How many days for Canterbury and Surrounds?
Apr 27th, 2013, 04:34 PM
#1
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How many days for Canterbury and Surrounds?
Okay--trying to determine how many days to spend in each location.
For Canterbury, Deal, Walmer and Dover Castle and white cliffs, how many nights do we need in the Canterbury area?
Is Canterbury itself worth a couple of days or are many things doable within the city in a day? They advertise Canterbury Tales, a Roman museum, punting on the river, besides the Cathedral of course. So how much time needed to explore those places?
Are Whistable or Herne Bay worth doing as a day trip from Canterbury? What things along the waterfront can be done there?
For Canterbury, Deal, Walmer and Dover Castle and white cliffs, how many nights do we need in the Canterbury area?
Is Canterbury itself worth a couple of days or are many things doable within the city in a day? They advertise Canterbury Tales, a Roman museum, punting on the river, besides the Cathedral of course. So how much time needed to explore those places?
Are Whistable or Herne Bay worth doing as a day trip from Canterbury? What things along the waterfront can be done there?
Apr 28th, 2013, 04:13 AM
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Between Margate with the Turner museum, Whistable and Herne Bay which is the most interesting to visit as a day trip from Canterbury?
Can you do one of these along with Deal and Walmer on the same day?
Can you do one of these along with Deal and Walmer on the same day?
Apr 29th, 2013, 05:40 AM
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ttt
I read reports that Margate is not in the best condition and is trying to be revitalized beginning with the Turner Museum so unless one is a big fan of Turner, give Margate a skip for now?
Is there a nice coastal town to visit from Canterbury? Deal Castle looks like it is close to a beach area. Is it nice to walk around there? Can you walk from Deal to Walmer?
I read reports that Margate is not in the best condition and is trying to be revitalized beginning with the Turner Museum so unless one is a big fan of Turner, give Margate a skip for now?
Is there a nice coastal town to visit from Canterbury? Deal Castle looks like it is close to a beach area. Is it nice to walk around there? Can you walk from Deal to Walmer?
Apr 29th, 2013, 09:57 AM
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We are headed that way this weekend so I can only tell you what we are planning.
We are driving down Saturday and will spend the afternoon in Canterbury to see the Cathedral and perhaps the Heritage Museum and a stretch goal of Eastbridge Hospital if time and energy allow.
For Sunday, we plan to get an early start at the castle and then do the cliff walk starting at Langdon Cliffs and walking to the Lighthouse or perhaps all the way to St. Margaret's.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/white-cliffs-dover/
With any time and energy left we will drive around the coast to Walmer, Deal and Sandwich.
No plans for Monday as we will probably just drive back.
So, it's 2 nights / 1.5 days for me. Check back next week to see how we get on.
We are driving down Saturday and will spend the afternoon in Canterbury to see the Cathedral and perhaps the Heritage Museum and a stretch goal of Eastbridge Hospital if time and energy allow.
For Sunday, we plan to get an early start at the castle and then do the cliff walk starting at Langdon Cliffs and walking to the Lighthouse or perhaps all the way to St. Margaret's.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/white-cliffs-dover/
With any time and energy left we will drive around the coast to Walmer, Deal and Sandwich.
No plans for Monday as we will probably just drive back.
So, it's 2 nights / 1.5 days for me. Check back next week to see how we get on.
Apr 29th, 2013, 10:24 AM
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Indy-dad--looking forward to your post and blog when you get back. Enjoy.
Janisj--That is my dilemma at the moment--We don't want to rush out of Dover Castle and we want to do the cliffs too. So how much time would that really leave for Deal and Walmer? Are they each an hour? My thought is either have two nights in Canterbury--one for the town and one for Dover, cliffs, Deal and Walmer if doable. I know you say it is but it is a very full day. Or spend three nights Canterbury--one for the town, one for Dover and cliffs and one for Deal and Walmer but then we will have to spend one night short somewhere else touring the Southeast.
Also curious if it is walkable between the two Deal and Walmer? They seem close by along the waterfront.
Janisj--That is my dilemma at the moment--We don't want to rush out of Dover Castle and we want to do the cliffs too. So how much time would that really leave for Deal and Walmer? Are they each an hour? My thought is either have two nights in Canterbury--one for the town and one for Dover, cliffs, Deal and Walmer if doable. I know you say it is but it is a very full day. Or spend three nights Canterbury--one for the town, one for Dover and cliffs and one for Deal and Walmer but then we will have to spend one night short somewhere else touring the Southeast.
Also curious if it is walkable between the two Deal and Walmer? They seem close by along the waterfront.
Apr 29th, 2013, 11:27 AM
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Deal is no big deal IMO - small squat castle on the ocean so will not take that much time - if time is short yes Dover Castle is one of the most awsome in England - Canterybury, in which I have spent way too much time on business, fails to impress me outside of the cathedral preceints- and often mobbed with French day trip student groups it seems - don't get me wrong a pleasant city with a busy pedstrian shopping drag but not much there - a half-day IMO.
Chilham, near Catnerbury is a neat old town with a smart castle - good for a few-hour stop.
Definitely walk up on top of the White Cliffs from Dover - I took a path that started just behind the Eastern Docks - not sure if it is still open as clifs can crumble but it went straight up to the top where there were some tunnels hewn out for military purposes and old fortifications and of course views across the Channel to France.
Chilham, near Catnerbury is a neat old town with a smart castle - good for a few-hour stop.
Definitely walk up on top of the White Cliffs from Dover - I took a path that started just behind the Eastern Docks - not sure if it is still open as clifs can crumble but it went straight up to the top where there were some tunnels hewn out for military purposes and old fortifications and of course views across the Channel to France.
Apr 29th, 2013, 01:39 PM
#9
Sorry but I could not disagree more with PQ. IMO Deal is wonderful. They give you a torch (flashlight) to explore. I'd give Deal about an hour, Walmer the same (longer if you want to spend in the gardens.
I've walked between the two a couple of times but normally drive it because I'm doing a linear trek - either Deal > Walmer > Dover or vice versa.
I've walked between the two a couple of times but normally drive it because I'm doing a linear trek - either Deal > Walmer > Dover or vice versa.
Apr 29th, 2013, 01:41 PM
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I've walked from Sandiwch to Deal - going up along the cliffs on the edge of the famous golf course where the British Open is at times played - a wondrous walk. Thanks for the note about the Deal Castle as it makes it sound more interesting than it appears on the outside.
Apr 29th, 2013, 03:08 PM
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Well, we are trying to drive the least amount as possible (do it only when necessary) so was hoping to get to Deal via public transport from Canterbury walk to Walmer and then either public transport or taxi back to Canterbury. Is that feasible?
Apr 30th, 2013, 12:28 AM
#12
PQ: It generally is better to go inside a place before suggesting it isn't worth visiting . . .
Europeannovice: I haven't used public transport between Canterbury and Deal so not sure. That would seem a straightforward bus loop. However this is one case where you might want to drive. Dover/Walmer/Deal woul be an easy 'three- fer' by car but by bus you' d waste a LOT of time. You could drive just to one of them and walk from one to the next and then back to the car to return to Canterbury.
Would probably save nearly an hour each way. (Just a guess - it might save even more)
Europeannovice: I haven't used public transport between Canterbury and Deal so not sure. That would seem a straightforward bus loop. However this is one case where you might want to drive. Dover/Walmer/Deal woul be an easy 'three- fer' by car but by bus you' d waste a LOT of time. You could drive just to one of them and walk from one to the next and then back to the car to return to Canterbury.
Would probably save nearly an hour each way. (Just a guess - it might save even more)
Apr 30th, 2013, 03:50 AM
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Well, we are trying to drive the least amount as possible (do it only when necessary) so was hoping to get to Deal via public transport from Canterbury walk to Walmer and then either public transport or taxi back to Canterbury. Is that feasible?>
Very - can do all by train.
Very - can do all by train.
Apr 30th, 2013, 04:12 AM
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PQ: It generally is better to go inside a place before suggesting it isn't worth visiting>
as usual a wrong assumption - I have been in the not so big deal Deal Castle but not in a few decades and I do say it is no big deal and would be very low on my list. Have not been in a long time - do not remember any torch so I said thanks for that.
I am not suggesting it ain't worth visiting just not a big deal IME of visiting long long ago - maybe the tour, etc has been revamped, etc.
as usual a wrong assumption - I have been in the not so big deal Deal Castle but not in a few decades and I do say it is no big deal and would be very low on my list. Have not been in a long time - do not remember any torch so I said thanks for that.
I am not suggesting it ain't worth visiting just not a big deal IME of visiting long long ago - maybe the tour, etc has been revamped, etc.
Apr 30th, 2013, 04:12 AM
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there is a bus service between Canterbury and Deal and Dover and between Deal and Dover. Canterbury bus station is nearest to Canterbury East station and is well signposted. I think the buses run about every 30 minutes they are run by Stagecoach and the timetable is on line
Apr 30th, 2013, 09:14 AM
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Janis by tour I mean visit - touring the castle however it is done!
I would say going to St Margaret's at the Cliff is one of the nicest things I have done in the area - a nice old town right where the cliffs rise up from the sea - on a bay - you can walk right up to the cliffs. Buses take you there as do foot paths from Martin Mill.
I would say going to St Margaret's at the Cliff is one of the nicest things I have done in the area - a nice old town right where the cliffs rise up from the sea - on a bay - you can walk right up to the cliffs. Buses take you there as do foot paths from Martin Mill.
Apr 30th, 2013, 07:11 PM
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Okay--so Deal is not a major deal attraction but should be interesting enough. I'll take a look at info on St Margaret's at the Cliff.
Not sure if we want to use the car so much in the bigger cities.
tipsygus--thanks for the bus information. If we decided to not use the car for Dover and Deal and take the bus instead on those days I am not sure from the website where exactly the bus leaves you off relative to the castles. For Dover when you get off do you still have to walk up the hill? Where is Pencester Road in relation to the Dover Castle?
Where is Deal South Street or Deal Pier Head in relation to the castle and which stop would you get off?
Same with Walmer rail station. How close is that to the site?
Thanks in advance.
Not sure if we want to use the car so much in the bigger cities.
tipsygus--thanks for the bus information. If we decided to not use the car for Dover and Deal and take the bus instead on those days I am not sure from the website where exactly the bus leaves you off relative to the castles. For Dover when you get off do you still have to walk up the hill? Where is Pencester Road in relation to the Dover Castle?
Where is Deal South Street or Deal Pier Head in relation to the castle and which stop would you get off?
Same with Walmer rail station. How close is that to the site?
Thanks in advance.
May 1st, 2013, 04:24 AM
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Thr stop in Dover, Pencester Road is in the middle of town, you can't miss the castle it's up on the hill so a taxi from there may ne needed. The sop in Deal is just off the sea front and the castle is on the sea front to the west. Turn right when you get to the sea front and walk. Sorry it's a while since I was in either town although I live in east Kent.
If you want another day out from Canterburt come to Broadstairs, regarded as the nicest town in Thanet, it is a half hour or so train ride from Canterbury West and is worth a visit, it's not that much changed in appearance from the 1950s, there's is a nice beach plenty of places to eat an has the Dickens House Museum, small but well worth a visit.
If you want another day out from Canterburt come to Broadstairs, regarded as the nicest town in Thanet, it is a half hour or so train ride from Canterbury West and is worth a visit, it's not that much changed in appearance from the 1950s, there's is a nice beach plenty of places to eat an has the Dickens House Museum, small but well worth a visit.
May 2nd, 2013, 10:42 AM
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Okay--so Deal is not a major deal attraction but should be interesting enough. I'll take a look at info on St Margaret's at the Cliff.>
Well Deal castle is the 4th most popular site in Deal itself according to Trip Advisor ratings - so if after seeing the three better, according to this poll, sites then if you have time do the castle!
Deal Castle Reviews - Deal, Kent Attractions - TripAdvisor
www.tripadvisor.co.uk › ... › Kent › Deal › Things to do in Deal
Rating: 4 - 63 reviews
Deal Castle, Deal: See 63 reviews, articles, and 28 photos of Deal Castle, ranked No.4 on TripAdvisor among 12 attractions in Deal.
Well Deal castle is the 4th most popular site in Deal itself according to Trip Advisor ratings - so if after seeing the three better, according to this poll, sites then if you have time do the castle!
Deal Castle Reviews - Deal, Kent Attractions - TripAdvisor
www.tripadvisor.co.uk › ... › Kent › Deal › Things to do in Deal
Rating: 4 - 63 reviews
Deal Castle, Deal: See 63 reviews, articles, and 28 photos of Deal Castle, ranked No.4 on TripAdvisor among 12 attractions in Deal.
