indy_dad

We enjoyed our brief visit to Kent and Canterbury and Dover specifically. Photos and commentary on my blog:

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05...d-in-kent.html

The usual suspects: family of 4 (DD13, DS10); US expats living in Derby, UK (we drove).

<b>Lodging:</b> Bluebells Guesthouse Canterbury

http://www.canterburybluebellsbedandbreakfast.co.uk/

Two rooms, 2 nights for &pound;270. Great host and delicious breakfast. B&B was about a mile (20 minutes walk) from the Cathedral.

<b>Food:</b> both excellent

<u>Deeson's</u> -- excellent British cuisine. Drinks plus 2 starters, 3 mains, 1 dessert for &pound;88. (Not cheap, but not outrageous. I guess it is all relative, but we were more than happy with the value).

http://www.deesonsrestaurant.co.uk/index.php

<u>Pinocchio's,</u> -- Italian. Similarly drinks plus 1 starter, 4 mains, 2 desserts for &pound;82.

http://www.pinocchioscanterbury.com/

Would recommend both.

Visited the Cathedral, Heritage Museum, Dover Castle and took a walk along the cliffs. See the blog link for details.

Cathinjoetown

Very informative with useful recommendations.

Keep having fun!

willowjane

I love following your trip reports with your family! What great parents you two are!

carolyn

Indy Dad, I really do enjoy the blogs of your travels and thought you might enjoy a book I just read. It is part of a series by Jeri Westerson that is set in the 1280s and features a young man who backed John of Gaunt and had his knighthood and holdings taken away by the king. He is making a living by becoming what surely must be the world's first private detective. The fourth in the series is Troubled Bones in which he is sent to Canterbury because of a threat to Thomas a Becket's relics and encounters his old friend Geoffrey Chaucer who has accompanied a group of pilgrims to the city. It has a lot of history in it and is a lot of fun.

lovs2travel

I enjoyed your reading about your latest adventure. Your pictures are great!

europeannovice

Thanks, Indydad--Another wonderful trip report! You had great weather too

How was the walk back to the B&B from the center of town? Was it a pleasant walk at night?

How many hours did you spend at Dover?

I see you skipped The Canterbury Tales--not enough time or thought it would be too silly?

Did you think that the half day in Canterbury was sufficient or is there more to do for a full day if you had more time?

Thanks in advance.

indy_dad

Thanks for the comments.

@willowjane -- not sure if we are great parents or not. Sometimes we drag them along to what we want to do and hope that's okay! Thanks though.

@Carolyn -- sounds interesting. I'll have to look into it. Do you suggest reading them in order or can I jump to the latest one?

indy_dad

Okay, EN, separate reply for you.

<i>Thanks, Indydad--Another wonderful trip report! You had great weather too</I>

Yes we did. Try to dial that up when you visit.

<i>How was the walk back to the B&B from the center of town? Was it a pleasant walk at night?</i>

Pleasant? Not really, but it was fine. Half was between the cathedral and the city wall and the other half was along Wincheap. Most of the shops along the way close at 5 so there isn't much atmosphere. Closer would have been better, especially after a long day, but I couldn't beat the price for quality ratio for 2 rooms.

<i>How many hours did you spend at Dover?</i>

We got to the castle at 10 and toured to about 1:30 and then had a quick lunch (say 2 pm). Our walk along the cliffs was roughly 2:30 to 5:00 pm. (This is where you could fit in Walmer and/or Deal if you want to skip the walk. Having a car would help.)

<i>I see you skipped The Canterbury Tales--not enough time or thought it would be too silly?</i>

Not enough time but I had heard the price/value ratio was a little askew so it didn't rank that high on my list.

<i>Did you think that the half day in Canterbury was sufficient or is there more to do for a full day if you had more time?</i>

Half day was fine for us, but if we had had a day we could have filled it. Next on my list was the Eastbridge Hospital and then the ruined St. Augustine Abbey.

<i>Thanks in advance.</i>

You're welcome. Happy planning.

europeannovice

Thanks again Indydad. That was very helpful information.

I really enjoy looking at your pictures, which are wonderful by the way, and reading your blog reports. Keep them coming!

texasbookworm

Thanks for your excellent report--again. I've enjoyed that walk toward the lighthouse along the Cliffs twice--once with DH and once with DD--and would do it again. It is great, isn't it!

Looking forward to your next adventure's report.

carolyn

Indy, I have really enjoyed reading the Westerson books in order, and the Canterbury one is the fourth in the series. You could read it quite happily out of sequence, but the first three are set in London and as far as I know give a good feel for the times as well as the background on our hero. I have read them from my public library.