Medway Visitor Guide 2012 by Medway Council

Medway 2012 Visitor Guide

www.visitmedway.org

Dickens World, the indoor themed attraction at Chatham Maritime celebrating the life, work and times of Charles Dickens. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of Dickensian England ~ Take the Great Expectations boat ride across the rooftops of London through atmospheric streets to the depths of London’s sewers ~ Be entertained by a cast of live costumed characters ~ Enjoy Peggotty’s Boathouse – a 4D cinema show ~ Play in Fagin’s Den ~ Meet some of Dickens’ characters in the Britannia Theatre animatronic stage show ~ Meet Scrooge’s ghosts in “The Haunted Man”

OPENING HOURS Open daily from 10.00am 10.00am to 5.30pm t (Seasonal variations closures may apply) (except Christmas Day,and seasonal variations apply)

Only 1 hour from central London. Next to The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Dockside Factory Outlet Centre and the Odeon multiplex. Dickens World, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4LL enquiries@dickensworld.co.uk Tel: 01634 890421

For more information visit www.dickensworld.co.uk

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Welcome To understand Medway – its rich heritage and great future – there is only one place to start; on the river that defines the place and gives Medway its name. Fittingly, the centre of Medway follows the flow of the river. At one end its gateway is marked by the iconic Rochester Castle, built in 1127, the tallest surviving Norman keep in the country. Travel two miles downstream and the historic castle is replaced by the symbolism of 21st century Medway – the newly completed towers of Chatham Maritime standing grandly over St Mary’s Island, with its award-winning development, luxury marina and new shopping and entertainment complex. Sail between these gateways and the banks of the river reflect Medway’s evolution. The earliest use of the

River Medway by the Royal Navy took place in the reign of Henry VIII and the Royal Dockyard was founded in 1567 during the reign of Elizabeth I. This put Medway at the heart of naval shipbuilding for more than 400 years. Upstream and the University of Creative Arts – the newest of Medway’s four universities – overlooks Rochester railway station with its new high-speed service to London and the huge Rochester Riverside regeneration site, where work is underway to create a community of 2,000 homes alongside schools, shops and other services. Less than an hour from the Channel ports and just 35 minutes from London, Medway is an exciting and dynamic area. We look forward to welcoming you to this special place of ours. Cllr Howard Doe Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services

2012: Be part of it Exploring Medway Military and maritime Heritage and history Celebrating Dickens Family fun In pursuit of nature

2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Food and drink Arts and culture Sports and Olympics Festivals and events Shopping and markets Getting to Medway Maps Accommodation

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MEDWAY

Dickens World Disclaimer: Inclusion of establishments in this publication does not imply recommendation or approval. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of the information in this guide, the publishers, their agents or employees cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or subsequent alterations. Written, edited and published by Medway Council’s Tourism Team, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR. Designed by Medway Council’s Communications Team. Printed by Headley Brothers Ltd, Ashford, Kent. © Medway Council 2012 G6462

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

2012:Be part of it www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

A year of celebration... 2012, The year of The Queen’s ` Diamond Jubilee; of the anniversary of Dickens’ birth; of the Royal Engineers; of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s the year of Medway. Our Year of Celebration. 2012 will be very special for Medway and we want to share it with you. Over the coming pages you will discover all the reasons why we believe Medway is a great place to live and a great place to visit. What better way to start your tour of Medway than by giving you a flavour of what is happening throughout our Year of Celebration. • Queen's Diamond Jubilee: Medway is planning three days of celebrations to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. On Saturday, 2 June we will be staging a festival on the river, which defines Medway. The following day a special service will be held at Rochester Cathedral, the second oldest in the country. Then on Monday, 4 June we will be joining in the national celebrations by lighting six community Jubilee beacons. • Dickens Bicentenary: There will be a series of events, performances, talks and displays, across Medway in February, to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Britain’s greatest novelist, Charles Dickens. Dickens spent many

years of his life in Medway and a number of his books are based on the area, including Great Expectations and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. A travelling Dickens conference, A Tale of 4 Cities is taking place in each of the locations in Dickens' work, with the Chatham leg being organised by Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Kent. The Guildhall Museum (the museum was opened in 1897 as part of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and 2012 will be the museum's 115th anniversary) will hold a Dickens exhibition and the Royal Engineers are loaning their collection of first editions. In addition, Medway will be staging its annual summer Dickens festival in June and Dickensian Christmas in December. • Royal Engineers: Medway is the Home of the Royal Engineers and 2012 is the 200th anniversary of their headquarters being established in the area. It is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Engineers Museum and 25 years since the Queen opened the museum on its current site. The Royal Engineers will be building a bicentenary bridge on the Great Lines Heritage Park to mark the occasion and will also be staging a special football match against Gillingham Football Club, who in 2012 will be celebrating 100 years since changing their name to Gillingham. • Olympics: With our £11m regional centre of sporting excellence, Medway Park, serving as a pre-games training camp for a number of countries including Senegal, Burundi, Congo and Barbados, we are very pleased to be having the Olympic Torch coming

through Medway. The Medway Mile is a tremendously popular community participation event and we will also be hosting the British Transplant Games in the summer of 2012. • World Heritage Site: We are bidding to be named as the UK nomination for World Heritage Site status for Chatham Historic Dockyard and its Defences and are hopeful there will be an announcement in 2012. This would be fitting tribute to Chatham's role at the forefront of British naval history for the past four centuries, with 2012 being the 445th anniversary since Queen Elizabeth I named Chatham as a Royal Dockyard. 2012 will also be the 250th anniversary of the naming of HMS Victory. When all this activity is added to our already impressive 28 days of free festivals and events each year, more than anywhere else in the southeast, Medway is the place to be in 2012 and we hope you will have the opportunity to take part in our impressive array of activities and join us in our Year of Celebration.

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Medway Park sports complex: Olympic celebration Bidding for World Heritage Site status

Rochester Castle Proms

Celebrating Dickens, Rochester

Royal Engineers Museum

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Exploring Medway Five towns make a city… Medway is a vibrant tourist destination steeped in history, encompassing world-class military and maritime heritage, a vibrant cultural and arts scene, major family attractions and spectacular urban and rural landscapes. Medway comprises the towns of Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Strood and Rainham and its array of iconic heritage attractions include: • Rochester Castle (1088): Built for William II by Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester. In 1127, Henry I gave custody of the castle to the Archbishop of Canterbury who built the central keep – the tallest Norman keep in the country. • Rochester Cathedral (founded 604): England’s second oldest cathedral and home to community worship for more than 1,400 years. The cathedral houses the Textus Roffensis, the priceless 12th century manuscript said to have inspired the Magna Carta. • Temple Manor (1240): Designed to accommodate travelling Knights Templar, an order of monastic soldiers. Henry II gave Strood to the Templars in 1159. • Upnor Castle (1559): Built on the orders of Elizabeth I to protect the River Medway. The castle was tested in 1667 when a Dutch squadron stole the English flagship, the Royal Charles, and burnt the fleet. However, the Dutch failed to reach the nearby naval dockyard. • Eastgate House (1590s): Built by the Clerk of the Cheque at Chatham 4

Dockyard, it is an excellent example of a Grade I listed Elizabethan town house. It is referred to by Dickens in The Pickwick Papers and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and is part of a Heritage Lottery Fund bid. Dickens’ writing chalet can be seen in Eastgate’s gardens. • The Historic Dockyard and The Royal Engineers: For four centuries, Chatham Dockyard was one of Britain’s premier naval bases, defended by impressive fortifications. It is today the world’s most complete dockyard from the age of sail. The Royal Engineers established their headquarters in Medway in 1812 and Medway is proud to remain the home of the Royal School of Military Engineering. Chatham Dockyard and its Defences has been shortlisted as a potential World Heritage Site. • Museums: Medway is home to several world-class museums, on a range of fascinating topics. These include the Guildhall, the nationallydesignated Royal Engineers Museum and the varied attractions at The Historic Dockyard, which includes the No.1 Smithery. Medway has many other attractions for visitors to enjoy, from Dickens World – an exciting indoor themed attraction, to the spectacular rural country parks. It has some of the best bird watching in the UK at its RSPB sites and these are complemented by several country parks, a large urban park in the form of the Great Lines Heritage Park and rural walks such as the Saxon Shore Way and parts of the Kent Downs. The busy River Medway hosts a

variety of marinas and boat clubs with regular regattas and river events. It is home to several river trip vessels such as the paddle steamer Kingswear Castle and Edith May Thames sailing barge. There are also several historicallyimportant ships under restoration including Light Vessel 21 (LV21) and the Medway Queen paddle steamer. With such a vibrant and varied heritage, Medway is proud of its history and its close links to some of the United Kingdom’s most famous figures: Born in Medway, Will Adams (1564) was the first Englishman to reach Japan and the inspiration for James Clavell’s Shogun. He was christened in St Mary Magdalene Church, Gillingham, which survives today. HMS Victory – Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar – was built at Chatham Dockyard in 1765. Medway is home to 780 listed buildings and 72 scheduled monuments. Grade I listed buildings include Restoration House (so-named because King Charles II stayed there on his way to reclaim England’s throne), Cooling Castle, the Guildhall and Corn Exchange. The Historic Dockyard Chatham has the greatest concentration of listed buildings in the country. Sir Francis Drake’s father was the vicar of Upchurch and prayer-reader to the fleet. Drake learnt his early sailing skills in the Chatham area – skills that eventually enabled him to sail round the world in the Golden Hind. The Chatham Naval Memorial is inscribed with the names of more than 18,500 Royal Naval personnel lost at sea. Medway welcomed 30,000 residents and visitors to the nation’s inaugural National Armed Forces Day in 2009.

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Rochester cathedral and castle

Upnor castle

Great Lines Naval Memorial

River Medway estuary

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Military and maritime World-class heritage Chatham is a fascinating maritime and military destination, with a history stretching back over 400 years. Set in 80 acres, The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular film location, featuring in hit movies including Sherlock Holmes, The Golden Compass and Amazing Grace. In 2011 the dockyard was voted Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at the annual Beautiful South Awards. Today, at The Historic Dockyard Chatham you can discover how warships were built in 1758 through the eyes of young apprentice William Crockwell, climb aboard historic vessels and make rope using traditional techniques, with guides dressed in period costume. The No.1 Smithery features world-class maritime objects from two national museums and a contemporary exhibition space. Another attraction not to be missed is 3 Slip – The Big Store, one of Europe’s largest and most awe-inspiring wide span timber-roofed structures. 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of HM Submarine Ocelot, the last submarine to be built in Chatham Dockyard for the Royal Navy, and also the bicentenary of the establishment of The Royal School of Military Engineering at Brompton Barracks. The Royal Engineers Museum offers a fascinating insight into the work of The Historic Dockyard Chatham the engineers over the centuries. 6

Explore interactive displays, military vehicles and exceptional artefacts, including the Duke of Wellington’s map, used at the Battle of Waterloo. The latest gallery, Corps Today, gives an insight into the role the engineers played in Iraq and Afgahnistan. Just a stone’s throw away from the museum is The Great Lines Heritage Park and Fort Amherst. More than £3m has been spent connecting and opening up the features within the park, with the first phase now open to the public to enjoy. Take a guided tour and explore the fort’s vast complex of underground tunnels and chambers.

During the summer months you can enjoy regular sailings aboard Britain’s last surviving coal-fired paddle steamer, the Kingswear Castle and the Edith May, a beautifully restored Thames sailing barge. See below for contact details to find out sailing times. The Historic Dockyard Chatham and its Defences are proud to be included on the UK shortlist of World Heritage Sites. For more information visit www.chathamworldheritage.co.uk

Attractions The Historic Dockyard Chatham Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TZ Phone 01634 823800 Email info@chdt.org.uk Web www.thedockyard.co.uk

Royal Engineers Museum Prince Arthur Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4UG Phone 01634 822839 Email mail@re-museum.co.uk Web www.re-museum.co.uk

The River Medway is recognised as one of Britain’s most important for leisure activities and has a fascinating and illustrious maritime heritage. 2012 sees the paddle steamer Medway Queen return to the river, based at her new home at Gillingham Pier. During the Second World War the ship was requisitioned and converted to a minesweeper, initially operating out of Dover. Her finest moment came in 1940 when she made seven crossings to the beaches of Dunkirk, rescuing 7,000 men. Alongside the Medway Queen is the Light Vessel 21 (LV21), a 40-metre bright red steel-hulled lightship that is being transformed into a floating cultural facility.

Fort Amherst Heritage Park and Caverns Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4UB Phone 01634 847747 Email info@fortamherst.com Web www.fortamherst.com

Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle The Historic Dockyard, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TQ Phone 01634 827648 Email info@kingswearcastle.co.uk Web www.kingswearcastle.co.uk

Edith May Thames Sailing Barge c/o Shakespeare Bungalow, Poot Lane, Upchurch, Kent ME9 7HL Phone 01634 365343 Email info@edithmaybargecharter.co.uk Web www.edithmaybargecharter.co.uk

Medway Queen Preservation Society Gillingham Pier, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1RX Phone 01634 575717 / 575812 Email info@medwayqueen.co.uk Web www.medwayqueen.co.uk

Light Vessel 21 (LV21) Gillingham Pier, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1RX Email info@lv21.co.uk Web www.lv21.co.uk

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

The Historic Dockyard Chatham Edith May Thames sailing barge

Royal Engineers Museum Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Heritage and history Take a step back in time… The history of Medway can be traced back to Roman times when it became a place of some importance, not only due to the river but because it was on the main London to Dover road.

Founded in 604, Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest in England. The glorious Norman architecture of the nave and parts of the crypt, as well as one of the finest Romanesque facades in England, make it an inspirational place to visit. The ancient history of the cathedral, which has been recently awarded Heritage Lottery Funding, is brought to life via interactive exhibits revealing the untold stories of its stones. Across the road from the cathedral is Rochester Castle. The castle was partly demolished in 1215 at the hands of King John, who famously attacked it by tunnelling underneath and then burning the pit props using the fat of 40 pigs, to recapture it from the rebel noblemen. This is known as one of the bloodiest sieges in English history, which has since been retold in the film Ironclad. Today, you can enjoy spectacular views across the river from the castle’s battlements. You can spy Temple Manor in Strood from the top of the castle. This rare surviving 13th century lodging house provided food and fresh horses for the Knights Templar on their crusades to the holy land. The best way to explore all that Rochester has to offer is on a free 90-minute circular walking tour, with a local guide from the City of Rochester Society. Tours take place on selected days from Good Friday to the end of September. Set in a picturesque village, further down the river from Rochester, is Upnor Castle. It was built on the orders of Queen Elizabeth I to defend her warships moored in the river and Chatham Dockyard. Despite a brave attempt, the fort proved ineffective in 1667, when the Dutch sailed up the river to attack the British fleet at anchor. An exciting audio-visual experience relives this

dramatic raid in detail at the castle. At the heart of Kentish aviation, Rochester Airport has a proud history. You can experience heritage aircraft restoration in action at the airport’s exhibition facility. To discover more on the history of Medway, a visit to the Guildhall Museum in Rochester is a must; it chronicles 2,000 years of local history. Experience the terrible conditions endured by Napoleonic prisoners, learn about the life, times and works of Charles Dickens and view Rochester’s heritage quarter and riverside development works taking shape using the Rochester Riverside Eye camera technology.

Attractions Rochester Cathedral Garth House, The Precinct, Rochester, Kent ME1 1SX Phone 01634 843366 Email visits@rochestercathedral.org Web www.rochestercathedral.org

Rochester Castle Castle Hill, Rochester, Kent ME1 1SW Phone 01634 335882 Email rochester.castle@medway.gov.uk Web www.visitmedway.org

Temple Manor Knight Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent ME2 2AH Phone 01634 335882 Email visitor.centre@medway.gov.uk Web www.visitmedway.org

Guided Walking Tours City of Rochester Society, 6 Yalding Close, Frindsbury, Rochester, Kent ME2 3XF Phone 01634 320598 Email cafurminger@blueyonder.co.uk Web www.city-of-rochester.org.uk

Upnor Castle High Street, Upper Upnor, Rochester, Kent ME2 4XG Phone 01634 718742 Email visitor.centre@medway.gov.uk Web www.visitmedway.org

Rochester Airport Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME5 9SD Phone 01634 869969 Web www.rochesterairport.co.uk

Guildhall Museum High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1PY Phone 01634 848717 Email guildhall.museum@medway.gov.uk Web www.visitmedway.org

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE Fort Amherst

Guildhall Museum

Temple Manor

Rochester Castle

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Celebrating Dickens 2012 marks the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens. To commemorate this momentous occasion there will be special events across Europe, including many in Medway. Charles Dickens’ long association with Rochester and the Medway area began when the Dickens family moved to a small house in Chatham. Charles’ father, John, was originally a clerk in the Navy Pay Office in Portsmouth Dockyard. He transferred to London in 1816 and then to Chatham in 1817.

Dickens used many of Rochester’s heritage buildings in his work. These include the Six Poor Travellers House - a charity-founded property visited by the author and featured in one of his Christmas short stories - and Restoration House, described by the author as Satis House, the home of Miss Havisham in Great Expectations. One of Dickens’ most treasured possessions, his Swiss Chalet, can be seen in the gardens of Eastgate House. Eastgate House is an exceptional Grade I listed building. It featured in the works of Dickens and is now used as an arts and culture venue throughout the year. The author’s life, times and works can be explored at the Dickens Discovery Rooms, in the Guildhall Museum.

Dickens’ most impressionable childhood days were spent in Medway and it was the place where he found inspiration for some of his work’s greatest characters and settings. Many of the buildings found on Rochester’s historic high street carry plaques detailing how the author incorporated them into his novels. Take a gentle stroll around local graveyards and you will discover where he found names for many of his characters.

If you want to discover more about the fabled author there are several tours available. Follow in the footsteps of Dickens on a self-guided walking trail (leaflet available from Medway Visitor Information Centre). Dickens was not only famous for his classic books but also his ghost stories, A Christmas Carol being the most popular and The Signalman the eeriest. On the last Sunday of each month join Count Von Dickens on a haunted ghost tour around historic Rochester (see ghost walks p11).

Despite the suspense in his stories, Dickens’ greatest secret was the separation from his wife Catherine. Born in Rochester, Ellen Lawless Ternan, (known as Nelly) was just 18 when she captured the heart of a 45year-old Dickens. This passionate attachment only came to light in recent years.

Book Footsteps in Time and discover Dickensian Rochester, on this costumed, guided tour. Or explore Dickensland, the area around Rochester made famous in Dickens’ novels, with the City of Rochester Society. New for 2012 is a costumed, guided tour around Dickens’ dockyard. Hear

extracts from the novel The Uncommercial Traveller and explore where Dickens’ father worked. Next to the dockyard is Dickens World, an exciting indoor visitor attraction based on the life, books and times of the author. Embark on a fascinating journey, as you step back in time to Victorian England and are immersed in the urban streets, sounds and smells of the 19th century. Dickens World features The Great Expectations boat ride, The Haunted Man, Dotheboy’s Victorian School Room and Peggotty’s Boathouse – a 4D high-definition cinema show. There are also a range of performances on offer at the venue’s Britannia Theatre. To celebrate Medway’s connections with Charles Dickens two large festivals are staged each year, in June and December. For more information on the festivals and a full calendar of bicentenary events visit www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

Attractions Six Poor Travellers House High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LX Phone 01634 845609 Web www.visitmedway.org

Restoration House Crow Lane, Rochester, Kent ME1 1RF Phone 01634 848520 Email robert.tucker@restorationhouse.co.uk Web www.restorationhouse.co.uk

Eastgate House High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1ER Phone 01634 338106 Email visitor.centre@medway.gov.uk Web www.visitmedway.org

Dickens Discovery Rooms Guildhall Museum, High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1PY Phone 01634 848717 Email guildhall.museum@medway.gov.uk Web www.visitmedway.org

Dickens World Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4LL Phone 01634 890421 Email enquiries@dickensworld.co.uk Web www.dickensworld.co.uk

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE Dickens World

Eastgate House

Swiss Chalet at Eastgate House

Restoration House

Dickens Tours Rochester Ghost Walks Phone 01634 819746 Email neil.arnold@live.com www.visitmedway.org

Footsteps in Time Phone 01634 818630 Email footsteps@mariner-house.co.uk www.footstepsintimerochester.co.uk

City of Rochester Society Phone 01634 320598 Email info@city-of-rochester.org.uk www.city-of-rochester.org.uk

The Historic Dockyard Chatham Phone 01634 823845 Email info@chdt.org.uk www.thedockyard.co.uk

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Family fun Action-packed days out… If you are looking to inspire, amuse and captivate the children, then there’s plenty to do and see in Medway. There is buckets of fun to be had at Diggerland, the ultimate adventure park where adults and children can drive real diggers and dumper trucks. With 15 different rides to choose from, it’s the only place where you get a chance to have go at real construction machinery, test your maneuvering skills with the JCB robot as you drive around obstacles, and enjoy spectacular views of the park and beyond in the Sky Shuttle. To experience the thrills of high speed with sharp bends, head for Buckmore Park International Kart Circuit. It’s where Lewis Hamilton and many of Britain’s Formula One drivers learnt their trade. During school holidays and other selected days, special turn-up-and-have-a-gosessions are available for children aged 4-16-years-old (check website for details).

Winter sports are available all year round at Chatham Ski & Snowboard Centre. It’s a great place to brush up your skiing and snowboarding techniques, jump in a sno-tube or brave the longest cresta toboggan run in the country. The Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham is home to 1st Bowl, or you can practise your ice-skating skills and party on the rink at the Silver Blades ice rink in Gillingham, home to the Invicta Dynamos national league ice hockey team. Sporting fun for all is available at Medway’s leisure centres and green spaces, including Medway Park. This regional centre of sporting excellence in Gillingham is a training camp for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and home to the national league basketball team, Medway Park Crusaders.

Attractions Diggerland Medway Valley Leisure Park, Roman Way, Strood, Kent ME2 2NU Phone 0871 2277007 Email mail@diggerland.com Web www.diggerland.com

Buckmore Park Karting Ltd Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME5 9QG Phone 01634 201562 Email sales@buckmore.co.uk Web www.buckmore.co.uk

Chatham Ski & Snowboard Centre Alpine Park, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3JH Phone 01634 827979 Email jnl-chatham@nikegroup.co.uk Web www.chathamskislope.co.uk

1st Bowl

Medway Park is a state-of-the-artcentre for community and elite sports, boasting international standard facilities including an athletics track, judo centre, one of the largest sports halls in the region and swimming and dive pools. The Strand Leisure Park in Gillingham is a great place to while away a summer’s day. Seasonal activities include an outdoor swimming pool with a lazy river, a miniature railway, crazy golf and par three golf course plus a children’s play area and tennis courts. If you prefer to watch sport rather than participate, Medway is proud to be home to Kent’s only league football club, Gillingham FC, who play their home games at the Priestfield Stadium.

Strand Leisure Park

guide: The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Fort Amherst, Dickens World and Guildhall Museum. These are all family friendly places that run special exhibitions, workshops and events during the school holidays.

Don’t miss Medway’s heritage attractions that feature in this

The Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham, Kent ME4 4HW Phone 01634 408030 Web www.1stbowl.com

Silver Blades Ambley Road, Gillingham Business Park, Gillingham, Kent ME8 0PU Phone 01634 388477 Email gillingham@silver-blades.co.uk Web www.theicebowl.co.uk

Medway Park Mill Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1HF Phone 01634 338855 Email medwaypark@medway.gov.uk Web www.medwaypark.org.uk

Strand Leisure Park Pier Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1TT Phone 01634 333925 Email medwaypark@medway.gov.uk Web www.medway.gov.uk

Gillingham Football Club Priestfield Stadium, Redfern Avenue, Gillingham, Kent ME7 4DD Phone 01634 300000 Web www.gillinghamfootballclub.com For details on all Medway Council leisure centres and facilities visit www.medway.gov.uk

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Buckmore Park International Kart Circuit

Diggerland

The Historic Dockyard Chatham

13 Gillingham Football Club

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

In pursuit of nature The North Kent Marshes and surrounding area The breathtaking landscapes and spectacular wildlife of the North Kent Marshes are an essential part of any visit to Medway. They are some of the most unspoilt, expansive landscapes in Kent and the most important natural wetlands in northern Europe. The Hoo Peninsula cycle route, known as the Heron Trail, is a great way to explore an important part of this area. The 18-mile circular trail takes in both the Cliffe Pools and Northward Hill RSPB reserves.

Buckland Lake Reser Wildfowl Reserve, Fis Fishing Phone: 01634 Email: mail@buckland Sixty-acre lake with foot countryside. Carp, trout car parking and toilets. T the amazing area of the many activities. Open: Throughout the ye

Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve, Cliffe Phone: 01634 222480 Fax: 01634 222489 Email: northkentmarshes@rspb.org.uk Web: www.rspb.org.uk/reserves A spectacular landscape of open water and blue skies deep in the heart of Dickens country. Cliffe Pools is one of the most important places for wildlife in the UK with huge flocks of wading birds and waterfowl including avocets, dunlin and little egrets. Over 11km of trails including the Saxon Shore Way cross the reserve, affording great views of the pools and the River Thames which runs alongside. Open: Every day. Car park open 8.30am to 5pm daily except Christmas Day.

If you’re exploring on foot, the Saxon Shore Way provides a traditional way of seeing this rich landscape at its best.

Bus services For more information on bus services visit www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk or phone 0871 200 2233. Calls cost 10p per minute from a BT landline, plus a 6p set-up charge. Mobiles and other operators may vary.

A2 8

BUS 101 (every 15 minutes), 182 (every 10 minutes), 116 (every 20 minutes) Mon-Sat, and on Sundays the 101 and 182 both run hourly.

Medway Council has a detailed cycle and tourism map available. The full coloured map shows all the on and off-road cycle routes in the urban areas of Medway and details of the Heron Trail. For a copy of the map go to Medway Visitor Information Centre, email transport.planning@medway.gov.uk or phone 01634 331254.

A2 2

Cycle routes in Medway

Capstone, in particular, is an ideal place to get active and explore as a family. You can enjoy the mountain and horse trails, children’s play areas and new walking, jogging and cycling routes. Urban parks including The Vines in Rochester, and Hillyfields and the Great Lines Heritage Park in Gillingham also shouldn’t be missed.

Great Lines Heritage Park Phone: 01634 331176 Email: chathamworldheritage@medway.gov.uk Web: www.chathamworldheritage.co.uk The Great Lines Heritage Park is 70 hectares of parkland in the centre of Medway. The park offers spectacular views over the River Medway, Fort Amherst, The Historic Dockyard Chatham and towards Rochester. The Royal Engineers Museum is in easy walking distance and the Lower Lines Park provides continuity and a great example of the restoration of a unique historic landscape. Open: All year

Ranscombe Farm Reserve, Cuxton Phone: 01634 292062 Email: ranscombe@plantlife.org.uk Web: www.plantlife.org.uk/ranscombe Ranscombe Farm is a 600-acre nature reserve and working farm, set in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With its mix of cornfields, ancient woods and downland, it has been a favourite haunt of wildflower enthusiasts for hundreds of years and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Open: All year.

A22

Medway is also home to some glorious country parks, including Riverside and Capstone Farm, which have both been awarded the Green Flag national standard for quality parks and green spaces.

BUS 151 bus route serves the Mon-Sat, every two hours on S

BUS 155 minutes

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

(The Pilgrims Route)

rve, near Cliffe hing and Diving Phone: 07816 437946 or 01959 523523 4 220005 Diving Phone: 07961 077241 dlake.co.uk Web: www.bucklandlake.eu paths, cliff top walks, bird hides and views over surrounding and mixed fishing lakes, diving centre with full training facilities. This is a developing project for wildfowl and for people, set in North Kent Marshes. Planned circular walks, visitor centre and

ear. See website for details of opening hours and facilities or phone.

RSPB Northward Hill, near High Halstow Phone: 01634 222480 Fax: 01634 222489 Email: northkentmarshes@rspb.org.uk Web: www.rspb.org.uk/reserves Explore woodland and marshland trails and see the biggest heronry in Britain. Ten kilometres of trails are accessible, the woodland car park is signposted in High Halstow and the main car park is signposted off the Cooling Road. Enjoy fantastic panoramas across the marshland and Thames estuary. Open: Car parks and visitor trails accessible throughout the year.

BUS 176 From Chatham Rail Station (Summer Sundays) BUS 133 From Chatham Rail Station and Rochester (Mon-Sat hourly)

Riverside Country Park, Gillingham Phone: 01634 337432 Fax: 01634 263827 Email: riversidecp@medway.gov.uk Web: www.medway.gov.uk Situated on the Medway estuary with a backdrop of meadows and marshes. Facilities at Riverside include a visitor centre and a cafĂŠ. There are a variety of habitats in the park, including mudflats and salt marsh, ponds and reed beds, grassland and scrub, which provide a haven for wildlife. Open: 363 days, closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

A278

A229

A289

BUS 191 From Chatham Rail Station and Rochester (Mon-Sat three buses an hour)

Berengrave Nature Reserve, Gillingham Located one mile from Riverside County Park, this disused quarry pit not only has tremendous historical value but has also become a valuable home to many species of wildlife and provides a variety of habitats, including ponds, reed bed and woodland. The glades, willow carr, open spaces and boardwalks weaving through the reserve give ideal places to observe the wildlife.

A228 every hour Sundays

5 From Chatham Rail Station (every 30 s Mon - Sat, every two hours on Sundays)

Capstone Farm Country Park, Gillingham Phone: 01634 338191 Fax: 01634 338192 Email: capstonefarmcp@medway.gov.uk Web: www.medway.gov.uk There are 280 acres of ancient woodland, orchards and meadows to explore. Facilities include a visitor centre, cafĂŠ, fishing lake and a full programme of events and workshops. The park is typical of the rolling landscape of the North Downs and many of the woodlands and hedgerows are hundreds of years old. Open: 363 days, closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Food and drink Chapel Down wines

Food for thought…

Medway markets

Tantalise your taste buds by exploring and sampling the wide range of culinary delights from around the world at the many places to eat and drink in Medway. Rochester is blessed with an array of outstanding restaurants, cafes and bars offering a friendly service and outstanding cuisine. You’ll find excellent restaurants showcasing continental, Asian and traditional English fare; cafes and tea rooms serving home-made freshly prepared dishes and local pubs awash with atmosphere and locallybrewed ales, a perfect companion with a bar meal. During the summer al fresco dining is popular in the pedestrianised areas of Rochester’s historic high street, with many eateries offering enticing lunchtime menus - perfect if you’re visiting the heritage attractions. If you prefer waterfront dining then Chatham Maritime is the place for you. Dickens World and Chatham Maritime’s restaurant quarters offer a George Vaults

great choice of food and drink, as you relax overlooking the attractive marina. After your meal make the most of your visit by taking a gentle stroll along the water’s edge, browse around the designer shops at Dockside Outlet Centre or enjoy a movie at the Odeon cinema. The picturesque villages in rural Medway also offer some splendid family-run pubs specialising in local dishes and Kentish produce. If you love beer then look out for local ales produced by The Historic Dockyard’s own Nelson Brewery. All ales have nautical-themed names that pay tribute to the brewery’s surroundings. To find the best places to eat and drink in Medway, take a look at the Food and Drink section of Medway Council’s tourism website. For more information visit www.visitmedway.org

Regular weekly markets are held in Gillingham and Strood town centres. These offer something for everyone: Variety, value for money, friendly service, a great atmosphere and much more. For more information visit www.visitmedway.org Farmers’ markets

If you’re looking for a unique shopping experience and wish to support local farmers and producers, then a visit to the Rochester and Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre’s farmers’ markets is a must. You can buy a huge range of fresh seasonal produce at competitive prices direct from the local farmers and producers. Rochester Farmers’ Market is held on the third Sunday of each month. www.visitmedway.org Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre’s Farmers’ Market is held on the second Sunday of each month. www.hempsteadvalley.com

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Topes Restaurant, Rochester

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Arts and culture Celebrating Medway’s rich cultural heritage… Medway has long been recognised as the events capital of Kent and is fast developing a reputation for its vibrant contemporary arts scene.

As well as the area’s world-renowned Charles Dickens festivals, you can immerse yourself in an exciting arts and events scene. Folk, real ale and pagan traditions reign supreme at the Rochester Sweeps Festival, and Fuse Medway Festival showcases cutting edge street art and performance that is intimate and immediate. 2012 is also a special year of celebration. See pages 2 and 3 for details. The Medway calendar of culture begins with Chinese New Year. One of the largest celebrations of its kind in Britain, the event boasts colourful parades, stalls selling authentic wares, dragon and lion dances and hundreds of people in traditional costume. Summer’s rays herald Medway’s outstanding Castle Concerts series, at Rochester Castle Gardens. Past performers include Van Morrison, Status Quo, Blondie, Will Young, McFly, Peter Andre and Diversity. 18

It doesn’t stop there; Medway’s theatres, including the 966-seat Central Theatre, offer an enticing programme of mainstream and experimental productions by professional and amateur community groups, as well as comedy nights and musical evenings. Rochester and Upnor castles host open-air theatre productions during the summer. Medway’s arts scene has deepreaching roots, with Billy Childish, Zandra Rhodes and Jeff Banks nurturing their talents in the area. Add to this a current crop of flourishing artists, whose work is showcased in Chatham’s Nucleus Arts Centre and its sister shop in Rochester. Explore the commercial arts scene in Rochester High Street by following the Rochester Arts & Craft Trail. Leaflets are available from Medway Visitor Information Centre. The Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case, at Medway Visitor Information Centre, presents an exciting, high quality programme of contemporary art and craft exhibitions and workshops of national and international significance. The No.1 Smithery in the Historic Dockyard stages a stimulating programme of internationallyrenowned touring exhibitions. A stunning addition to Medway’s scene is Light Vessel 21 (LV21), a 40 metre steel-hulled lightship moored in Gillingham. The beautifully restored ship offers multi-functional spaces, from artist workshops and creative studios to performance platforms capable of hosting a variety of events. For details on all events and festivals taking place in 2012 turn to pages 22 and 23.

Theatres and art galleries Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case 95 High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LX Phone 01634 338319 Email arts@medway.gov.uk Web www.whatsonmedway.co.uk

The Nucleus Arts Centre 272 High Street, Chatham, Kent ME4 4BP Phone 01634 812108 Email nucleusarts@gmail.com Web www.nucleus-arts.com

The Central Theatre 170 High Street, Chatham, Kent ME4 4AS Phone 01634 338338 Email theatres@medway.gov.uk Web www.medwayticketslive.co.uk

The Brook Theatre Old Town Hall, Chatham, Kent ME4 4SE Phone 01634 338338 Email theatres@medway.gov.uk Web www.medwayticketslive.co.uk

Britannia Theatre, Dickens World Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4LL Phone 01634 890421 Email enquiries@dickensworld.co.uk Web www.dickensworld.co.uk

Medway Little Theatre 256 High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1HY Phone 01634 400322 Email feedback@mlt.org.uk Web www.danwillis.freeserve.co.uk

No.1 Smithery The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TZ Phone 01634 823800 Email info@chdt.org.uk Web www.thedockyard.co.uk

Light Vessel 21 (LV21) Gillingham Pier, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1RX Email info@lv21.co.uk Web www.lv21.co.uk

FUSE MEDWAY FESTIVAL For information about Fuse Medway Festival contact the Arts Development Team on 01634 338319, email arts@medway.gov.uk or visit www.fusefestival.org.uk

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Castle Concerts

Fuse Medway Festival

Rochester Sweeps Festival

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Sports and Olympics On your marks, get set… No guide to sport in 2012 can start with anything other than the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The greatest sporting show on earth comes to London for the first time in 64 years and Medway – only 35 minutes from London on the new high-speed train service - is all set to be part of the action. Our new £11m regional centre of sporting excellence has already hosted an official Olympic qualifying competition, the Modern Pentathlon European Championships. The build-up to the Games will continue in the summer of 2012 with a host of countries using Medway as the base for their pre-games training camp. Then the Olympics will light up Medway one week before the games start when the Olympic Torch passes through the area as it makes its way to London. On the day the games start – July 27, 2012 – we will be celebrating with our annual Medway Mile followed by a big screen showing, in Rochester Castle Gardens, of the Olympic opening ceremony. 20

When the Olympics leave London, we will be gearing up for our own special games. Medway has been chosen to host the British Transplant Games, with hundreds of competitors coming from throughout the United Kingdom for four days of fun and friendly competition.

to it, Medway prides itself on the work it undertakes to encourage and develop school sport and our programme for 2012 is bigger than ever.

The British Transplant Games is just one of a host of national and international competitions coming to Medway during 2012, from sports including basketball, rugby league, badminton, table tennis and wheelchair rugby league.

The annual Mini Youth Games, Secondary School Games and Disability Youth Games will culminate in Medway’s biggest ever Festival of Sport, when schools will compete to become the champions of Medway.

While Medway welcomes many sporting events to the city during 2012, we are also hoping to celebrate some homegrown success.

From Medway champions to, perhaps, one day becoming Olympic champion? It is what sporting dreams are made of.

Gillingham FC, the only football league club in Kent, will be hoping their season ends with promotion to League One under the guidance of inspirational manager Andy Hessenthaler, one of the club’s greatest-ever players.

Attractions Medway Park Mill Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1HF Phone 01634 338855 Email medwaypark@medway.gov.uk Web www.medwaypark.org.uk

Deangate Ridge Golf Complex

As well as achievements on the football pitch, we are also hoping to match it with victory on the basketball court, courtesy of Medway Park Crusaders. The semiprofessional club is in its first season in Division One of the English Basketball League and already enjoying success. From those achieving success to those aspiring

Duxcourt Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 8RZ Phone 01634 333966 Email dr.golfcourse@medway.gov.uk www.deangateridge.co.uk

Jumpers Rebound Centre Mill Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1HN Phone 01634 855507 Email info@trampoline.co.uk Web www.trampoline.co.uk

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Deangate Ridge Golf Complex

Jumpers Rebound Centre

Gillingham FC Major sporting events at Medway Park

Swimming at Medway Park

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Festivals and events Medway Festival of Steam & Transport - 8 and 9 April

Ocelot 50 – the 50th Anniversary of HM Submarine Ocelot - 12 May

Fuse Medway Festival – 15 to 17 June

(The Historic Dockyard Chatham)

(Various venues throughout Medway)

In its 10th Anniversary year, this established event celebrates transport through the ages. Boasting a special railway theme for 2012, the festival will feature hundreds of spectacular steam and other vehicle exhibits.

Commemorative church service and parade, featuring the band of HM Royal Marines, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the launch of HM Submarine Ocelot, the last warship built for the Royal Navy at Chatham. In the evening there is a separately ticketed Beat Retreat event.

A free celebration of arts and creativity in Medway that is different, diverse and daring. From stunning live street theatre to site specific and specially commissioned performances.

Phone 01634 832807 or visit www.thedockyard.co.uk Medway Festival of Steam & Transport

Phone 01634 832807 or visit www.thedockyard.co.uk

Opening of new museum gallery: Steam, Steel and Submarines 12 May (The Historic Dockyard Chatham)

Steam, Steel and Submarines will tell the story of Chatham Dockyard and the Royal Navy’s use of the River Medway in the 19th and 20th centuries. It will represent a time of power, strength and adaptation, not only in terms of the ships built but the people behind the dockyard, without which Britain may not have achieved such global influence. The English Festival - 21 April (Riverside Country Park, Gillingham)

Come along to share and celebrate all things that help make England, showcasing its most iconic ages. Attractions include a 10-foot-tall animatronic dragon, medieval knights, a man-made beach, donkey rides, the sights and sounds of the 60s and marauding pirates. Phone 01634 338141 or visit www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

Rochester Sweeps Festival – 5 to 7 May (Rochester)

One of the largest May Day celebrations of its kind in the country. Medway’s annual Sweeps Festival recreates the joy and laughter enjoyed by Victorian chimney sweeps at their traditional festival. Celebrations begin with the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony: The awakening of a mythical seven-foot-tall character. Festivities continue in Rochester with a fantastic array of national and international folk bands, parades, stalls and Morris dancing sides. Phone 01634 338141 or visit www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

Phone 01634 338319 or visit www.fusefestival.org.uk

The Dutch are coming – 23 and 24 June (Upnor Castle)

See troops gather to protect the Royal Dockyard from attacks by the Dutch. Hear the stories and learn about the tactics. Phone 01634 338141 or visit www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

Castle Concerts

Phone 01634 832807 or visit www.thedockyard.co.uk

Dickens Festival – 8 to 10 June (Rochester)

Celebrate Charles Dickens’ bicentenary at the 2012 Rochester Dickens Festival. Through street entertainment, parades, song and dance, journey back to a time that is alive with the life and works of Charles Dickens, who spent five of his childhood years in Medway. He was a national legend when he returned for the last 13 years of his life. Phone 01634 338141 or visit www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

Castle Concerts – 18 to 21 July (Rochester Castle Gardens)

Witness some of the biggest names in music perform in the intimate gardens of one of England’s most beautiful castles. Past headliners include Van Morrison, Status Quo, Blondie, McFly and Will Young. Jools Holland is confirmed for 2012. For confirmed acts, more information or to book visit www.castleconcerts.co.uk or phone 01634 338338

Under Siege – 22 July (Rochester Castle Gardens)

Local young bands and musicians take to the Castle Concerts stage in a free celebration of home-grown talent. Phone 01634 338141 or visit www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE Medieval Merriment – 1 and 2 September

Will Adams Festival – 15 September

(Rochester Castle)

(Gillingham)

Discover historic Rochester in the late Middle Ages. A living history event with archery, skirmishes, birds of prey and parades.

A one-day festival that celebrates the life and work of Gillingham-born Will Adams England’s first Samurai. Activities include face painting, martial arts demonstrations, craft stalls and much more.

Phone 01634 338141 or visit www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

Salute to the ‘40s - 15 and 16 September (The Historic Dockyard Chatham)

Heritage Open Days – 6 to 9 September (Various heritage sites and attractions)

During this special weekend a variety of heritage sites in Medway will open to the public for free. Organised by English Heritage, City of Rochester Society, Medway Council and participating sites. Phone 01634 338141 or visit www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

Royal wartime and vintage fashion are the special themes at this nostalgic event. Fantastic wartime entertainment, period fashion, vehicles and a host of re-enactors make this one of the best events of its kind in the country. Experience life on the home front.

www.dickens2012.org

(Rochester Castle Gardens)

This spectacular market is the largest of its kind in the south-east. Stroll under a sea of twinkling lights as you explore the hundreds of German-style market huts in search of that perfect present, or simply a treat for yourself. Phone 01732 879153 or visit www.dickenschristmasmarket.com

Dickensian Christmas – 1 and 2 December (Rochester)

A spectacular free bonfire and firework display.

Welcome to Dickensian Christmas 2012, when Rochester becomes a feast of Victorian delights. There are shopping stalls, candlelit parades, carols to be sung, Father Christmas to be met and even a guaranteed snowfall in the afterglow shadows of the magnificent castle and cathedral. Of course, you’ll also meet fabled characters from Dickens’ much-loved stories.

Phone 01634 338141 or visit www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

Phone 01634 832807 or visit www.thedockyard2012.co.uk

Bonfire Night – 3 November (The Great Lines, Chatham)

Dickens 2012 Bicentenary 2012 will mark the bicentenary of the birth of Britain’s greatest novelist and storyteller. A year-long programme of events and activities to commemorate the birth of Charles Dickens will be taking place. For more information visit www.visitmedway.org/dickens www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk and

Dickens Christmas Market at Rochester Castle – 26 November to 16 December

Touring Exhibition Programme in No.1 Smithery: The Gallery

Rail Art

Get set for one amazing year 2012 is going to be a year to remember in Medway. Keep your diaries free for events marking the bicentenary of Dickens’ birth and the Royal Engineers being based in Medway, plus Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Add in favourites like Fuse Festival and the Castle Concerts plus big sporting events, a visit by the Olympic Torch relay and the potential of being awarded City Status, it’s going to be a packed and memorable one. Enjoy! See pages 2 -3 for more details. www.celebratemedway2012.co.uk

31 MARCH – 11 MAY For more than 150 years the railway has been a favoured subject for many famous artists. This exhibition from The Guild of Railway Artists will showcase collections from talented individuals.

Art War by Billy Childish 1 JUNE TO 30 SEPTEMBER Internationally-recognised painter, writer and musician Billy Childish spent six months working as an apprentice Stonemason in Chatham’s Dockyard as a young man and it is here that he returns to launch his next thrilling exhibition: Art War. Curated by London-based Steve Lowe, Art War contains a large collection of works relating to his time at the dockyard including Drawings from the Teas Huts of Hell : An infamous collection of drawings that led to his acceptance to Central St Martin’s School of Art.

Disclaimer: Please note that circumstances can and do change and the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any subsequent amendment. As a charge will apply to some events featured on these pages or the dates shown may change it is advisable to phone or visit websites for further information. Some events at The Historic Dockyard may not be included for return visits with the 12-month ticket but have separate ticketing and pricing arrangements.

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Shopping and markets What’s in store…

Hempstead Valley

Delight in the range of shopping experiences on offer in Medway, spanning historic high streets, town centres and modern indoor shopping centres. Step back in time in the ancient cathedral town of Rochester, famous for its connections with the great British author, Charles Dickens. Maintaining much of its Victorian charm, Rochester is packed with independent speciality shops where you can uncover unusual gifts or souvenirs to take home. There are plenty of places to eat and drink, from quaint old-world hostelries to modern-style bistros and cafes and bars serving home made dishes and lunches at great prices. On the third Sunday of each month you can buy seasonal produce direct from the farmers and producers at the Rochester Farmers’ Market. Then, in November and December bask in the festive warmth of the Dickens Christmas Market, at Rochester Castle. Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham

Chatham is in the heart of Medway and the largest of its shopping centres. The pedestrianised high street and Pentagon Shopping Centre boast hundreds of household 24

and independent retailers. The Pentagon is also home to 1st Bowl and the Central and Brook Theatres in Chatham offer an exciting range of shows for all the family. The town centres of Gillingham, Rainham and Strood are at the heart of the local community. Gillingham and Strood host twiceweekly markets and throughout the year you can sample the delights of speciality and continental markets in Rainham’s shopping precinct. Medway is home to two great indoor shopping centres. Located in a Grade II listed building in Chatham Maritime, the Dockside Outlet Shopping Centre houses 50 leading retailers offering great discounts. If you’re feeling peckish, there is a range of branded eateries next to the shopping centre, at the Dickens World visitor complex. At Hempstead Valley you can explore over 50 popular retailers including M&S and Sainsbury's, all under one roof. The centre provides

ample free car parking, a food court area and on the second Sunday of each month you can browse the wares of local farmers and producers at the farmers’ market. Special events, craft fairs and in-store promotions also take place throughout the year.

Town and retail centres Rochester Traders Association www.cometorochester.co.uk

Pentagon Shopping Centre Chatham Kent ME4 4HY Phone 01634 405388 Web www.pentagonshoppingcentre.co.uk

Dockside Outlet Shopping Centre Maritime Way, Chatham Kent ME4 3ED Phone 01634 899389 Web www.docksideshopping.co.uk

Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre Hempstead, Gillingham Kent ME7 3PD Phone 01634 387076 Web www.hempsteadvalley.com

Medway general and farmers’ markets Web www.visitmedway.org

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Getting to Medway How to reach and get around Medway Getting to Medway couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easier; whether you come by car or public transport. Medway is only 30 miles from central London and 40 miles from the Channel ports and Eurotunnel. By road

There is easy access from London and the Kent coast on the M2/A2 and M20 motorways, linking with the M25 London Orbital. There are direct links from the A2/M2 to Rochester/Chatham/Gillingham via the A289/Medway Tunnel. Regular National Express coaches run from London Victoria to the area. For more information visit www.nationalexpress.com By air

Medway is just over an hourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive from Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heathrow via M25/A2/M2 and can be reached in an hour from Gatwick via M23/M25/A2/M2 and Stansted via M11/M25/A2/M2.

By rail

Medway has five main rail stations: Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham. All have frequent services from London Victoria and Charing Cross. High-speed trains now also link Medway to Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St Pancras International in just 35 minutes. Southeastern offers a range of value-for-money train fares. When travelling with family or friends, ask for a GroupSave ticket where four travel for the price of two adults and up to four kids go for ÂŁ1 each*. No need to pre-book, just turn up on the day and go. Visit southeasternrailway.co.uk * Terms and conditions apply

Explore historic Rochester and Chatham attractions by Arriva

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re visiting friends and family or here on a short break, you can visit the heritage attractions in Rochester, The Historic Dockyard Chatham and Dickens World visitor complex with Arrivaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medway Mainline services 140/141. The Arriva Inner Medway Ticket gives you the flexibility to hop on and off at various places of interest along the line of route and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re staying in the area for longer, then you can save more if you get a weekly ticket. This service runs every 10 minutes, Monday to Saturday between Rochester and Chatham. Tickets can be bought from the bus driver.

By sea/tunnel

The channel ports are only one hour away. Ferry services operate throughout the year from Calais, Dover, Ramsgate and Ostend. Medway can be easily reached via the A2/M2 from these ports. Eurotunnel gives quick access from the continent by car between Calais and Folkestone. Medway can be reached via the M20/A229.

To visit the Royal Engineers Museum use Arriva Medway Mainline service 182. Buses run every 10 minutes during the main part of the day from Chatham bus station and Gillingham town centre. For more information about Medway Mainline services and all other services provided by Arriva in the Medway area visit www.medwaymainline.co.uk

KENT

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE - How to reach and get around Medway

Upnor Castle

The Historic Dockyard Chatham St George’s Centre Royal Engineers Museum Fort Amherst The Brook Theatre The Central Theatre Old Brook Pumping Station Restoration House Dickens Swiss chalet Six Poor Travellers’ House Rochester Cathedral Guildhall Museum Rochester Castle Temple Manor Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Dickens World Diggerland

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Attractions

Key

= Buses and Taxis only

= Railway line

= Directional arrow to main access roads

= Coach park

= Bicycle parking

= Taxi point

= Rail station

= Pedestrianised area

= Park and ride/Saturday only

= Parking – more than 100 spaces

= Market

= One-way system

= Minor roads / relief roads

= Main access roads

War Memorial

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Wa te Warfront y

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Accommodation Whatever your taste or budget, you’ll find accommodation to suit your needs and your pocket. How to book your accommodation In this guide you’ll find accommodation listed alphabetically under the name of the city, town or village where you wish to stay. Prices given are for bed and breakfast (B&B) per room, per night, unless otherwise indicated. All prices include VAT (at the current rate of 20 per cent) and service charges. Once you have chosen where you would like to stay, you can book your room by phone, fax or email (where available) directly with the establishment of your choice. If you wish to book same-night accommodation, Medway Visitor Information Centre can do this for you. The centre will charge a refundable 10 per cent of the first night’s tariff. This charge will be deducted from your final bill at the end of your stay. Quality assured All the accommodation in this guide and on our website has been inspected either by the Automobile Association (AA), VisitBritain or has applied for a rating and is awaiting assessment. Hotels and guest accommodation (including B&Bs) are assessed using the same one to five stars criteria. The star rating reflects the overall quality of the experience.

Star ratings made easy ★

Simple, practical, no frills

★★

Well-presented and well-run

★★★

Good level of quality and comfort

★★★★

Excellent standard throughout

★★★★★

Exceptional with degree of luxury

All self-catering accommodation and hostels have been quality assessed and they are also rated from one to five stars.

Key to symbols French spoken Dutch spoken German spoken ^ No smoking establishment o Evening meal by arrangement ˙ Dogs accepted ± Tea/coffee making facilities m Restaurant No smoking rooms available ; Central heating } Alcohol licence

A place to stay…

Accessibility Much of the accommodation featured in this guide is able to cater for visitors with a range of disabilities. A number have ground-floor bedrooms. To ensure that your needs can be catered for, contact the accommodation provider to discuss your requirements before booking. General advice If you experience a problem with accommodation, you should tell the proprietor/manager immediately. He/she should be keen to address your situation. If the problem remains unresolved please write to Quality in Tourism, Security House, Alexandra Way, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 8NB Tel: 0845 300 6996 Email: qualityintourism@uk.g4s.com Web: www.qualityintourism.com p > 3 Ò t s 9 ◊ Ω S

Cot available Indoor/outdoor swimming pool Children welcome (minimum age) Building of literary or architectural interest Credit cards accepted TV Phone in bedrooms Ground floor bedroom available Garden Parking Closest rail station WiFi

Key to additional symbols - self-catering t s ` D a œ ‡

Linen hire service Linen provided free Laundry facilities Washing machine and drying facilities Dishwasher Microwave in each unit Gas/electricity by meter

T Ç † Í = ‚ ∑

Games room Showers Public payphone Shop on site Chemical waste disposal Entertainment/recreation on park On working farm

Hotels, inns, guesthouses, bed and breakfast

Chatham ★★★★ Hotel BRIDGEWOOD MANOR HOTEL Bridgewood Roundabout, Walderslade Woods, Chatham ME5 9AX Tel: 01634 201333 Fax: 01634 201330 Email: bridgewoodmanor@qhotels.co.uk Web: www.qhotels.co.uk Situated at the edge of historic Rochester with links to the M2 (J3) and the M20 (J6). Modern conference hotel -100 well appointed bedrooms, restaurant, 2 bars, leisure/spa/pool. S Chatham 3 miles 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/double £75.00-£135.00, Single £125.00 Rooms: 100, all en-suite Free ±m ;}-p>Òts9Ω 4 MILES SOUTH OF ROCHESTER MAP REF C5

Chatham ★★★★ Hotel HOLIDAY INN ROCHESTER-CHATHAM Maidstone Road, Chatham ME5 9SF Tel: 0871 942 9069 Fax: 01634 673673 Email: rreservations_rochester@ihg.com Web: www.holidayinn.co.uk Modern and friendly 24hr service hotel. Health Club/indoor pool. Restaurant, bar and lounge.Families welcome. Accessible rooms and conference facilities. Ideally located for historic areas of Kent. S Chatham 3 1/2 miles 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/double and family rooms from £60.00 (subject to availability) Single £65.00-£75.00 ±m ;}-p>Òts9◊Ω Rooms: 149, en-suite and air conditioned 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park nearby 3 1/2 MILES FROM ROCHESTER MAP REF C5

Chatham ★★ Hotel ST GEORGE HOTEL 7/8 New Road Avenue, Chatham ME4 6BB Tel: 01634 841012 Fax: 01634 812109 Email: reception@george-hotel.co.uk Web: www.george-hotel.co.uk Family run hotel at the heart of Medway. Close to Rochester and Chatham town centres and all local S Chatham 1/4 mile attractions. Within easy reach of all motorways. 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/double £68.00, Single £47.00,Family room £77.00 Rooms: 45, all en-suite ^ ± m ; } - > Ò t s 9Ω 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM MAP REF B5 Chatham ★★★ Hotel RAMADA ENCORE CHATHAM Western Avenue, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4NT Tel: 01634 891677 Fax: 01634 895152 Email: reservations@encorechatham.co.uk Web: www.encorechatham.co.uk Ramada Encore Chatham is a fantastic hotel located in the heart of Chatham Maritime. We offer excellent food and drink S Chatham 1 mile and free WiFi in the Hub. All rooms are vibrant, fresh and modern with Wet Rooms, wooden floors, flat screen TVs and tea and coffee making facilities. Come and experience our welcoming hospitality and friendly service.

Chatham ★★★ B&B NORMANDY HOUSE 143 Maidstone Road, Chatham ME4 6JE Tel: 01634 843047 Email: david.rands@blueyonder.co.uk Web: www.bedandbreakfastchatham.co.uk A family run Bed and Breakfast establishment, within a short drive from Chatham and historic Rochester. S Chatham 1/2 mile Open all year except Christmas and New Year. 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/Double £45.00-£50.00, Single £25.00-£30.00 Rooms: 3, with guest bathroom ^±;->tΩ 1/2 MILE SOUTH OF CHATHAM MAP REF B5

★★★★★ Gold Award Chatham OFFICERS HILL B&B 7 College Road, Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4QX Tel: 01634 828436 Contact: Carol & Graham Chambers Email: gmchambers@btopenworld.com Web: www.chathambandb.com Luxury 5 star accommodation situated in the Historic Dockyard. Within walking distance of the universities, Dickens World and Historic Rochester. Our twin room has a private sitting room. S Chatham 3/4 mile 1 Jan-31 Dec Closed Christmas Twin/double £68.00, Single £48.00 Rooms: 3, 2 en-suite, 1 with private bathroom ^±;->t9◊Ω 3/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM MAP REF B5

★★★ B&B Gillingham ABIGAILS 17 The Maltings, Rainham, Gillingham ME8 8JL Tel: 01634 365427 Email: davidjpenfold@talktalk.net Contact: Pamela Penfold Welcoming family establishment. Near major motorways, station. Award winning small water garden. Hearty breakfasts. Colour TV. Off road parking. S Rainham 1/3 mile Concessional rates available. Rural views. Quiet. 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin £55.00, Single £30.00, Family £55.00 Rooms: 3, all with en-suite ^± ;>t◊Ω 4 MILES EAST OF CHATHAM MAP REF B5

1 Jan-31 Dec Room rate at weekends from £49.95, Mid-week from £79.95 Rooms: 90 all with en-suite 1 MILE FROM CHATHAM

Free

±m^}->ÒtsΩ MAP REF B5

★★★★ Inn Cooling THE HORSESHOE AND CASTLE Main Road, Cooling, Rochester, Kent ME3 8DJ Tel: 01634 221691 Contact: Kevin, Susan or Stuart Boyle Email: horseshoe.castle@btconnect.com Web: www.horseshoeandcastle.co.uk Rural freehouse with restaurant close to historic Rochester on the Hoo Peninsula with easy access to motorway (M2) and Cooling Castle Barn (500m). Walkers and cyclists welcome. S Higham/Strood 6 miles 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/Double £80.00-£95.00, Single from £50.00, Family Room £110.00 Rooms: 1 private bathroom, Coach 4 en-suite ^ atoAcorn ± mWharf } ;Coach - > Park tÒ 9◊Ω 1/4 MILE 5, FROM CHATHAM parking: free nearby 8 MILES FROM ROCHESTER MAP REF A4

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Gillingham ★★★ Hotel KING CHARLES HOTEL Brompton Road, Gillingham ME7 5QT Tel: 01634 830303 Fax: 01634 829430 Email: reservations@kingcharleshotel.co.uk Web: www.kingcharleshotel.co.uk The King Charles Hotel is a privately owned modern hotel, with a cosy restaurant and first class conference and banqueting facilities. We have 98 bedrooms, all with en-suite S Gillingham 1 mile bathrooms, tea/coffee making facilities, hairdryer, telephone, broadband point and satellite television. We are ideal as a base for exploring South East England and London, and we offer extremely competitive group rates. Please phone for details. We have a civil wedding licence, with three bridal suites available. 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/double £59.50, Single £47.00, Family room from £65.00

Rooms: 98, all en-suite 1 MILE SOUTH OF GILLINGHAM

˙±m;}->Òts9◊Ω MAP REF B5

★★★ Hotel Gravesend INN ON THE LAKE A2, Shorne, Gravesend DA12 3HB Tel: 01474 823333 Fax: 01474 823175 Email: reservations@innonlake.co.uk Web: www.innonlake.co.uk Set in 12 acres of woodland, the Inn on the Lake Hotel offers a friendly and comfortable stay in a modern, family run S Gravesend 3 miles establishment. With excellent transport links to London, the Channel Ports and the Medway towns, as well as the M2, M20 and M25 motorways, the stunning views across the two lakes are surprisingly tranquil and relaxing, with many of our 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM rooms having direct access to theCoach lakes. parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park nearby 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/Double £69.50, Single £59.50, Family room from £99.00

Rooms: 80, all en-suite 3 MILES FROM GRAVESEND

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Cliffe Woods, nr Rochester ★★★★ Silver Award B&B ORCHARD B&B 11 View Road, Cliffe Woods, Rochester ME3 8JQ Tel:01634 222780 Email: enquiries@orchardcottagekent.co.uk Web: www.orchardcottagekent.co.uk Self contained accommodation overlooking orchards. All rooms TV/WiFi, en-suite. Easy access to motorways. Ideal for business, families, wedding guests and S Higham 1 3/4 miles exploring the Kent countryside. 1 Jan-31 Dec Double/Twin £55.00-£70.00, Single £40.00-£45.00, Family room £80.00 Rooms: 5 all with en-suite ^±;->◊Ω 3 MILES FROM ROCHESTER MAP REF A4

★★★★ B&B Rochester CEDAR HOUSE 66 Priestfields, Rochester, Kent ME1 3AB Tel: 01634 324175 Email: info@cedarhouserochester.co.uk Web: www.cedarhouserochester.co.uk Contact: Joe and Alison Blair. Our Edwardian detached house offers exceptional comfort, style and scrumptious breakfast. All rooms en-suite with S Rochester 1 mile TV/Wi-fi and beverage tray. Off-road parking. 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/double from £70.00, Single from £45.00 Rooms: 2, en-suite ^±;>t◊Ω 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park nearby 1 MILE FROM ROCHESTER MAP REF B4

★★ Silver Award B&B Rochester CHURCHFIELDS 6 Churchfields Terrace, St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1 1TQ Tel: 01634 400679 Email: info@churchfieldsbandb.co.uk Web: www.churchfieldsbandb.co.uk Contact: Siân Fowler Comfortable town-house within five minute walk from historic Rochester. River views. Not suitable for children S Rochester 1/2 mile under 12. Welsh spoken. Wireless internet. 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin £58.00-£60.00, Single £28.00-£30.00 Rooms: 2 ^ ± ; >(12) t Ω 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park nearby 1/4 MILE FROM CENTRE OF ROCHESTER MAP REF B4

★★★★ Silver Award B&B Rochester SALISBURY HOUSE 29 Watts Avenue, Rochester ME1 1RX Tel: 01634 400182 Contact: Roger and Janet Reader Victorian family house within easy walking distance of castle, cathedral,historic High Street and station. Large comfortable well appointed rooms. S Rochester 1/2 mile 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/double £70.00, Single £43.00, Family room £85.00 Rooms: 2, both en-suite ^±;->t◊Ω 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park nearby 1/2 MILE FROM CITY CENTRE MAP REF B4/5

Hotels, inns, guesthouses, bed and breakfast Rochester ★★ B&B THE SUNDIAL 18 Ranscombe Close, Strood, Rochester ME2 2PB Tel: 01634 721831 Email: sean@company8234.freeserve.co.uk Very comfortable quality accommodation with attractive courtyard. Friendly atmosphere. TV with freeview channels. Close to M2/20 motorways. Local restaurants and S Strood 2 miles entertainment centre close by. 1 Jan-31 Dec Double from £50.00, Single from £25.00 Rooms: 3, 1 with en-suite ± >-t◊Ω 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park nearby 2 MILES FROM ROCHESTER MAP REF B4

★★ Hotel Rochester GORDON HOUSE HOTEL 91 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Tel: 01634 831000 Fax: 01634 847034 Email: info@gordonhousehotel.net Web: www.gordonhousehotel.net Contact: Mei Shome Historic building in central Rochester and ideal for exploring this lovely city. All rooms en-suite and ample parking. Opposite cathedral and close to castle. Full restaurant facilities. S Rochester 1/2 mile 1 Jan-31 Dec Double from £60.00, Single from £50.00, Family room from £85.00 Rooms: 14, 11 en-suite, 3 with private bathroom ± ^ m ; } - > 3 Ò t s ◊ Ω 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park nearby CENTRE OF ROCHESTER MAP REF B4

★★ Guest house Rochester RIVERVIEW LODGE 88 Borstal Road, Rochester ME1 3BD Tel/Fax: 01634 842241 Mobile:07956 279628 Email: riverviewlodgerochester@g.mail.com Web: www.riverviewlodge-rochester.co.uk Contact: Mr M A Sheikh. Quality Guest House providing affordable accommodation. S Rochester 1 mile Close to historic Rochester centre. Idyllic location with riverviews. Spacious, tastefully decorated rooms, quiet, relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Most rooms en-suite. Short/Long term. Lounge, wireless internet, disabled access. Substantial 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM CoachEasy parking: at Acorn Wharf Coach Parkcards nearby continental breakfast. Off-street parking. accessfree A2/M2/M20/M25/rail. Major accepted. Historic premises, built 1874 as Borstal Manor.

Rochester ★★★ Self-catering THE CHIMES 6 Hawkwood Close, Rochester ME1 1HW Tel: 01634 842923 Email: normachambers@hotmail.co.uk Contact: Norma Chambers The Chimes is a modern non-smoking mews cottage, moments away from Rochester High Street and 3 minutes from Rochester Station. Off street parking is provided. Sleeps 2. S Rochester 100 yards 1 Jan-31 Dec £70.00 per night. 3 nights £200, 7nights £420 sD> œÇΩ Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf^Coach Parktnearby MAP REF B4

High Halstow Inspection applied for DECOY FARM COTTAGES Decoy Hill Road, High Halstow, Rochester, Kent ME3 8SR Tel/Fax: 01634 256185 / 07946 088646 Email: johnandkim@jkm-international.co.uk Contact: Kim Myatt Three cottages in converted barn on a working farm. Views across Northwood RSPB nature reserve to Thames estuary. Quiet rural location yet close to Rochester and motorways. S Strood 8 miles 1 Feb-31 Dec 3 nights £175-£520, 7 nights £225-£695 Rooms: cottages accommodating 6 people s `nearby tœÇ 1/4 MILE 3FROM CHATHAM Coach2 to parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach^Park ROCHESTER

Rooms: 16, 10 with en-suite 3/4 MILE FROM ROCHESTER

^±

; - > (1) 3 Ò t 9 ◊ Ω MAP REF B4/5

Allhallows ★★★★ Caravan Holiday Park ALLHALLOWS LEISURE PARK

Self-catering accommodation

11/4cottage for 2 people MILE FROM CHATHAM CENTRE OF ROCHESTER

1Jan-31Dec Single from £26.00-£36.00, Twin/double from £49.00, Family room from £59.00-£69.00

Rochester ★★★★ B&B GREYSTONES 25 Watts Avenue, Rochester ME1 1RX Tel: 01634 409565 Email: greystonesrochester@gmail.com Web: www.greystonesbandb.org.uk Contact: Bill Lang Comfortable quiet Victorian family run B&B within easy walking distance of Rochester castle, cathedral and High St. Beautfully appointed rooms, wireless internet available in each. S Rochester 1/2 mile 1 Jan-31 Dec Twin/double £60.00- £70.00, Single from £38.00, Family from £85.00 Rooms: 6, 3 en-suite ^±;->t9◊Ω 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park nearby 1/2 MILE FROM ROCHESTER MAP REF B4

Rochester Inspection applied for B&B THE COTTAGE 66 Borstal Road, Rochester ME1 3BD Tel: 01634 403888 Contact: Beryl Dover Email: pinkhousecottage@gmail.com Victorian cottage in quiet location. 10 minutes walk to historic centre and restaurants. Easy street parking. S Rochester 1 mile Garden room en-suite available. Wireless internet. 31 Jan-31 Dec Double from £45.00, Single from £30.00 Rooms: 1, with private bathroom ^ ˙ ± ; >(12) t ◊ Ω 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park nearby 1/2 MILE SOUTH OF ROCHESTER MAP REF B4/5

MAP REF A4

Avery Way, Allhallows, Rochester Kent ME3 9QD Tel: 01634 270385 Fax: 01634 270081 Email/Web: gareth.harvey@ bourne-leisure.co.uk www.haven.com/allhallows Low season

Allhallows is Medway's best kept secret. A picturesque Park with stunning views over the Thames Estuary, easy to get to from London, this Park has a real “let's get away and relax” feel. Allhallows is the perfect way (exc. school and bank holidays) to spend time with 3/4 nights from only £89.00, family/friends– there really is 7 nights from only £179.00 something for everyone Peak season young and old alike. Historic 3/4 nights from only £279.00 Rochester and Canterbury are 7 nights from only £399.00 tempting day trips nearby *the above prices are based on a although with so much to do Standard 2 bedroom caravan (for up to 6 people sharing). Offers can be withdrawn on the Park you may struggle to fit it all in! at any time and without prior notice.

170 Caravans sleeping 6-8 people 10 MILES FROM ROCHESTER

Strood 9 miles

-˙pts`DœtTÍ†‚}^ MAP REF A6

MEDWAY 2012 VISITOR GUIDE

Hotels, inns, guesthouses, bed and breakfast

Self-catering accommodation ★★★★ Hostel Doddington PALACE FARM HOSTEL Palace Farm, Down Court Road, Doddington, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 0AU Tel: 01795 886200 Contact: Liz & Graham Cuthbert Email: info@palacefarm.com Web: www.palacefarm.com Flexible comfortable accommodation with private ensuite rooms. Continental breakfast inc. Ideal for singles, families and groups. S Teynham 4 miles Situated in village with pub. Wifi internet available. 1 Jan-31 Dec from £16.00 per night. Rooms: ^>± Ònearby -9∑ 1/4 MILE 10 FROM CHATHAM Coach parking: free at Acorn Wharf Coach Park

★★★★ Self-catering Snodland SANDHOLE BARN C/o South Cottage, 235 Sandy Lane, Sandhole, Snodland, ME6 5LG Tel: 01634 241988 Email: me.scutt@hotmail.co.uk Web: www.sandholebarnkent.co.uk Comfortable, well-equipped ground floor accommodation with private garden and parking. Quiet location near Leybourne Lakes, ideal for walkers and water sports. S Snodland 1 mile Rochester 7 miles. Excellent base for touring. Low season 3 nights £350, 7 nights £425 Peak season 7 nights £525 Olympic rates apply Accommodation: Unit sleeps Coach 2-4 persons s ` Park t œnearby DaÇ 1/4 MILE FROM CHATHAM parking: free at Acorn Wharf^Coach

14.5 MILES FROM CHATHAM

7 MILES FROM ROCHESTER

Rochester STABLE COTTAGES

★★★★

Fenn Croft, Newlands Farm Road, St Mary Hoo, Rochester ME3 8RE Tel: 01634 272439 Email: info@stable-cottages.com Web: www.stable-cottages.com Contact: Debbie Symonds 1 Jan-31 Dec Small cottages 7 nights £300.00-£550.00, 3 nights £225.00-£350.00. Large cottages 7 nights £600.00-£1,000.00, 3 nights £350.00-£475.00

MAP REF C7

MAP REF C4

Self-catering cottages These charming oak beamed cottages are fully central heated, luxuriously furnished idyllically set in twenty acres of secluded farmland on the Hoo Peninsula with panoramic views of the Thames. There is a heated indoor swimming pool, steam room, mini-gym and games room for the exclusive use of cottage occupants. Tucked away down a private lane this secure site with electric gates offers peace of mind rarely found. Conveniently located with easy access to all motorways and ports. Situated 15 minutes from historic Rochester. London, Canterbury and the coast are all 45 minutes away. We are close to a RSPB reserve and the Saxon Shore way making this the perfect base for walking, bird watching, sightseeing or just getting away from it all. Two four bedroom cottages with two en-suites sleeping eight people and four two bedroom cottages sleeping 5-6 people, fully equipped kitchen, lounge, dining table and chairs, bathroom with bath and shower. There are two fully equipped utility rooms on site, ample parking, a garden with barbeque, children’s toys etc. Guaranteed a warm welcome by Jason and Debbie Symonds who live on site.

S 6 cottages for 5-8 people 6 MILES FROM ROCHESTER

Strood 6 miles -˙ps`DœtTÇ MAP REF A5

Medway has a selection of hotels and accommodation providers who provide accessible rooms and services. For more information about accessible rooms in Medway, please ring the Medway Visitor Information Centre on Tel: 01634 338141 or contact us by email visitor.centre@medway.gov.uk Please be advised that you may need to contact the accommodation establishment directly if you have specific requirements. A selection of places to stay can be found on www.visitmedway.org

Discover Medwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Castles Rochester Castle Castle Hill, Rochester, Medway, Kent ME1 1SW

Open Tuesday to Sunday. Free Admission

Upnor Castle

% 01634 335882

Upper Upnor, High Street, Medway, Kent ME2 4XG

% Guildhall Museum, High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1PY Phone: 01634 848717 Email: guildhall.museum@medway.gov.uk www.visitmedway.org

01634 718742

For more information visit www.visitmedway.org

THE BIG DAYOUT THAT LASTS A WHOLE YEAR!

Embark on a year-long voyage of celebration, choice and discovery

PAY ONCE Visit again and again! Use your 12 month ticket to enjoy: 400 years of maritime history and architecture 3 different exhibitions Arts, craft and science activities (a small additional charge may apply)

Historic Warships, working ropery

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year - Gold Award

thedockyard.co.uk

01634 823807