The east of Southern England – Kent in particular – is often referred to as the „Garden of England“. As you approach London from the air, you can see why on a clear day: once you are on the road, large parts of the countryside feel like one enormous garden. And then there are the real gardens – magnificent places where you can spend hours enjoying ever-changing views. Even if you are not a keen gardener, the region’s beautiful landscaped gardens and designed landscapes are well worth exploring. But the east of Southern England has much more to offer: Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex are all wonderfully varied and well worth discovering.
Overview
Road Trip in the East of Southern England
Trip duration: Allow about 12 days for this road trip – but it’s absolutely worth the time! |
Destinations to be visited here: West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent |
Does the route include beautiful coastal areas? Yes. The road trip follows much of England’s south-east coast, including the famous Seven Sisters and the white chalk cliffs of Dover. |
Is it possible to move around on this road trip, e.g. hike? The East of Southern England is a region of gardens and is perhaps better suited to leisurely strolls than long hikes – but there are plenty of opportunities to get some exercise. Around gardens and historic houses, including National Trust properties, you will often find lovely short circular walks that are well signposted. |
Is this road trip suitable for beginners travelling to England for the first time? Absolutely! Garden lovers in particular will get their money’s worth here, as many great gardens are located very close to each other, avoiding long travel times. |
Do I need a car for this trip? Quite frankly: Yes! Without a car, it’s practically impossible to explore the country effectively. While there are railway lines, these are almost exclusively limited to a few main routes. You won’t reach the charming little towns and picturesque spots this way. Buses do run, but often infrequently and not always on the necessary schedule. |
I come from a country where they drive on the right. Is it difficult to drive on the left? No – the British would say. But seriously, driving on the left does take a little getting used to if you’re visiting from abroad. The good news is that, after leaving the airport, you’ll usually join a motorway almost immediately. Since the carriageways are physically separated, there’s virtually no chance of ending up on the wrong side of the road. That gives you plenty of time to settle in and realise that driving on the left isn’t actually difficult—it’s just unfamiliar. The first roundabout can feel a little daunting, and so can your first turn at a junction in a town or village. But after just a few days, it all starts to feel completely natural. |
Road Trip 3 – The East of Southern England
The starting point is London’s Gatwick Airport, which is very well served by different airlines from many countries. This means you’re immediately in the area where you want to be – without any motorway stress on the M25 around London.
We suggest going first to Petworth, located in the South Downs National Park. This is a wonderful starting point, with Petworth House and Park, and especially the extensive Petworth Park (admission is free, but check the opening hours). It is a wonderful way to start the trip.
We continue to Arundel via Chichester with its beautiful old town. The town of Arundel sits on a hillside and is dominated by its castle, which has beautiful gardens. A walk along the River Arun completes the visit.
The journey then takes us into a more urban setting in the seaside resort of Brighton, which is fondly remembered by countless students who have visited on language trips. The distinctive Royal Pavilion is well worth seeing, as is the seafront promenade with its grand old hotels and pier.
Let’s take a short detour inland and visit Wakehurst Place (a historic house with a wonderful garden) near Haywards Heath and Borde Hill Garden near Lindfield with its spectacular bluebell fields in spring. Not far away is Sheffield Park, a landscape garden that is particularly beautiful in spring, when rhododendrons surround the park’s lakes.
Back towards the coast, we recommend a stop in Lewes. The ruins of the castle are worth seeing, but also without question „Harvey’s Brewery„, a historic brewery in the heart of the town with its own restaurant, where you can sample its beers. The 15th-century bookshop with its open displays is also well worth a visit. Through the foothills of the South Downs, we continue to the Cuckmere Valley. First you pass the white horse – a huge chalk drawing in the hills – and then take a detour to the picturesque Alfriston.
Look out on your way to the coast as you drive through Litlington, where there is a magnificent Litlington Tea Garden hidden. It is well worth stopping there for afternoon tea and refreshments!
Now we come to a highlight of our journey: the Seven Sisters, spectacular white chalk cliffs that form a striking contrast with the blue sea. You can walk both below the cliffs and up onto the cliffs from the car park, but take care as there are no safety barriers.
A little further in the direction of Eastbourne we find Birling Gap, which offers a great view and an easy descent from the cliffs to the beach. The view from Beachy Head is another small highlight. From there, the fashionable seaside resort of Eastbourne is already visible. Passing Hastings we move to nearby Battle, where the battle so important to English history in 1066 took place and then further on to Rye. This beautiful medieval town with its cobbled streets is well worth visiting, especially in the evening after the day-trippers have left! It also makes an excellent base for a few days.
Rye lies on the edge of the Weald, a particularly beautiful landscape. In the middle of the Weald lies Tenterden to be found. This is a pleasant small town where the steam trains of the „Kent & East Sussex Railway“ begin their journey to the remarkable ruins of Bodiam Castle. The whole of the Weald is well worth exploring, with many charming villages such as Goudhurst for example.
Here you will find Sissinghurst, the famous garden created by writer Vita Sackville-West. Be aware that the garden can become very busy at certain times.
By the way, who would have thought that white wine is produced in England? If you do not believe it, the Biddenden Vineyards are well worth a visit for a tasting.
We head back towards the coast – well, almost, because in the middle of the marshland lies New Romney, the hub of the „Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway„. This 1:3-scale steam railway connects the towns in the marshland with the coast and operates as a form of public transport.
From here it is not far to Folkestone and Dover, where the ferries depart to France. We’ve seen the white chalk cliffs at the Seven Sisters – and believe us: they’re much more impressive and beautiful than these in Dover!
A highlight of the trip is the historic archbishop’s city of Canterbury with its magnificent cathedral and welcoming historic centre. We then head west again to the village of Chilham. Tiny, but full of small cottages, half-timbered houses and a village square typical of the area!
A little further on, we reach the northern edge of the Weald and visit Royal Tunbridge Wells, a spa town with a promenade lined with arcades and trees, as well as a beautiful old Corn Exchange, now home to a café and other businesses. Groombridge Park is also a popular garden and historic estate. Via the pleasant town of East Grinstead we come back to Crawley and to Gatwick Airport.
Allow at least 12 days for this road trip.
Here are some of the places along the route:
Petworth (West Sussex)
Petworth is a beautiful historic town in West Sussex
Chichester (West Sussex)
The Market Cross in Chichester (West Sussex)
Arundel, West Sussex
Arundel, West Sussex, England
Brighton (East Sussex)
The Royal Pavilion in Brighton (East Sussex)
Borde Hill Garden (West Sussex)
Magnificent: Borde Hill Garden in West Sussex
Wakehurst Place (West Sussex)
An impressive historic house at Wakehurst Place (West Sussex)
Sheffield Park (East Sussex)
The historic house at Sheffield Park (East Sussex) resembles a cathedral
Lewes (East Sussex)
The entrance to Lewes Castle (East Sussex)
Alfriston, East Sussex
Pub in Alfriston (East Sussex)
Seven Sisters, East Sussex
At the foot of the Seven Sisters (East Sussex) – it’s Summer in England!
Birling Gap, East Sussex
Birling Gap (East Sussex) – sitting on top of the chalk cliffs
Beachy Head, East Sussex
Beachy Head in East Sussex
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Eastbourne (East Sussex) – seafront with pier
Winchelsea (East Sussex)
Street lamp or tree? That is the question here in Winchelsea (East Sussex).
Rye (East Sussex)
Mermaid Street in Rye (East Sussex) in the evening
Goudhurst (Kent)
Lovely: Goudhurst in Kent
Sissinghurst Castle (Kent)
A rather busy garden: Sissinghurst Castle in Kent
Biddenden (Kent)
Biddenden in Kent – a view from the cemetery
Kent & East Sussex Railway
Kent & East Sussex Railway – a well deserved break!
Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Kent
En route to Hythe on the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
Canterbury, Kent
Canterbury Cathedral (Kent)
Chilham (Kent)
Chilham in Kent (England)
We have personally visited all the places, sights and gardens featured in our itineraries and have written about them in detail on this website. We hope that, after exploring Southern England for yourself, you will be just as captivated by this beautiful part of England as we are!
