Kent is a county on the South coast of England bordering on Greater London and Essex with a population of 1.6 million. The county is part of that is know as ‘The Home Counties’ along with Surrey and Essex. Towns in Kent include: Dover, Dartford, Ashford, Canterbury, Gravesend, Maidstone, Gillingham, Tunbridge wells and Sevenoaks.

Dover is placed on the coast of England at the nearest point over the Channel to France and is a vital ferry link to the Continent. Millions of tourists pass through Dover every year however it has always been known as an important sea port involved in trading and the Royal Navy. The name comes from the nearby River Dour.

Canterbury is a cathedral town, the town being the seat of the Archbishopric of Canterbury. Canterbury Cathedral dates back to 602AD, while the present building dates from the 10^th century and is a stunning piece of architecture featuring a high pyramid shaped roof. Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Beckett was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 on the orders of King Henry II, Beckett becoming a martyr of the Church of England.

Kent contains one of the quintessential British sights-the White Cliffs of Dover. These 350 foot high white chalk cliffs are the first sight of the UK for many tourists visiting by sea in the same way as The ‘Statue of Liberty’ is for New York.

Kentish industries include: retail, construction, manufacturing (cement and paper), nuclear power plants and aerospace.

Famous residents include: writer and philosopher Thomas Paine, ex Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Diana Princess of Wales, entrepreneur John Colgate, surgeon Joseph Listor, author Geoffrey Chaucer, author and friend of Shakespeare Christopher Marlowe, author Joseph Conrad, author Mervyn Peake and actor Peter Cushing.