Guide to 5 Must-Visit Historical Treasures of South East England
South East England is packed with landmarks that bring British history to life. The five picks below are easy day trips from London and work well by train or car. For each one, you will find why it is special, highlights to look for, and simple planning tips to make the most of your visit.
- Best tours – quick picks
- 5 Historical Treasures of South East England
- Chartwell: Churchill’s family home and studio
- Hampton Court Palace: Tudor splendour meets Baroque grandeur
- Dover Castle and the White Cliffs: Guarding England from Romans to WW2
- Leeds Castle: The Loveliest Castle in the World
- Canterbury Cathedral – A living place of worship and UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Discover more of South East England
Best tours – quick picks
- Depart London – White Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Trip
- Depart London – Leeds Castle, Dover Castle and White Cliff Day Tour
- Private tour – Hever Castle and Chartwell
5 Historical Treasures of South East England
Chartwell: Churchill’s family home and studio
WW2 history is a huge area of interest worldwide, and Britain has no shortage of amazing World War WW2-related sites, but Churchill’s former home at Chartwell is extra special.
Sir Winston Churchill is one of Britain’s all-time towering political figures, and a visit to Chartwell enables visitors to explore where this exceptional man lived with his family, painted, and wrote many of his masterful books.
Chartwell overlooks a part of the Weald of Kent, where medieval Kings used to hunt for deer. Churchill certainly had an eye for beauty, which included his wife, Clementine, with whom he knew he was blessed to spend most of his life.
“My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.” – Sir Winston Churchill.
Highlights
- Churchill’s writing room and studio
- Garden terraces and lakes
- Way-marked woodland trails
Plan your visit
- Tickets: Pre-book if you want to see inside the house. Arrive a little early to exchange e-tickets at the visitor centre. National Trust Tickets
- Getting there: Take a train to Sevenoaks, then a short taxi ride. Local buses are limited, especially on Sundays
Hampton Court Palace: Tudor splendour meets Baroque grandeur
It’s another chapter of English history that just seems to captivate more and more people with every passing year – the reign of King Henry VIII. There’s been so many terrific books, films, and TV series on Henry VIII, people can’t help but be drawn to him. And his divisiveness fuels that interest.
From the classic Oscar-winning film with Robert Shaw, A Man for All Seasons, to Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall novels, and the popular BBC TV drama The Tudors, the life of Henry VIII, and the tragic executions of two of his wives, has been told so many times that even someone with only a passing interest in history has a familiarity with the subject. There’s nowhere quite like Hampton Court Palace for conjuring the feel of that Tudor period.
But Hampton Court boasts so much that goes beyond the Tudors (though it is the period that carries the most glamour for most of my guests). The architecture is extraordinary, the mix of 16th-century Gothic elements with the later Baroque additions of King William III and Queen Mary II. There’s an amazing selection of items from the Queen’s Royal Collection on display.
Historic Royal Palaces do an excellent job of keeping the site interesting and accessible for guests of all ages. You will come away from Hampton Court Palace enthralled!
Highlights
- Great Hall and Tudor kitchens
- Baroque State Apartments and formal gardens
- Famous hedge maze
Plan your visit
- Time needed: A full day if you can
- Getting there: Take a direct train from Waterloo to Hampton Court. Its then a short walk across the bridge to the palace.
Dover Castle and the White Cliffs: Guarding England from Romans to WW2
Seeing the White Cliffs of Dover up close is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many visitors to England, as it’s usually a bucket-list attraction.
When you have the weather on-side, there are few places in England that can rival the White Cliffs for their inherent cinematic qualities – it’s picture-perfect.
However, it’s not the only treasure in Dover. An area of importance since Roman times, Dover Castle has been developed and put to use in the defence of the realm during many of England’s key conflicts. That mix of Roman history (the Roman lighthouse unbelievably still standing!), the Napoleonic era, and the castle’s connections to WW2 makes Dover desirable for anyone curious about British history.
Highlights
- Secret Wartime Tunnels and Dunkirk story at the castle
- Far-reaching views from the Great Tower
- Cliff paths, Fan Bay Deep Shelter, and the lighthouse on the White Cliffs
Plan your visit
- Getting there: Fast trains from London to Dover Priory. It is about a mile uphill to the castle, or a short local bus from the station.
Leeds Castle: The Loveliest Castle in the World
Located in the South East England county of Kent, known as ‘The Garden of England’, Leeds Castle is undoubtedly one of the country’s most enchanting historical locations.
For many visitors from overseas, this is what they imagine when they think of a traditional British castle – it’s old, it’s grand, and its 900-year history is utterly captivating.
Highlights
- Castle rooms from medieval to 20th-century glamour
- Culpeper and Lady Baillie gardens
- Falconry and maze
Plan your visit
- Getting there: Train to Bearsted, then the Castle Shuttle or local bus to the entrance.
Canterbury Cathedral – A living place of worship and UNESCO World Heritage Site
Canterbury Cathedral has been at the heart of English Christianity for more than 1,400 years and forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s Church.
The cathedral precincts, cloisters, stained glass, and memorials reward unhurried time. High-speed trains from St Pancras reach Canterbury West in under an hour.
Highlights
- Nave, choir, and historic stained glass
- Cloisters and green spaces
- Links to Thomas Becket and medieval pilgrimage
Plan your visit
- Getting there: Trains to Canterbury West or East with frequent services from London.
