From London: Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral & Dover

Escape the bustle of London on a full-day sightseeing tour of the English countryside. You will head to the Garden of England, with visits to Kent’s Leeds Castle, the White Cliffs of Dover, and Canterbury Cathedral.

The journey takes you over the Greenwich Meridian and past the London district that is home to the famous Cutty Sark tea clipper, and the Royal Observatory. Then see Leeds Castle, described by Lord Conway as “the loveliest castle in the world.” Set in the middle of a natural lake, and surrounded by 500 acres of parkland and gardens, you will enter the castle before the doors open to the public, and experience its magic in an atmosphere of still tranquility. There will also be time to explore the castle grounds, where you will find the Lady Baillie Garden, with views over the lake.

Next, make your way to Canterbury and visit the historic Canterbury Cathedral. The most important Anglican church in the world, the central Bell Harry Tower dates back to 1498, and the crypt is from the 11th-Century. Your guide will tell the story of the shocking murder of Archbishop Thomas Beckett in 1170, and there will also be time to explore the narrow streets of Canterbury, with an opportunity to stop for lunch.

Continue your tour through the picturesque landscape of Kent, dotted with unusual buildings and quaint little villages. Arrive at Dover, where you will see the famous White Cliffs, standing 400 feet above sea level. Brooding above the White Cliffs is the sprawling Dover Castle, still watching over the town after 800 years.