South East England Travel Guide

Historic East Sussex, Kent, and Surrey

Explore

Find historic places to visit and stay in south east England. Explore the cathedral city of Canterbury with its wealth of historic buildings, or explore Anne Boleyn's childhood home of moated Hever Castle. If its moated castles you enjoy, what about Bodiam, Kent, built to withstand an attack that never came. From Sissinghurst Castle Garden to some of the great stately homes of England at Penshurst Place and Leeds Castle, history is never far away.

Major Historic Attractions

Top Heritage-Rated

Northiam Heritage Rating
Pluckley
Rolvenden
Rolvenden, St Mary the Virgin
Smarden

Abbeys
Battle Abbey
Bayham Abbey
Michelham Priory

Castles
Bodiam
Deal Castle
Dover Castle
Herstmonceux
Hever Castle
Leeds Castle
Pevensey Castle
Scotney Castle

Cathedrals
Canterbury
Rochester

Countryside
South Downs Way
North Downs Way

Historic Houses
Alfriston Clergy House
Bateman's
Firle Place
Ightham Mote
Knole
Old Soar Manor
Penshurst Place
Polesden Lacy
Stoneacre
Chartwell

Gardens
Borde Hill Garden
Great Dixter
High Beeches
Leonardslee
Nyman's
Sheffield Park
Sissinghurst
Wakehurst Place

Roman Remains
Lullingstone Villa

Featured Attraction

Sutton Valence Castle - Sutton Valence, Kent, England

The ruins of a 12th-century Norman castle. The best surviving part of the castle is the stone-built keep, of a square design, which stands atop a tall mound, offering excellent views over the surrounding countryside. The keep may have been built by William le Gros, count of Aumale, possibly to … ... more

County Travel Guides

East Sussex
Kent
Surrey

Special Destination guides:
Brighton - The south coast resort town graced by the Prince Regent's extravagant Royal Pavillion.
Canterbury - one of the most historic cities in Europe
Rye - a delightful seaside village.
Tunbridge Wells - a fashionable Georgian spa town with a location that makes it a perfect base for exploring Kent and south-east England.

Accommodation