KENT TOURS - private driving tour options from London

KENT CHOICE
Magnificent, beautiful and sublime - 10 Garden of England options.

● Personally-guided full-day driving tour from London.
● For couples, families or private groups. Duration: 9 hours.
● Prices and practical details listed below. Bookings: tours@yourlondontours.com.

ITINERARY - CHOOSE ANY TWO OPTIONS TO MAKE UP A FULL-DAY TOUR

Option 1: Chartwell
Private home of Winston Churchill. As he battled to save civilization from the clutches of evil during the 1930s and 40s, how did he relax? Here’s how: the gardening, the plants, the trees, the buildings, the waters and the complete landscape here are the vision of the great man. The house itself is fascinating, and a short tour of the interiors will uncover his prolific work-rate.
● Not open Mondays.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (4) Hever Castle, or (10) Emmetts Garden.

Option 2: Dover Castle (recommended for families)
Dover is England’s right foot and has been the country’s front line since time immemorial. Julius Caesar was thwarted here and it became the main fortification in the Saxon shore defences. The Normans built the original castle with a warren of tunnels underneath. Used as a defence against Louis VII, Napoleon and Hitler. Simply packed with history. Nearby are the famed White Cliffs made legendary in song.
● February-October: open daily. November to January: not Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (7) Leeds Castle, or (10) Sissinghurst Gardens.

Option 3: Down House (recommended for families)
The fascinating home of Charles Darwin. This is where he live with his family and wrote most of his books, including the famous, and some might say, controversial On the Origin of Species. Follow Darwin's footsteps in his garden, full of rare plants and flowers, where he paced up and down, pondering his theories. A real insight into the man and his work.
● Not open Mondays or Tuesdays (except July and August - open every day).
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (1) Chartwell, or (6) Knole House.

Option 4: Hever Castle & Gardens (recommended for families)
Childhood home of Anne Boleyn, who became the most legendary apple of Henry VIII’s roving eye. Later the home of Henry’s estranged fourth wife Anne of Cleves who died here. In the 20th century it was owned by the famous American millionaire William Waldorf Astor. It contains many Tudor artworks and artifacts, and is set in magnificent grounds with fine gardens and a maze.
● Open daily April to October. Otherwise seasonal opening.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (1) Chartwell, or (8) Penshurst Place.

Option 5: Ightham Mote & Gardens
Picturesque Ightham Mote is a medieval moated manor house built in 1320 and later owned by a courtier to Henry VIII. The place was bought by the American Charles Robinson in 1953 and given to the National Trust by his family in the 1980s. Relatives still live on the estate which features extensive gardens and woodlands.
● Not open Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (6) Knole House, or (10) Emmetts Garden.

Option 6: Knole House & Gardens
Knole is a superbly well preserved 17th-century stately home surrounded by a 1,000-acre deer park. It came into the possession the Sackville family whose descendant, Vita Sackville-West (see Sissinghurst) was born here. It contains the largest private walled garden in Britain at 30 acres. It was used, bizarrely, as a shooting location for the Beatles' Liverpool reminisces Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever!
● Not open Mondays.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (5) Ightham Mote, or (10) Emmetts Garden.

Option 7: Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle is an idyllic Arthurian Camelot dating back to the 11th century. A number of queens have used it as a private retreat. Henry VIII commissioned many building works for his first wife Katherine of Aragon and then used it to 'entertain' his new love Anne Boleyn. In the early 20th century it was bought by an heiress who hosted a number of celebrity parties here in the 1930s. The grounds alone are breathtaking.
● Open daily.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (2) Dover Castle, or (10) Sissinghurst Gardens.

Option 8: Penshurst Place & Gardens
Penshurst Place is a classic English country house with well preserved medieval hall. Thomas Boleyn managed it for Henry VIII. The King had an affair with one of his daughters and married the other, visiting Penshurst several times. Not surprising, then, that it was one of the main shooting locations for the hit film The Other Boleyn Girl. With records dating back to 1346, the 11-acre garden is one of the oldest in private ownership.
● Open daily April to October.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (1) Chartwell, or (4) Hever Castle.

Option 9: Scotney Castle & Gardens
14th century Scotney Castle was rebuilt as a mansion in the 1640s. In the 18th century it passed to the Hussey family. The Victorian medieval revivalist Anthony Salvin designed a country house and gardens around the original moated castle ruins. Christopher Hussey, journalist of the inspirational Country Life magazine gave the place to the National Trust in 1970. Highlights include a rare medieval staircase and magnificent views of the Kent countryside.
● Not open Mondays or Tuesdays.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (8) Penshurst Place, or (10) Sissinghurst Gardens.

Option 10: An Afternoon in the Garden of England
Make for an afternoon in Kent's wonderful visitor gardens. There are over 180 to choose from - and the choice is yours. Your London Tours recommends the website www.gardens-to-go.org.uk/kent_gardens.htm for more details on the other main gardens not listed here. We would be delighted to take you and your family or group to any of the gardens listed, but please be aware of seasonal and daily opening times. Here are two in particular that we recommend:

Sissinghurst Garden is a six-acre site described as the epitome of the English country garden. Brought in the 1930s by the controversial aristocratic writer Vita Sackville-West and her politician husband Harold Nicholson, it was turned into a designer playground, with ten garden rooms and an architectural layout. Also contains the largest herb garden in England. Timed entry tickets demonstrate its popularity with passionate gardeners.
● Not open Wednesdays or Thursdays.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (7) Leeds Castle, or (8) Penshurst Place.

The exceptional Emmetts Garden is situated near the town of Sevenoaks in Kent. Commanding exceptional views of the Kent countryside, the informal gardens were laid out by designer William Robinson in the 19th century. They contain many exotic and rare plants and flowers. Emmetts is actually a local word for anthills.
● Not open Thursdays or Fridays.
● Entrances payable - family/group rate available. Not included in tour price.
● Best combinations with this option: (1) Chartwell, or (6) Knole House.

PRICE OPTIONS
KENT CHOICE: PERSONALLY-GUIDED FULL DAY TOUR OPTIONS	PRICE (Full day 9 hours).
BY PRIVATE CAR (1-4 passengers)	£400.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
BY PRIVATE CAR (5-7 passengers)	£430.00 (per car) + any entrance fees.
RENT-A-GUIDE (transport provided and arranged by client)	£240.00 (per group) + any entrance fees.

HOW THE TOUR WORKS

● Important note: 'Private tour' means a privately chartered guided tour by luxury car, mini-coach or public transport. We do not offer tours to individuals wishing to join a larger group (for this you require a scheduled coach tour operator).

● The guide: Your tour will be conducted by a fully accredited & qualified guide who will confirm your itinerary at the start of the tour and provide a friendly and knowledgeable commentary throughout. For private car tours the guide will also drive the vehicle.

● Pick-up/drop-off: You can be picked-up for your tour anywhere in the London area, whether at your hotel, place of residence, or any venue of your request. The same applies as a dropping-off point after the tour.

● Timings: The guide will meet you at the recommended start time of 09.00 or any time of your request. The duration of this tour is 9 hours from pick-up to drop-off, which includes built-in stops for photo opportunities, facilities, and a 1-hour lunch break.

● Lunch: An appropriate restaurant, traditional pub, or sandwich stop can be arranged for lunch (note: tour price does not include food or refreshments). Alternatively, you may want to bring a pre-packed lunch. The guide usually takes a rest during this period.

● Clothing: Clients should dress appropriately making allowances for the changeable British weather, outdoor activities or visiting churches, etc. Our main tip is to dress comfortably. For more tips to help make your tour even more enjoyable click here.

● Format: The tour has been specially researched and designed by our staff (copyright applies) and is exclusive to Your London Tours & associates. Selected elements of different tours can be combined to create even more options. See our Pick & Mix page.

● General: Rest assured with Your London Tours: All our tours are tailored to YOUR requirements. The guide will be exclusively dedicated to your family or group during the tour itself, so you will be able to relax and enjoy your day.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TOUR IN 3 EASY STEPS

Note: To avoid disappointment, we recommend early booking. Most of our clients book their tours with us weeks or months in advance to secure their preferred date. We do not take bookings with less than 48 hours notice.

STEP 1: Make a tour enquiry. Send an e-mail to:tours@yourlondontours.com with the following information: 1) Name of tour. 2) Date of service. 3) Number of adults. 4) Number and age of children. 5) Address of hotel or place of residence to be picked up from.

● If the tour is available, we will e-mail you confirming your request, tour price and methods of payment. We will also e-mail you if the tour is NOT available, for example, because we are fully booked, or attractions are not open on the date requested.

STEP 2: To book the tour, e-mail us with the following information: 1) Contact name. 2) Billing address. 3) Cell phone number. 4) Method of payment. 5) Special requirements, interests or information that may help us to make your tour more enjoyable.

● On receiving this information we will provisionally secure the tour date for you. We will then e-mail a booking confirmation form to you outlining your itinerary. This form also doubles as an invoice requesting payment.

STEP 3: Please send payment using preferred method. Please note price does NOT include entrance fees (we recommend they are paid on the day) lunch or refreshments. Privacy, cancellation and refund policies are listed on our Prices & Bookings page.

● Payments can take up to 48 hours to process. On receiving payment, we will send a receipt. Please note tour is not guaranteed to go ahead until 100% of payment has been received. For your peace of mind, we will reconfirm your booking 7 days before the tour.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE BOOKING INFORMATION AND TERMS & CONDITIONS