David’s guidebook
Houses & Gardens
Small Hythe is only a 10 minute drive from Meadow Gate. It was the home and gardens of the Victorian actress Ellen Terry. The house has a small museum dedicated to her life in the theatre and there is a small theatre in the barn that has a programme of plays throughout the year. Small Hythe is owned by the National Trust.
19 íbúar mæla með
National Trust - Smallhythe Place
Smallhythe RoadSmall Hythe is only a 10 minute drive from Meadow Gate. It was the home and gardens of the Victorian actress Ellen Terry. The house has a small museum dedicated to her life in the theatre and there is a small theatre in the barn that has a programme of plays throughout the year. Small Hythe is owned by the National Trust.
Great Dixter was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. The head gardener Fergus Garrett continues the work of ‘Christo’ and the planting has a unique style that makes it known internationally.
7 íbúar mæla með
Great Dixter House & Gardens
Great Dixter was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. The head gardener Fergus Garrett continues the work of ‘Christo’ and the planting has a unique style that makes it known internationally.
Godinton House is 600 years old and stands in a tranquil parkland setting studded with stately oaks and chestnuts. There are 12 acres of gardens to enjoy. A Rose Garden, walled garden, wildflower areas, lily pond, herbaceous planting and terraced lawns bordered by a vast yew hedge and topiary. This private house and garden are just a 30 minute drive from Meadow Gate.
10 íbúar mæla með
Godinton House
Godinton House is 600 years old and stands in a tranquil parkland setting studded with stately oaks and chestnuts. There are 12 acres of gardens to enjoy. A Rose Garden, walled garden, wildflower areas, lily pond, herbaceous planting and terraced lawns bordered by a vast yew hedge and topiary. This private house and garden are just a 30 minute drive from Meadow Gate.
Local towns
The closest town to Meadow Gate (<5 miles & 10 min drive) with many amenities. On the way is Chapel Down Winery that do tours and has a good restaurant. The Kent & East Sussex steam railway is located in Tenterden, as is the Dairy Brewery. Lots of places to eat and drink right across the range: Indian, Italian, Turkish, Thai, British plus fish & chips. The High Street also has several decent antique shops if that is one of your interests.
108 íbúar mæla með
Tenterden
The closest town to Meadow Gate (<5 miles & 10 min drive) with many amenities. On the way is Chapel Down Winery that do tours and has a good restaurant. The Kent & East Sussex steam railway is located in Tenterden, as is the Dairy Brewery. Lots of places to eat and drink right across the range: Indian, Italian, Turkish, Thai, British plus fish & chips. The High Street also has several decent antique shops if that is one of your interests.
This is a lovely ancient town and very popular. It’s about 7 miles away and is less than a 20 minute drive. There are plenty of places to eat & drink there - our favourites are Webbe’s at The Fish Café and The Waterworks Micropub (great selection of ales), but Tuscan Kitchen and Ypres Castle Inn are also good. A special mention has to be given to Knoops, near the Landgate – they sell hot chocolate to die for with many, many different varieties of varying cocoa content.
389 íbúar mæla með
Rye
This is a lovely ancient town and very popular. It’s about 7 miles away and is less than a 20 minute drive. There are plenty of places to eat & drink there - our favourites are Webbe’s at The Fish Café and The Waterworks Micropub (great selection of ales), but Tuscan Kitchen and Ypres Castle Inn are also good. A special mention has to be given to Knoops, near the Landgate – they sell hot chocolate to die for with many, many different varieties of varying cocoa content.
A beautiful village with a great history. It has a fantastic church (with Spike Milligan buried in the graveyard). In addition, there is a local tour in the summer months which visits several of the medieval cellars – you must book beforehand – see https://www.winchelsea.com/cellar-tours/tours/
Finally, the New Inn is a pretty good pub with decent food.
46 íbúar mæla með
Winchelsea
A beautiful village with a great history. It has a fantastic church (with Spike Milligan buried in the graveyard). In addition, there is a local tour in the summer months which visits several of the medieval cellars – you must book beforehand – see https://www.winchelsea.com/cellar-tours/tours/
Finally, the New Inn is a pretty good pub with decent food.
My home town is around 35 minute drive away! It has all the attributes of a seaside town – fish & chips and crazy golf to mention just two. By far the best part is the Old Town which has some great little antique & craft shops, with plenty of respectable eating places. You can also take the funicular railway up to the East & West Hills (the remains of the castle are on the latter). The pier is a nice place to visit with the White Rock Theatre opposite which sometimes has shows worth seeing.
183 íbúar mæla með
Hastings
My home town is around 35 minute drive away! It has all the attributes of a seaside town – fish & chips and crazy golf to mention just two. By far the best part is the Old Town which has some great little antique & craft shops, with plenty of respectable eating places. You can also take the funicular railway up to the East & West Hills (the remains of the castle are on the latter). The pier is a nice place to visit with the White Rock Theatre opposite which sometimes has shows worth seeing.
This is a bit further afield (25 miles & just under an hour’s drive), but it has excellent shopping including the well known “The Pantiles”. If you are eating there, you will be spoilt for choice, but one of our favourites is Thackerays. Although it has a Michelin star, the lunch is often good value.
150 íbúar mæla með
Royal Tunbridge Wells
This is a bit further afield (25 miles & just under an hour’s drive), but it has excellent shopping including the well known “The Pantiles”. If you are eating there, you will be spoilt for choice, but one of our favourites is Thackerays. Although it has a Michelin star, the lunch is often good value.
Local attractions
The place to go if you want miles & miles of beautiful sand with a gently sloping beach. Naturally it does get very busy in the summer, so best to go early if you can. It’s 11 miles and about 25 minute drive.
311 íbúar mæla með
Camber Sands
The place to go if you want miles & miles of beautiful sand with a gently sloping beach. Naturally it does get very busy in the summer, so best to go early if you can. It’s 11 miles and about 25 minute drive.
A renowned well preserved castle (managed by the National Trust) which is certainly worth a visit. The steam train from Tenterden is a brilliant way to arrive. The Castle Inn is the local hostelry which serves good food.
277 íbúar mæla með
Bodiam kastali
A renowned well preserved castle (managed by the National Trust) which is certainly worth a visit. The steam train from Tenterden is a brilliant way to arrive. The Castle Inn is the local hostelry which serves good food.
Battle Abbey is a good place to visit and is famous for being the actual site of the Battle of Hastings. Battle itself is a small town with not much more to see there than the abbey.
154 íbúar mæla með
Battle Abbey
High StreetBattle Abbey is a good place to visit and is famous for being the actual site of the Battle of Hastings. Battle itself is a small town with not much more to see there than the abbey.
This is a fantastic place for a leisurely walk to and along the coast. It's superb for bird watching with several hides to use. A new visitor centre is being built which should be ready in the Summer of 2020.
92 íbúar mæla með
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Harbour RoadThis is a fantastic place for a leisurely walk to and along the coast. It's superb for bird watching with several hides to use. A new visitor centre is being built which should be ready in the Summer of 2020.
This steam railway is based in Tenterden and runs a regular daily service to Bodiam Castle (alight at Northiam Station) in the summer. It runs most weekends in other seasons. A lovely outing to relive the days of steam.
60 íbúar mæla með
Kent og East Sussex Railway
Station RoadThis steam railway is based in Tenterden and runs a regular daily service to Bodiam Castle (alight at Northiam Station) in the summer. It runs most weekends in other seasons. A lovely outing to relive the days of steam.
An excellent spot to mess about on the river. You can take a cruise, hire boats/kayaks or just relax at the very good Lime Wharf Cafe.
https://bodiamboatingstation.co.uk
73 íbúar mæla með
Bodiam Boating Station
Station RoadAn excellent spot to mess about on the river. You can take a cruise, hire boats/kayaks or just relax at the very good Lime Wharf Cafe.
https://bodiamboatingstation.co.uk