Rochester, Kent (UK) on business

[Chris_F]

Fair warning to those across the pond!  Chris_F is coming back to England.  On my last trip I spent seven weeks in Chelmsford Essex and worked in the historic Marconi factory, birthplace of radio.  This time I'll be in Rochester, Kent for one or two weeks.  Last time I had zero free time to see the sights, but I did manage a 4 day vacation with the wife in London immediately afterwards.  This time I'll likely have a couple hours every evening to have dinner and see stuff, and perhaps one Saturday or Sunday with nothing to do.

My favorite part of my time in Chelmsford was striking up a conversation with some locals at The Ship (pub) while watching England beat India in Cricket in a late-game nail biter.  (Cricket is a lot like baseball in the US, once I figured that out I was able the cheer at the appropriate times.  :) )

So... anything to do or see in Kent?  

[Celtman]

Here is a list of sites to see for the entire county of Kent:


   * Dover Castle
   * The White Cliffs of Dover - spectacular chalk cliffs over which was fought the Battle of Britain in Dover
   * Scotney Castle
   * Hever Castle - where Henry VIII spent his honeymoon(s)
   * Leeds Castle - built in 1119 and held by six medieval queens
   * The Cinque Ports
   * Bedgebury Pinetum - a beautifully landscaped country park withalarge selection of native and exotic plants and trees
   * Sissinghurst Castle Gardens - home of writer Vita Sackville-West

For Rochester:
Rochester Cathedral - the second oldest cathedral foundation in England, after Canterbury

Rochester Castle -

[expat]

Fair warning to those across the pond!  Chris_F is coming back to England.  On my last trip I spent seven weeks in Chelmsford Essex and worked in the historic Marconi factory, birthplace of radio.  This time I'll be in Rochester, Kent for one or two weeks.  Last time I had zero free time to see the sights, but I did manage a 4 day vacation with the wife in London immediately afterwards.  This time I'll likely have a couple hours every evening to have dinner and see stuff, and perhaps one Saturday or Sunday with nothing to do.

My favorite part of my time in Chelmsford was striking up a conversation with some locals at The Ship (pub) while watching England beat India in Cricket in a late-game nail biter.  (Cricket is a lot like baseball in the US, once I figured that out I was able the cheer at the appropriate times.  :) )

So... anything to do or see in Kent?  

Lots to see in Dover, memorials, Castle and the war time tunnels, White cliffs.
Castle

I am sure others can come up with more.

Matt

[Fozzer]

Kent: "The Garden of England".

I used to live in Petts Wood....before the Dreaded Hun bombed us out in WW II...!!

Paul... 8-)...!

[C]

In Rochester there's the Castle as mentioned. You can't miss it (it's rather large), and there's also the Cathedral. Also just a few minutes away is Chatham Historic Dockyard.

Further afield in Kent places such as Dover Castle have been mentioned, and if heading to that end of the county (only a 40 minute drive), you could satisfy your aeronautical urges by visiting the Battle of Britain memorial at Capel le Ferne, and the nearby BoB museum on what remains of RAF Hawkinge. If you want to see a real Spitfire and Hurricane, head for Ramsgate and go to the museum at RAF Manston.

Of course being in Rochester you're only half an hour by train outside London, so all the London attractions are in easy reach (RAF Museum Hendon), and if you hired a car and felt more adventurous legendary places such as Duxford and the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden are within a couple of hours drive.

Kent: "The Garden of England".

I used to live in Petts Wood....before the Dreaded Hun bombed us out in WW II...!!

Didn't realise you were a (former) man of Kent Paul, like myself.

Kent-based "Shepherd Neame" is the oldest brewing company in Britain. Not sure where this is though, all I know is it is somewhere in Kent.

Faversham. Famous for "Spitfire", as seen in Doug avatar.

[Fozzer]

Kent: "The Garden of England".

I used to live in Petts Wood....before the Dreaded Hun bombed us out in WW II...!!

Didn't realise you were a (former) man of Kent Paul, like myself.

Born within the sound of Bow Bells (Borough of Lambeth. London), moved to Petts Wood, Kent...

....invaded by the dreaded Luftwaffe in 1939... ...

...moved to Hereford... ....

Peace and quiet... ....

...amongst the Cows and Sheep... ...!

Paul...Moooooo..... ...!

[Chris_F]

Thanks for the input, and that's all very well and good for the tourism stuff.  I'll probably try and take in the Cliffs or one of the castles or cathedrals.  Especially since it seems there's some right in town with me.