You won’t give it much thought when you’re drinking hoppy beer but it’s all around you in Kent… and here’s an offer to get there and get steamin’ in the Garden of England.
Go to any authentic Kentish country pub, so that’ll rule Weatherspoons out then, and you’ll see hops hanging from beams.
So hops, what are they and why are they important to beer?
Now here is an area I felt I needed to research.
And that is why I sought out the answers in two of the homes of hops… Kent and Czechia.
Hop over to Czechia
Now I’ve shared the allure of Hoptown, Czechia, or Zatec as its called locally.
Its Astronomic Clock which is a parable on drinking, its Hop Museum.
And its Hop Festival which includes competitions including ‘Biggest Gut’, and, yes, I’m working on it.
I must though get back to Kent after a dozen years away after a family Dickens and Chaucer family holiday there.
Unfortunately the excellent Dickens World attraction has been consigned to history after hitting Hard Times (soz!)
But, of course, you can take your own tour, and sup in the pub where Charlie had his favourite beer transported to his house nearby.
I drank mine with a kangaroo burger… now, that was hoppy.
We’ll meet again
So for the day that’s in it and because my globetrotting pal Jo is championing the Garden of Ireland’s home charms.
I’m happy to share that you can travel back in time through the luxury of steam travel to classy Kent.
With Steam Dreams Rail Co.’s Garden of England Lunchtime Tour.
Tour de fields
This nostalgic tour offers passengers a view of Kent’s picturesque landscapes and the majestic White Cliffs of Dover.
You will depart from London Victoria, before cutting eastward to the North Downs and crossing the River Medway to Canterbury.
You will climb to the southern tip of the Kent Downs before descending to meet the South Coast at Dover.
Steaming beneath the famous White Cliffs alongside the Channel.
The train will then run northwards, cutting across the heart of Kent to Tonbridge before passing through Sevenoaks en route back to London Victoria.
You’ll get a glass of Champagne and canapés, followed by a three-course lunch, accompanied by a half bottle of wine per person and concluding with coffee and petit fours.
First-class guests are welcomed on board with Bucks Fizz and freshly brewed coffee and tea.
Additional drinks can be purchased from the luxurious Hippocrene Bar.
Make it a date
The 2024 departure dates for the 70000 Britannia are 20 June, 9 July, 16 July, 23 July, 30 July, 6 August, 13 August, and 20 August.
Prices are Premium Standard (non-dining) from £85pp, First Class (non-dining) from £145pp.
And Pullman Dining from £225pp.
So, it’s full steam ahead for Kent, whether it’s your first time or you’re a returnee.
We all like to get steamin’ in the Garden of England.