Battle, Sedlescombe and Hawkhurst
Today Mrs P and I resumed our monthly excursions into rural Britain. Our last outing was at the end of March when we spent the day at Eastbourne. Since then our travelling schedule has been somewhat interrupted over the last three months due to various real-world issues. However, today was a very pleasant 31° Celsius (87.8° Fahrenheit) so as we had no outstanding commitments, we planned our route and left promptly at 9:30 AM. As I mentioned previously, the trips our primarily for sightseeing and enjoyment but we’re also keeping an eye on property prices and potential locations to move to. Being based in South East London (we have a Kent postcode) we are ideally placed to travel to multiple counties within a ninety-minute or two-hour drive.
Broadstairs and Eastbourne
At least once a month, Mrs P and I like to take a day trip and venture out away from suburban London, into the Southern counties of the UK. These excursions are mainly for leisure but they also serve as an opportunity to reconnoitre potential locations for a future move. As present we’re based in South East London, so a two-hour drive provides a wealth of interesting locations across Kent, East and West Sussex and Surrey. Travelling beyond these counties entails a longer drive and thus an overnight stay. Although we are not against such a thing, a simple day trip is more economical so is the more frequent choice. We like to visit English Heritage and National Trust sites, see local points of interest and natural beauty as well as try the local cuisine via local restaurants.
Peppa Pig World
Having twin granddaughters who are three years old makes our family prime candidates for Peppa Pig World. So, we decided to go this year, rather than leave it to next summer, only to find that the twin’s tastes have changed. Today was a beautiful autumnal day with plenty of sunshine, making it ideal for adventures in a theme park. Peppa Pig World is actually just part of Paultons Park, which has a broad variety of rides and entertainment. However, the girls age restricts them from a lot of these, so we remained at Peppa Pig World which proved sufficient to keep children and adults busy. We ended up spending seven hours, perusing the park and went on most rides. Despite the lateness of the season, Peppa Pig World was still well attended and there was a large crowd throughout the day. However, the theme park is very well organised and run so there were no major problems.
UK Tourism
The United Kingdom is the world's 8th biggest tourist destination. According to the national tourism agency, 2017 was a record year for the UK, with 39.9 million visits by tourists. This number is set to pass over 40 million this year according to VisitBritain, which is predicting tourists will spend a record £27 billion over the coming 12 months. U.S. remains the most-valuable inbound market, although the number of travellers originating from Europe is larger than those travelling from North America. Furthermore, in recent years there has also been a substantial increase in Chinese tourists visiting the UK. Popular destinations include London, Bath, Edinburgh and Cambridge. The country's principal tourist destination is still the capital, with the Tower of London being one of the most visited attraction in the country. The post Brexit fall in the pound against the euro and the dollar is helping drive visits.
Walking for Pleasure
Today I visited Emmetts Garden in Sevenoaks. The Edwardian estate located at Ide Hill and is now owned by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty. The garden, which covers an area of about six acres, is situated on a 600-foot sandstone ridge, overlooking the Weald. It is one of the highest points in Kent, offering an expansive view of the North Downs. The garden was laid out in the late 19th century and was influenced by William Robinson. It contains many exotic rare trees and shrubs from across the world. You can explore the rose and rock gardens, take in the views as well as enjoy flowers and shrubs in spring. In autumn visitors can enjoy the vibrant colours brought about by the changing of the season. The main attraction at this time of year are the Bluebells.