Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

June 1, 2025

Kent – The Garden of England

Filed under: England,Travel,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , , , , — needahand @ 2:01 pm

Kent – The Garden of England – Kent’s the kind of place that seems to have a bit of everything tucked into one county—rolling countryside, historic cities, seaside charm, lively market towns, and easy links into London. Often dubbed the Garden of England, and with good reason, it’s bursting with orchards, vineyards, hop gardens and winding country lanes. But don’t be fooled by the name—it’s not all sleepy villages and farm gates. There’s a lot going on behind the hedgerows, from bustling town centres to ancient castles, coastal art scenes, and family-friendly attractions that make it as much a day-tripper’s dream as it is a proper place to call home.

Canterbury steals the spotlight when it comes to history. With its grand cathedral, cobbled streets and medieval buildings leaning at quirky angles, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Pilgrims have been making their way here for centuries, and it still draws visitors in droves. But scratch the surface and you’ll find towns like Faversham, rich in maritime history and local breweries, or Rochester, packed with Dickensian charm and overlooked by its imposing castle. Tunbridge Wells brings spa town elegance, while Sevenoaks, Maidstone and Ashford each offer their own mix of culture, shopping, green spaces and family life.

The countryside’s always just around the corner. The Kent Downs, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offers footpaths and viewpoints that stretch across patchwork hills and deep valleys. Whether you’re after a decent pub walk, a scenic cycle, or just a bit of quiet among the trees, it’s all there for the taking. Villages like Chilham, Wye and Hollingbourne are perfect for a stroll, while Knole Park near Sevenoaks or Leeds Castle near Maidstone offer a bigger day out, complete with deer herds, historic buildings and manicured grounds.

Down on the coast, you’ve got a whole stretch of variety. The white cliffs of Dover are iconic, but further along you’ve got seaside towns each with their own flavour. Whitstable’s arty and laid-back, known for its oysters and independent shops. Margate’s had a bit of a cultural revival, blending old-school fun with galleries and vintage charm. Deal and Broadstairs still hold that traditional British seaside feel, with colourful beach huts and a slower pace. There’s space to breathe here, but always something to discover just round the bend.

Getting around is a breeze. High-speed trains from Ashford, Canterbury and Folkestone can get you into London in under an hour, while the M20, M2 and A2 keep road links strong. The Channel Tunnel and ferry ports make Europe surprisingly close, and there are regular services to London airports too. Despite its proximity to the capital, Kent manages to hold on to its own pace and character.

It’s a county that doesn’t try too hard to impress. It just does its thing—quietly proud, rich in layers, and full of hidden gems whether you’re new in town or have called it home all your life. From coast to countryside, it’s somewhere you can slow down without ever feeling left behind.

March 21, 2018

Dorset Maps

Filed under: England,maps,Travel,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 10:29 am

Dorset Street Maps – If you are searching for a good street map for any city, town or village in the county of Dorset, UK, you should look at our new website offering maps for virtually every settlement in Dorset. So its possible to find a comprehensive street map for: Chilcombe, Winfrith Newburgh, Holworth, Higher Ansty, Pokesdown, Halstock, Cerne Abbas, Tarrant Rawston, Chideock, Hill View, Gussage All Saints, Charmouth, East Chelborough, Puddletown, Hampreston, Stour Provost, Boscombe, Colehill, Tarrant Launceston, Gussage All Saints, Harmans Cross, Fifehead Neville, Cann, Whitechurch Canonicorum, Pokesdown, Lillington, Tadden, Oborne, St Ives, Pamphill, Uppington, Powerstock, Holt Heath, Hamworthy, Goathill, Warmwell, Hermitage, West Bay, Pulham, Parley Cross, Dudsbury, Lyme Regis, Over Compton, Holt, Piddletrenthide, Waterloo, Swanage, Pentridge, Southwell, Tarrant Rushton and hundreds more places.

Website: http://www.dorset.mapamundo.uk

March 7, 2018

Visit Cornwall

Filed under: England,Gardens,Travel,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , — needahand @ 2:37 pm

Visit Cornwall – One of the most popular places to visit in the United Kingdom, especially during the summer months, is the county of Cornwall. Literally Cornwall has it all, wonderful beach resorts, stunning scenery, historic castles and country houses, beautiful gardens, surfing, fishing, hiking, camping and much much more. It enjoys some fabulous weather conditions and is a great summer holiday destination. Located in the temperate South-West of England, Cornwall juts out into the Atlantic Ocean like a giant’s leg dipping its water into the sea. At its tip is Land’s End, the southernmost tip of England. Popular towns to visit include Penzance, St Austell, Newquay, Bodmin, Perranporth and the capital Truro. Tourist attractions include Dartmoor National Park, the Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Pendennis Castle. The coastline of Cornwall is rugged and beautiful and the famous South West Coastal Path is one of the finest walking routes in the World, attracting many thousands of visitors each year.

Find maps of Cornwall here: http://www.cornwall.mapamundo.uk

March 1, 2018

Visit Derbyshire

Filed under: England,Travel,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 1:32 pm

Visit Derbyshire – If you are looking for somewhere different to visit this year you might want to consider the UK county of Derbyshire. Not often though of as the traditional holiday destination, Derbyshire has some wonderful places to visit with the Peak District National Park taking up a large part of the county. Derbyshire also has some attractive towns and cities with Derby itself having some fabulous attractions including Derby Cathedral, Pride Park Stadium, The Quad, Pickford’s House Museum, Derby Silk Mill, Calke Abbey and many more. Trekking in the Peak District is a popular pastime and the county as a whole has many more tourist hot spots such as Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall and Peveril Castle. There are a number of National Trust properties so you can visit their website to get the low down on the best places to visit in Derbyshire. If you enjoy camping or have a motorhome, you will find plenty of campsites where you can stay and enjoy the amazing scenery that Derbyshire has to offer.

View maps of all the towns and villages here: http://www.derbyshire.mapamundo.uk/

October 26, 2016

Limousine Hire

Filed under: Events,Services,Travel — Tags: , , — needahand @ 5:03 pm

Limousine Hire – For those special occasions and celebrations there is nothing quite like hiring a limousine to transport you to the venue. Eveyone likes to get a taste of how the other half live and riding in a limo is just one of the ways that you can get to feel that you are one of the priveledged few. Be it a wedding celebration, a party of a school prom night, there are many occasions that might call for the use of a limo. When booking your limo, make sure that you use a reputable company as there are plenty of cowboys out there offering an inferior service, which runs totally against the grain of what you are trying to experience. You want a limo hire service which runs smoothly throughout the entire experience without any hitches or hiccups, and ceratinly no disasters. You can use the link below to find the best limo hire companies in your area.

More info on limo here here: http://www.limowise.uk

February 18, 2016

Wiltshire

Filed under: England,Travel,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , — needahand @ 1:23 pm

Wiltshire – A pretty county located in the South-West of England, Wiltshire has a wealth of tourist attractions that make it a must visit place if you are in that part of the UK any time this coming year. The most famous of its attractions is of course Stonehenge, but don’t suppose this is all there is to Wiltshire, because you will find plenty more to astound and amaze in this delightful county. Be sure to visit Salisbury where you will find the fantastic cathedral and a great visitor centre, also have a look at Old Sarum. Don’t miss out on Wiltshire’s other historic towns such as Devizes, Malmesbury or Trowbridge, where you will find lots to see.

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