Canterbury

Medieval spires pierce the sky above one of Britain's most important pilgrimage destinations, where cobbled streets echo with centuries of footsteps. Canterbury feels genuinely ancient - not the sanitised heritage experience you get elsewhere, but a proper working cathedral city where Roman walls stand alongside busy shopping streets and university students jostle with international visitors.

The cathedral dominates everything, as it should. Thomas Becket's murder site still draws pilgrims nearly 900 years later, while the surrounding streets reveal layer upon layer of history. Canterbury's compact centre makes walking a pleasure, though the crowds can be intense during summer months.

Beyond the city walls, the Kent countryside unfolds in gentle rolling hills and ancient woodlands. Church Wood and Loverswalk Wood offer proper rambles through old-growth forest, while Chillenden Windmill stands as a reminder of the area's agricultural heritage. The landscape here is quintessentially English - patchwork fields divided by hedgerows, punctuated by village churches like St Nicholas in Ash.

Getting here couldn't be easier. Canterbury sits on the main London-Dover railway line, with regular services from St Pancras taking just over an hour. The M2 brings drivers from London in similar time, while the A2 connects to Dover and the continent.

Staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around the city makes perfect sense for families. You get the best of both worlds - countryside peace after a day exploring the cathedral and museums, plus easy access to Canterbury's restaurants and pubs. The surrounding area offers enough to fill a fortnight, from coastal walks to historic villages, all within a short drive of your base.