Continental Kent

Lying in the South East corner of England, Kent is a fantastic base for trips to the Continent. Whether you want to do some tax free shopping or simply enjoy a taste of continental life, don't miss the opportunity to hop over the channel.

It takes just 35 minutes with Eurotunnel from Folkstone to Calais, or you can catch the high speed train from Ashford to Paris, Brussels or Lille. The shortest sea crossing is Dover to Calais by catamaran or by ferry, and there are also frequent journeys between Dover and Ostend in Belgium.

Once you have reached the Continent, you could spend a day marveling at the architecture in Brussels or Brugge, being enriched by art galleries in Paris or Lille or wandering around the enchanting 1930's "French Hollywood" of the coastal town of Le Touquet.

Tax free shopping is ever-popular with day trippers, who visit huge hypermarkets in Calais or Boulogne to stock up on superb value fine wines, champagnes, cheeses and regional specialties.