Discover Gravesend: The Thames, History and Culture

Gravesend combines the history of the Thames with distinctive buildings, viewpoints and a diverse cultural offering. Anyone planning a trip to Kent and looking for a holiday apartment as a base can combine historic discoveries, river views and walks here. The town is particularly suitable for travellers who want not only to visit sights but also to discover the different facets of a place.

Discovering History on the Thames

A good introduction to the town’s history is Milton Chantry. It is considered the oldest building in Gravesend, Kent, and is normally open at weekends and on public holidays between 12 noon and 5 pm from April to September. Gravesend Town Pier also tells the story of the river’s importance: it was built in 1834 and is considered the oldest cast-iron pier in the world. The pier and the pontoon offer panoramic views of the river. Various watercraft, barges and paddle steamers can moor at the pontoon.

New Tavern Fort and Gravesend Blockhouse provide further historical highlights. New Tavern Fort was built in the 1780s to protect the Thames from the threat of a French naval attack. Gravesend Blockhouse is the surviving remains of one of five artillery blockhouses that King Henry VIII had built on the banks of the Thames. St George’s Church also reflects the international history of the place: Pocahontas was buried in the chancel of the church.

Walks, Views and Trails

For a longer hike, the Wealdway begins at Town Pier in Gravesend and leads to Eastbourne in East Sussex. The route is 129 kilometres long. Take this distance into account when planning if you would like to combine Gravesend with an extended hike. Another way to combine exercise and leisure activities is the Cyclopark: it is connected to Gravesend town centre via local walking and cycling routes, including National Cycle Network Route 177. This connection is approximately 2 miles long.

Windmill Hill offers a viewpoint over the surrounding area and activity on the river. At the same time, traces of the past can be found there: the hill is home to bomb impact sites from German Zeppelins during the First World War. A beacon also commemorates the advance of the Spanish Armada. Those who prefer a quieter green space can plan a visit to Gordon Gardens, with its paths around a small lake, flowers, mature plants and trees. There is also a statue of General Gordon made from terracotta by Doulton Lambeth.

Culture for Different Interests

Gravesend also offers religious and community cultural venues. Sri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara has five elaborately designed domes, handcrafted marble and stonework, colourful interior tiles and stained-glass windows. Visitors are welcomed there for guided tours. St Andrew’s Arts Centre was originally built as a mission church for Gravesend’s river community and now hosts a programme of exhibitions, events and activities.

The Chartered Borough Market, which has existed since 1268, offers an insight into the local history of markets. The cultural centre The Woodville offers live music, classical concerts, family shows, stand-up comedy, live theatre, exhibitions and cinema. St George’s Church hosts local music concerts throughout the year. This allows you to shape your trip according to your interests, with history, music, stage performances or visual impressions.

The restored Cold War bunker is also one of the more unusual historical destinations. It was designed in 1954 as an underground command post from which rescue and emergency services were to be coordinated in the event of a nuclear attack. Today, it is equipped with a domestic fallout shelter, a communications room and a replica radiation monitoring post.

Which Base Suits Your Trip?

When choosing your accommodation, you can base your decision on the desired combination of culture, riverside scenery, walks and events. Those who want to collect as many different impressions as possible can focus on historic sites, Town Pier and cultural offerings. For a trip involving longer routes, planning around the Wealdway or the connection to the Cyclopark is a good option. Quieter moments can be combined with Windmill Hill or Gordon Gardens. A holiday apartment in Gravesend can therefore serve as a flexible base for days with different focuses, without requiring you to limit your trip to just one activity.

Other Places in the Area

If you would like to compare Gravesend with other places, you can also find Swanley, Pluckley, Hawkhurst, Womenswold, Saint Michaels, Eythorne, Longfield and Kennington.

For the higher-level travel overview: Kent.