Kent

Kent was originally one of the Saxon kingdoms of England (see Kingdom of Kent), although its name derives from one of the Celtic tribes of Britain, the Cantiaci[?]. As the closest part of England to the continent of Europe, it has frequently been the focal point for invasion attempts, and is traditionally the major embarkation point for overseas travel.

Because of its agricultural influence, extensive orchards and hop-gardens, Kent is sometimes known as the 'Garden of England'. Some addresses ending in 'Kent' are administered as part of London; these places lie within the Boroughs of Bexley or Bromley. (In the UK, postal addresses sometimes reflect the patterns of efficient or traditional mail distribution rather than patterns of municipal or county government. The English are very fond of their countryside, so no-one complains if their postal/mailing address sounds more rural than their actual surroundings appear.)

Kent is traditionally regarded as a picturesque rural county, but there is a Kent coalfield which was extensively mined in the past. There is a nuclear power station located at Dungeness[?].

The Channel tunnel leaves England at Cheriton in Kent. It provides a rail link to and from France. There are airports at Biggin Hill, Headcorn, Lydd, Manston and Rochester.

Famous residents of Kent have included Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin.

Cities, towns and villages

• Ashford[?], Aylesford
• Bexley[?], Bromley
• Canterbury, Charing[?], Chatham, Crockenhill[?]
• Deal[?], Detling[?] county showground Dover, Dymchurch[?]
• Eythorne[?]
• Folkestone
• Gillingham[?]
• Hartley, Cranbrook, Kent[?], Hartley, New Ash Green, Kent[?], Hawkhurst[?], Herne Bay[?], Higham[?], Hythe[?], Hollingbourne[?]
• Langley[?], Leigh[?], Linton[?], Lydd[?]
• Maidstone, Manston[?], Marden[?], Margate with Dreamland amusement park and Turner art gallery, Marsh Green[?], Martin[?], Martin Mill[?], Minster, Ramsgate, Maxton[?], Minster, Sheerness, Monkton[?]
• Netlestead[?], Nettlestead Green[?], New Romney[?]
• Postling[?]
• Ramsgate[?], Reculver[?], Rochester, Royal Tunbridge Wells[?]
• Sandwich, Kent, Sevenoaks[?], Swanley[?]
• Tonbridge[?]
• Walmer, Whitstable[?]

Places of interest

• Bedgebury Pinetum[?]
• Bodiam Castle
• Brenzett[?]
• Chatham Dockyard[?] maritime museum, ropery, RNLI[?] lifeboat museum, police museum
• Chiddingstone Castle[?]
• Cinque Ports
• Dungeness Power Station[?]
• Hever Castle
• Headcorn[?] small aviation museum and parachuting school
• Kent Battle of Britain Museum[?]
• Leeds Castle
• Manston Airport[?] with two aviation museums
• Minster Abbey[?], Minster, Sheerness
• Penshurst Place[?]
• Reculver Roman Fort[?]
• Scotney Castle[?]
• St. Augustine's Abbey[?], Canterbury
• Turner Gallery[?] to open in Margate
• North Downs Way[?], a long distance footpath
• East Kent Railway[?], a heritage railway
• Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway[?], a heritage railway
• Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, a heritage railway