Sussex and Kent Coast in

East from Brighton: white cliffs, the 1066 battlefield and the old town of Rye, on to Canterbury.

The most compact stretch of coast and history south of London: Brighton's Royal Pavilion and pier, the Seven Sisters white cliffs, Rye's cobbled old streets, the Battle of Hastings site at Battle, the White Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Cathedral. Drives are short, and both ends have a motorway or direct train back to London, so it suits a short break. Arundel and the Thanet coast are left out.

Day by day

Day 1 · Brighton's Pavilion and Pier

Brighton（Royal Pavilion、The Lanes、Brighton Palace Pier）

London to Brighton by train takes about 1 hour; everything in town is on foot.

Stay: The Lanes and North Laine

Day 2 · Seven Sisters to Rye

Brighton（Alfriston、Seven Sisters Cliffs & Cuckmere Haven、Birling Gap、Beachy Head）

Pick up the car and drive the A259 to the Seven Sisters, about 40 minutes; after Beachy Head, continue to Rye, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

The cliff edge has no barriers and is prone to collapse; keep away from the edge.

Stay: Rye Old Town

Day 3 · The 1066 Battlefield and Rye's Old Streets

Rye & 1066 Country（Battle Abbey & 1066 Battlefield、Bodiam Castle、Mermaid Street、Rye Castle (Ypres Tower)）

Rye to Battle takes about 35 minutes, to Bodiam about 25 minutes, and back to Rye about 30 minutes.

Stay: Rye Old Town

Day 4 · Camber to the White Cliffs of Dover

Rye & 1066 Country（Camber Sands） → Canterbury（Dover Castle、White Cliffs of Dover）

Rye to Camber takes about 15 minutes, to Dover about 1 hour, then to Canterbury about 30 minutes.

Stay: City Centre

Day 5 · Canterbury and Whitstable

Canterbury（Canterbury Cathedral、St Augustine's Abbey、Whitstable）

Walk the old town in the morning; in the afternoon, Whitstable is about 25 minutes away. Return to the city and take the high-speed train to London, about 1 hour.

Parking in Whitstable is tight at weekends; you can also go by train.