & Hove, a day trip
JunMeltdownLondon, a day trip
Jul–SepBBC PromsLondon, a day trip
JulWireless FestivalLondon, a day trip
JulPride LondonLondon, a day trip
AugGreat British Beer FestivalLondon, a day trip
NovLondon to Brighton Veteran Car RunLondon, a day trip

Day trips by train

Canterburyby high-speed trainThe cathedral city, easy for a day or a night.
Whitstable and Margateby trainOysters and beach huts, then arts and sandy beaches.
Leeds Castleby car or tourA moated castle in gardens, away from rail lines.

Before you go to Kent

Canterbury and Kent day tripsCathedral, coast and castles by tourCompare day trips

Kent staysCanterbury, coast and countrysideCheck availability

eSIM for Kent day tripsTrain apps and maps on the goRead the guide

Insurance for UK short breaksCover for rail delays and cancellationsRead the guide

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Rules for Kent, checked

Check whether you need a visa or an ETA to enter the UK before you fly or sail. Use the official gov.uk checker.Source
Customs officers ask about fresh food, plants and animal products. Declare them on arrival, or they can be seized or you can be fined.
Dial 999 or 112 for police, fire or an ambulance. Either number works from a mobile phone in England.
Smoking is banned in enclosed public places across England, including pubs, trains and buses.
England's drink-driving limits are strict, and police can test drivers at the roadside. Do not drive after drinking.

Plan around Kent

Dover

White Cliffs, castle and ferries to France

Read the guide Brighton & Hove

More of the south coast, west by rail

Read the guide London

St Pancras has fast trains into Kent

Read the guide All of England

How Kent fits a longer England route

Read the guide Rye

A cobbled hill town just over the Sussex border, reached via Ashford

Read the guide UK ETA explained

What to check before a trip from abroad

Read the guide Trains and ferries in Britain

Rail and ferry planning in the south east

Read the guide

Kent FAQ

How many days do you need in Kent?

Two days cover Canterbury and a coast town. Three or four add a castle or garden and the White Cliffs, and a long weekend works on a Canterbury base with one coast day.

Is Kent worth visiting?

Yes, especially for cathedral history, castles and seaside towns close to London. It does not have one headline sight, so build the trip around two or three bases.

Is Canterbury a good day trip from London?

Yes. High-speed trains run from St Pancras to Canterbury West, and the cathedral and medieval lanes fill a day. Stay a night if you want evenings in the city and a coast stop.

Do you need a car in Kent?

Not for Canterbury, Dover, Whitstable and Margate, which are on rail lines. A car helps for castles and gardens, and for combining several in one day.

What is the best time to visit Kent?

May to September for gardens and beaches, with June and September less crowded. Winter is quiet and cheaper, but castles and gardens may close or shorten hours.