Arrive in Ebbsfleet and, while there’s no town itself to speak of, you’re still in a part of England known for its natural beauty, its role in British history and proximity to London. Car rental in Ebbsfleet is your passport to the south-east and Kent’s many pretty and fascinating corners.
Make for the Medway
The Kent towns of Rochester, Gillingham and Chatham make up the Medway. Lovers of the works of Charles Dickens are in for a treat here, as you can trace much of his history here. He lived in and around Chatham as a little boy but it’s Rochester that he drew on most, outside of London, for his characters and buildings. On Rochester’s high street you’ll see plaques highlighting how Dickens worked them into his many novels.
Gad’s Hill Place, now a school, was a house that Dickens fell in love with as a child and later bought when he became a success. He died there in 1870, writing his last words in a Swiss chalet that stood in the grounds – it has since been relocated to the courtyard of Eastgate House. If you’re a true fan, go to Rochester in June for the three-day Dickens Festival.
The Kent Coast
From Ebbsfleet, you can head to the beautiful beaches of the Kent Coast, whether you go east or south-east. Stunning in summer, starkly wonderful in winter, they sit next to numerous towns and resorts. Check out Dover’s white cliffs, Dungeness’ wildlife, Margate’s resurrection as an art centre and Whitstable’s oyster mania.
At the latter you’ll find a fine piece of shingle beach but also quirky shops and markets. They’ve been harvesting oysters here for hundreds of years and you can sample some freshly shucked bivalves right next to the sea. More like sitting in someone’s front room than in a restaurant, Wheeler’s on High Street have just the four table but an array of sparklingly fresh seafood. It has been open since 1856 and dishes up oysters served simply or more experimentally – a Guinness tempura batter, say, or with soy, mirin and pickled ginger. Opt for a seafood platter or perhaps lobster lasagne.
The area’s other destination restaurant is in nearby Seasalter. The Sportsman is a thoroughly unpretentious pub that just happens to serve highly-acclaimed, Michelin-starred food. Oysters are to fore again, but so is confit duck leg with spiced roasting juices, brill fillet with smoked pork belly and their famed slip sole with seaweed butter. Refined food served with absolutely zero fuss.
A Canterbury Tale
There is no shortage of old castles and churches to explore here in Kent – Leeds Castle, for example, is a fantastic day out in itself – but few can compare with the magic of Canterbury Cathedral. The Archbishop of Canterbury leads the church of England from this Gothic masterpiece, on a site where a church was originally built in 597 AD, but then demolished and rebuilt in its current form in the 11th century.
The breathtaking interior houses medieval stained-glass windows, the shrine of Thomas Becket – killed here in 1170 – and other wonders such as St. Gabriel’s Chapel, The Quire and the tomb of the Black Prince.
Whatever brings you here, Ebbsfleet car hire puts you within easy reach of London, Kent and their many fine sights to see.
