BillJ

In August of next year, 2023, DW and I will disembark from a cruise at Portsmouth, in the south of England. I was thinking of taking a week or so (5 to 8 days) to see SE England, including Brighton, Rye, Canterbury, etc. We would travel in a counter-clockwise direction, heading east along the southern coast, then turn north and circle arouind ending up somewhere close to Heathrow, or maybe Gatwick, for our flight home to USA. We are interested in historical and cultural experiences, such as Hastings 1066 battlefield, as well as various castles and old historical buildings.

I realize August is probably the height of tourist season, as well as locals on vacation. But can't help the timing. We could use public transportation, but I am more inclined to rent a car. A few years ago, we spent 6 weeks in Great Britain, driving most of it, but didn't get to the southeast. We did get to BAth, Stonehenge, etc. I figure I have plenty of time to plan this out and get reservations where I want them. BTW, we are partial to boutique hotels in centers of old towns.

I would love some comments on where we might hang our hats for two or three days at a time, taking day trips, instead of moving every day a different motel. Thanks for any advice.

janisj

There is sooooooo much to see and do in the SE -- Just Kent, East Sussex, and West Sussex could easily fill two weeks, so with 5-8 days you'll need to be really selective. Gardens too many to count, lots of castles. Some of the musts for me would be Sissighurst, Dover Castle (not the city but the castle which would fill most of a day), Chartwell, Canterbury, Bodiam Castle, Scotney Castle Garden, Great Dixter, Rye, Knole, Hever Castle, Penshurst Place, Brighton Pavilion, and a TON more.

MmePerdu

I'd add some more intimate houses for consideration . . .

Virginia & Leonard Woolf's Monk's House:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mon...es/monks-house

Nearby, also Bloomsbury Group members, Virginia's sister, Vanessa Bell & Clive Bell's house, Charleston:
https://www.charleston.org.uk/

Maybe T.E. Lawrence's little cottage, Clouds Hill:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clouds-hill

Or one of my very favorites of many I've visited, Bateman's, Rudyard Kipling's house:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/batemans

BillJ

Sorry to report that we have had to move to a different cruise that does not include Portsmouth. Thank you for your comments.