Search

The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

Railways and Castles of Kent

Seven-day Kent heritage rail and castle tour from London, based in Canterbury

Illustration of Railways and Castles of Kent

The Railway Touring Company runs this seven-day escorted tour of Kent, England's 'Garden of England', centred entirely in the cathedral city of Canterbury. You travel from London St Pancras by HS1 train and then explore five heritage railways over the week: a steam-hauled journey on the Kent & East Sussex Railway to the moated Bodiam Castle, a ride on the 15-inch narrow-gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (the main line of which runs 13.5 miles to Dungeness Power Station), the industrial Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway along the River Swale, and the Bredgar & Wormshill narrow-gauge steam line. Between rail days you visit Leeds Castle with its gardens and Bird of Prey Centre, the Maidstone Gin Distillery for tastings, historic Chatham Dockyard with its maritime heritage, and the Kent Battle of Britain Museum. A Tour Manager accompanies you throughout. Each night you return to your Canterbury base. The pace is relaxed, with one hotel for six nights and a mix of guided activities and free time.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed in 2026 (July); confirm availability and any future dates with The Railway Touring Company before booking
  • Day 5 Folkestone visit includes free time, but the itinerary detail does not specify duration
  • The standard price includes rail from London, but a ground-only option (excluding London rail travel) is available at a lower rate

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Canterbury

    London to Canterbury, Canterbury Castle and Cathedral

    You depart London St Pancras in the morning and travel by an HS1 train to Canterbury West where we join our coach. We then make visits to Canterbury Castle and Cathedral, before checking into the hotel and a welcome dinner will be served this evening.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Canterbury

    Kent & East Sussex Railway and Bodiam Castle

    Today we first travel by coach to Tenterden, where we board an old steam train on the Kent & East Sussex Railway, travelling in a reserved carriage towards Bodiam. At Bodiam we make the short walk to National Trust's Bodiam Castle, with a light lunch served at the Castle Inn. This picture-perfect moated medieval castle was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge. After the castle visit, we return by steam to Tenterden, with free time to explore this Kentish town, before heading back by coach to Canterbury. In the evening a group dinner is served at the hotel restaurant.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Canterbury

    Historic Chatham Dockyard and Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway

    In the morning you travel by coach to Chatham Dockyard, engaging with Britain's rich maritime history, with historic vessels, exhibits and museum galleries on site. In the early afternoon you carry on to the nearby Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, on the site of a former industrial railway serving an old paper mill along the banks of the River Swale, with its collection of ancient saddle tank engines on the 2 mile long line to Kemsley Down. You return to Canterbury in the late afternoon to enjoy dinner.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Canterbury

    Steam to the seaside at the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

    Today you visit one of the most iconic railways in England. Legendary for its distinct 15-inch gauge, the RH&DR has a 13.5 mile main line to the Dungeness Power Station, with trains racing up to 25 mph. You spend the entire morning and afternoon at the railway, taking advantage of a rover ticket to ride numerous engines and visit local attractions along the line. Upon return to Canterbury, tonight you are free to spend an evening at leisure.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Canterbury

    White Cliffs of Dover by Southeastern train, Folkestone seaside and the Kent Battle of Britain Museum

    After breakfast you take a Southeastern service train from Canterbury East to Dover Priory, changing for the continuation by rail along the White Cliffs of Dover to Folkestone Central. A coach takes you to the town's seaside promenade for some free time, before transferring to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum to learn about 'The Finest Hour' and see preserved aircraft from 1940. Later you return to Canterbury by service train, enjoying another chance of the seaside run by Southeastern train, with another evening at leisure.

  6. Day 6overnight: Canterbury

    Leeds Castle and Maidstone Gin Distillery

    This morning our coach takes you to Leeds Castle, with its picture-perfect moat and turreted buildings, considered one of the finest such examples in England. You explore the castle, gardens, maze, and Bird of Prey Centre. Following your visit you travel to Maidstone to visit the beautifully restored Maidstone Gin Distillery, with the opportunity to sample the hand-crafted spirits. You return to Canterbury by coach to enjoy a farewell dinner at your riverside restaurant.

  7. Day 7rail

    Bredgar & Wormshill Railway and travel home

    In the morning you visit the narrow gauge Bredgar & Wormshill Railway, near Sittingbourne, for one of its special event days with steam traction. This volunteer-operated railway features an impressive collection of tank engines and attractive signal boxes, plus a tea room. After the railway visit, the coach takes you to Maidstone East station, from where there are direct trains to either London Charing Cross or London Victoria and your journey home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board a steam train on the Kent & East Sussex Railway at Tenterden and travel through the countryside to Bodiam Castle, a moated medieval fortress built in 1385
  • Day 4Spend the morning and afternoon riding the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, a 15-inch gauge line with trains travelling at speeds up to 25 miles per hour along its 13.5-mile main line to Dungeness Power Station
  • Day 5Travel by Southeastern train from Canterbury East through Dover Priory along the White Cliffs of Dover to Folkestone Central, then visit the Kent Battle of Britain Museum to learn about preserved aircraft from 1940
  • Day 6Explore Leeds Castle with its moated setting, gardens, maze, and Bird of Prey Centre, followed by a visit to the Maidstone Gin Distillery for hand-crafted spirit sampling

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel from London St Pancras to Canterbury, Maidstone East to London and from Canterbury via Dover Priory and the White Cliffs of Dover to Folkestone Central return
  • 6 Nights hotel accommodation with breakfasts
  • 1 Lunch
  • 4 Dinners
  • All visits, train and coach travel as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The standard price includes Standard Class rail travel from London St Pancras to Canterbury West, the Southeastern service from Canterbury East to Dover Priory and Folkestone Central, return journeys, and all heritage railway rides listed in the itinerary. A ground-only option excludes the London rail travel.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
This is an escorted tour. The Railway Touring Company provides a Tour Manager throughout the seven days.
What heritage railways are included?
Five: the Kent & East Sussex Railway (steam to Bodiam), the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway (industrial heritage), the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (15-inch narrow gauge), the Bredgar & Wormshill Railway (narrow gauge steam on a special event day), and regional Southeastern services
Where do I stay?
You stay in Canterbury for all six nights. The itinerary does not name the specific hotel.
What meals are included?
Six breakfasts, one lunch (at Bodiam Castle Inn), and four dinners (including a welcome dinner on Day 1). Day 4 evening and other meals are not specified as included.
When does this tour run?
One departure is listed: July 2026. Contact The Railway Touring Company to confirm this date and any other departures.

Similar journeys