Bodiam is a beautiful village with the stunning castle which is the backdrop to The Prince Regent showman's carriage. Set in 200 acres of orchards and farmland, it is the perfect place to explore the countryside.

Apart from wonderful walks, there are plenty of National Trust houses and gardens to visit in the area. With Batemans and Sissinghurst within easy reach and Scotney Castle a little bit further, anyone interested our heritage, with find plenty to do.

For those interested in bread making, The Lighthouse Bakery School is within walking distance and offer one day courses.

The seaside town of Hastings is under 30 minute drive with its brand new Jerwood Gallery and its fisherman's huts where you can buy catch of the day on the beach. Rye being a similar distance - with enchanting cobbled streets, medieval church and beautifully preserved historic houses from medieval, Tudor and Georgian times, is almost suspended in time and has a uniquely unhurried atmosphere. The Old Town's architecture ranges from Medieval to Victorian. One of the oldest buildings, the Court House is believed to have been built around 1450. There are ancient churches and the Old Town Hall, which now houses a museum. There are lots of passages and narrow streets (called twittens) that are worth exploring that go off the Old Town High Street. There are cafes, bars and restaurants that add to the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Old Town.

Hastings has the largest fishing fleet in Europe that is launched from a beach, which is known as the Stade. The Castle built by William the Conqueror but now in ruins is at the top of West Hill and offer wonderful views of the area and Channel. The steepest funicular railway in Britain takes passengers from the Old Town up to the Castle. Compact enough to discover the key places of interest over a week-end but with plenty of secret treasures to entice you to stay much longer and to return again.

The attractive town of Battle, less than 15 minutes away gets its name from the Battle of Hastings, which was fought between Harold the Saxon king and William the Conqueror in 1066. The battle was so significant it changed the course of English history. The town grew up around the Abbey of St Martin which was built by William the Conqueror after the battle. It is said that William vowed that should he win the battle he would build such an abbey. The abbey was built between 1070 and 1094, and the high altar is believed to have been placed on the spot where Harold fell. Today the Abbey ruins and the battlefield are cared for by English Heritage and are well worth a visit. The imposing Abbey gatehouse built circa 1338 can be seen as you look down the length of the High Street.

There are many truly English villages with picturesque houses and traditional English pubs to explore - this is England at its best and we don't think you will be disappointed!

For further ideas please look at the Things to do section of the website.