Alfa Coach Holidays
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Historic Houses of Kent

Resort - Gillingham

Overview

Our base is historic Gillingham, the birthplace of the Elizabethan seafarer William Adams, founder of the first Japanese Navy, made famous by James' Clavell's novel "Shogun". Today Gillingham boasts a wide range of shops, services and amenities to explore. Our tour includes excursions to explore the surrounding areas of Kent.

Prices from

£409 per person

Supplements may apply

Tour code: 5249

Tour: Historic Houses of Kent

Resort: Gillingham

Days: 5

Date Travelling: 13 July 2026

Travelling by: Coach

Hotel: King Charles Hotel

Book now

or Call 01257 248073 and quote - 5249

Itinerary

Day 1 - Outward Travel

Day 2 - Full Day Chartwell & Rochester

  • Chartwell was the home of Sir Winston Churchill and is filled with treasures, gifts and personal items belonging to the man who was once voted the Greatest Briton. The house remains very much as it was when the family lived here and the studio is home to the largest single collection of Churchill’s paintings. The formal Rose Garden and working Kitchen Garden are well worth a stroll and the wider estate features a tree house, a bomb crater and a Canadian camp. Later in the day we call at historic Rochester – a place cherished by Charles Dickens who lived in the area. Historic buildings abound with the stunning cathedral and magnificent castle dominating the town and the high street is packed with quaint, independent shops and a great range of cafes.

Day 3 - Full Day Canterbury & Leeds Castle

  • We’ll start the day with a visit to Canterbury – a medieval walled city with the iconic Canterbury Cathedral which along with nearby St Augustine’s Abbey and the Church of St Martin have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are many walking trails through the city to discover the fascinating history or perhaps you could explore the independent boutiques in the Cathedral Quarter – the perfect spot for a little retail therapy. We’ll continue to magnificent Leeds Castle – the loveliest castle in the world! Tales from 900 years of glamourous history are waiting to be uncovered ranging from 1930s lavish parties to stories of some of the strongest women in history. Designed to entertain, Leeds Castle impresses no matter where your interest lies – enthralling history, spectacular gardens and a magnificent moated location.

Day 4 - Full Day Penshurst Place & Royal Tunbridge Wells

  • Today we’ll make our way to Penshurst Place, a 14th century Manor House with spectacular gardens. Once the property of Henry VIII, the Sidney Family have been in continuous residence for more than 460 years with each generation leaving their mark. Admire the opulent State Rooms, see the Victorian Kitchen and take a stroll through the beautiful grounds and gardens where the 100 metre Peony Border erupts into colour from late May into June. We’ll round the day off with a visit to Royal Tunbridge Wells, lying at the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Day 5 - Return Travel

  • Return travel

King Charles Hotel

Conveniently located in the heart of Gillingham, with its extensive shopping and amenities including the Royal Engineers Museum and Chatham Historic Dockyard, the King Charles Hotel offers quality accommodation and traditional dining. Lounge bar.

Contact Details

Brompton Road, Gillingham, ME7 5QT

Tel No: 01634830303

Joining my holiday

Joining your Alfa holiday


Take the stress out of your holiday travel arrangements. Choose from our extensive list of local joining points and make the journey part of your holiday, as you travel in comfort to your holiday destination.


Local Pick-up Points


We will pick you up close to home and take you to your nearest interchange where you will embark on your tour coach and be whisked away to your holiday destination.


We have 8 interchanges across the UK:



Join En-Route


Joining your Alfa Holiday is now even more convenient. If you want to join your tour coach en-route to your chosen resort we’ll pick you up on the way.


For selected tours we can pick you up at:


North West


  • Burtonwood (M62, Junction 8), Forton Services (M6, Junction 32/33), Hartshead Moor (M62, Junction 25/26), Charnock Richard (M6, Junction 27/28), Carlisle (M6, Junction 43 – layby near Tesco) – North and Scotland
  • Burtonwood (M62, Junction 8), Keele (M6, Junction 15/16), Sandbach (M6, Junction 16/17)

Park and Tour


For only £11 per day you can book parking at selected locations for the duration of your holiday. So if you prefer to drive, leave your car and join your coach en-route then why not enquire about our Park and Tour locations. For more information please call our reservations team.


North West Tours – Charnock Richard Services (M6, Junction 27/28) – for clients travelling to Cumbria and Scotland


Reliable Coaches


Most of our holidays are operated by our own fleet of mostly modern Mercedes luxury coaches, all of which have an on board washroom and are air conditioned. We also work with selected third party coach operators who supplement our own fleet during peak periods. The facilities on third party coaches can vary, but the majority have air conditioning. We are members of the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the Coach Tourism Association – bodies established to encourage standards of excellence in our industry.