Among Kent’s rolling hills and quintessential countryside, visitors will be thrilled to discover Michelin-starred restaurants serving up award-winning dishes, rustic farmers markets bursting with fresh goods, world-class wineries, national fruit collections and classically brewed beer. Kent is quite literally overflowing with the finest things to eat and drink to make your visit a truly memorable one.
Fresh from vine and hop, sea and land, our food and drink produce rival the best in the world when it comes to heritage, freshness and flavour. We also reap the benefits of fertile soil, a benign climate and centuries-old expertise which all contribute to prime growing conditions so it’s no wonder the county boasts The Wine Garden of England (a collective of award-winning vineyards touted as a ‘Mini Napa Valley’) as well as a whole host of oast houses, orchards and wine tours.
Kent is also renowned for its rich beer-making heritage and is home to Shepherd Neame Brewery, Britain's oldest brewer, open to visitors year-round for tutored tastings and tours. Boasting some of the finest restaurants and mouth-watering cuisines, alongside more traditional Kentish pubs than you could ever wish to visit, and a burgeoning food experience scene, Kent truly packs a gastronomic punch.
To give you even more inspiration we’ve hand-picked some of the food highlights and experiences on offer, alongside some classic landmarks and exceptional tours to inspire your next day trip or short break to the Garden of England…
Spoilt For Choice
Perfectly positioned for day-trippers stepping off the train from London or visitors staying for a short break, Elwick Place is located in the heart of Ashford Town Centre and houses some real foodie treats…
At Unità 4 they’re all about hand-rolled, fresh pasta and authentic Italian pizzas. Chef and Restaurateur Damiano Vecchio is passionate about creating delicious, freshly made dishes and delivering a fun atmosphere that brings families and friends together. For a more refined, evening meal, why not try The Gastronomist Club which throws dinner-party style dining experiences welcomes guests for a curated two and a half-hour experience featuring menus inspired by the freshest and finest available ingredients from the surrounding Kent countryside. For something more relaxed, Matches Sports Bar, Grill & Social offers the ultimate Sports Bar experience, with tasty bites to eat served up with a side of socialising. And don’t miss Ashford Macknade, a community café hub bringing local food producers to the centre stage and showcasing some of the best food and drink that Kent has to offer. Try their seasonal café – style menu and deli store where brunchers, lunchers and evening drinkers alike can enjoy the exceptional food, cozy décor and lovely atmosphere.
Speaking of Macknade Fine Foods, don’t miss Faversham’s original branch either - a leading food hall stocked full of everything from craft beers to exotic fruit and fresh bread to local wines. Make sure you stop for brunch or lunch at the excellent on-site café and check out the hundreds of delicious cheeses at the delicatessen before brushing up on your culinary skills with a fun bread-making class or delicious cheese tasting experience.
Fancy working up an appetite? Urban Farm - It offers a full day of foraging and mushroom growing at picturesque Whitstable Castle, with a stroll through Duncan Down. Perfect for beginners and enthusiasts, this promises to be a great way to reconnect with nature and learn a little about mushroom farming!
Apples And Pears And Grapes, Oh My!
Kent is bursting at the seams with incredible fruit producers, vineyards and orchards thanks to its peak growing conditions and as a result, is now proud to boast a huge number of vineyard and orchard experiences from fruit picking to wine tasting and beyond.
Biddenden Vineyards near Ashford produces a range of award-winning wines and pressed apple and pear juices. Tour the family-run vineyard, learn about the crafts and processes from the family themselves and most importantly, taste some of their delicious produce at one of their wine popular tasting tours. If East Kent is the destination of choice, you’ll find Barnsole Vineyard nestled between the historic city of Canterbury and the delightful Cinque Port town of Sandwich. A boutique Kent vineyard and winery and one of the oldest in the county, visitors are most welcome to drop-in without appointment at any time to enjoy free tastings of their still wines, hosted by their expert winemakers.
If you prefer apples to grapes, then head to Tenterden for a truly authentic experience at Nightingale Cider Co. where three generations of Kentish fruit farmers have hand-picked apples from the family-planted orchards to create an award-winning range of delicious ciders. Owners Sam and Tim Nightingale are ready to welcome you, share their craft and introduce you to their ciders – the golden bounty of the garden of England!
A Pilgrimage To Remember
At the heart of the walled city of Canterbury is the iconic and spell-binding Canterbury Cathedral, parts of which date all the way back to the 11th century. The stunning structure welcomes visitors all year round, who come to gaze at the remarkable architecture and visit the very spot where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170. Epic, historic and important on so many levels, this world-famous UNESCO site will take your breath away.
For a lesser known, but equally remarkable, exploration of faith, journey to Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesham - a beautiful place of worship for the thriving Sikh community where a warm welcome is always ready to greet you. Take a guided architectural tour to really appreciate the five elaborate domes and design inspired by the Golden Temple at Amritsa. Marvel at the meticulous detail, with hand crafted marble and stonework and discover the colourful interior tiling and beautiful stained-glass windows.
Pull The Perfect Pint
Always wondered what goes into creating the perfect pint? Well, ponder no more as Kent’s breweries open their doors to visitors for a whole host of tours, events, tastings and experience days.
Faversham has been a centre of brewing for more than 850 years and Shepherd Neame continues the tradition, producing more than 60-million pints per year! A tour of the brewery with a knowledgeable guide will reveal the unique brewing process where guests are invited behind the scenes to witness the natural spring water and Kentish hops that help to create Shepherd Neame’s signature ales and lagers. You might even get to taste a few of those 60 million perfectly produced pints!
For a beer tour with a difference, head to Tenterden’s Old Dairy Brewery to discover its popular, traditional English beers alongside an exciting range of modern craft and speciality brews too. The brewery often teams up with nearby Kent and East Sussex Railway for fun ‘Rails and Ales’ tours so guests can tour the brewery, and then enjoy a local ploughmans or cream tea whilst relaxing on a steam train journey to Bodium. Plus, with Cycle Tour Packages, complete with lunch and a flight, there are plenty of tours to choose from. A day to remember (or maybe not!) Another fantastic combo experience from Gravesham Food & Drink Tours is their walking tour of the area that starts with a behind the scenes peek at the Iron Pier Brewery - tasting four different beers in their brewery Taproom - and culminates at the the multi award winning Compass Alehouse for more tastings and tours. A fantastic day out for a group of beer-fanatic friends.
Another option for beer aficionados is The Foundry Brew Pub, a unique craft brewery, distillery, restaurant and bar located at just off the high street in historic Canterbury. Every single beer and spirit is hand-crafted – from scratch - on site making this a seriously rare and unique venue. Using only natural ingredients of the highest quality handpicked by Brewer, Distiller and co-owner Jon Mills, the craftsmanship at The Foundry is second to none and the expert, welcoming team are as friendly as they come…Cheers to that!
Let Us Be Your Guide
Now, we all love a tour whilst we’re away don’t we? A chance to discover a destination’s very own hidden gems and to learn about its history and heritage from an expert entertainer with the pressure of wayfinding and fact-checking firmly removed? Of course we do!
Kent has some brilliant tours on offer from the fantastically inventive to the tried and tested - whatever your tour style, Kent’s got you covered.
England Plus Tours offer everything from coastal tours of the White Cliffs (from pretty Kingsdown to picturesque St Margaret´s Bay) to talks at the unique Samphire Hoe nature reserve and walks along England´s newest section of coastline or something a little different, they also operate a 007 tour, taking in some of Kent’s most beautiful areas while stopping off at some of the lesser-known places associated with Ian Fleming and James Bond.
For a unique and thoroughly entertaining tour in the quirky seaside town of Deal, The History Project offer vibrant tours full of personality, fun facts and local history. Join guides George and Peter on one of their themed tours such as the always popular ‘Smugglers Trail’ - a journey into Deal's shady smuggling past from its innocent origins, to its rather violent heyday, to its eventual demise. Creep down the winding, mazy lanes, discover remains of old tunnels, scope out secret hiding spots and be smuggled into the 18th Century with this wonderfully immersive experience.
Kent is known as the frontline of England, so it's no surprise that our county has some intriguing first and Second World War heritage. For an in depth look into the county's wartime history Frontline Kent's 10 day plan is the perfect place to start, taking in fortresses, military and maritime history in a fascinating and detailed tour of the county.
