Where to stay in Kent or Sussex

[Steve Bond]

This summer I am taking two veterans (A Wellington W/Op and a Hurricane pilot) on a short tour of sites of aviation interest in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, including the Brooklands Museum, the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne and the Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge.

Can anyone please suggest a hotel/inn with aviation connections where we might stay? Also, any other places we should add to the itinerary?

Thanks

Steve Bond

[treadigraph]

I can't vouch for it as a place to stay, but how about one night at the Aerodrome Hotel at Croydon? There is a museum next door in Airport House which opens occasionally.

Other museums you might like to consider are at Shoreham Airport, the "other" Shoreham in Kent (just noth of Sevenoaks I think) Headcorn Aerodrome and Manston.

[Kieron Kirk]

The Hurricane connection:

Try Siddeley House, No.50, Canbury Park Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, where the prototype Hurricane was built in 1935.

A "Hawker" connection this time;

Try St.Pauls Church, Hook Road, Hook, Chessington, Surrey, go through the gate, look left you will find the grave of Harry George Hawker.

Ciarain.

[Steve Bond]

Excellent suggestions, many thanks.

[skua]

Or how about that pub that featured in the Battle of Britain film? I seem to recall it was called the Bell, and was somewhere near Lydden in Kent, not too far from Hawkinge. It must have rooms cos Susannah York famously stripped to her stockings in one. Ask Beagle where it is - he seems to have the scene indelibly engraved on his psyche! ;)

[kevmusic]

The pub was (is) The Jackdaw, at Denton, near Hawkinge. Excellent museums at Hawkinge and Shoreham (in the Darenth Valley, 'twixt Otford and Eynsford).

[Saab Dastard]

Steve,

The museum at Tangmere is worth a visit - .: Tangmere Military Aviation Museum | Tangmere Sussex :. (http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/)

SD

[Steve Bond]

Thanks again chaps, I will follow up on all those leads.

[603DX]

Another excellent place to visit in Kent is the Brenzett Aeronautical Museum in the Romney Marsh region. This was an Advanced Landing Ground in WW2, with Mustangs of No.133 Wing, 84 Group taking part in V1 flying bomb interceptions, and providing air cover and support for the invasion forces after D-Day.

The museum is located close to the villages of Snargate and Brenzett, and has a Home Page with opening times, admission charges, etc.

[Double Zero]

I know it's a bit outside your stated area, but Duxford just has to be seen to be believed, well worth the trip if at all possible.

I also agree re. Tangmere, a very good museum with heaps to see; allow plenty of time ( Mondays are best if possible, better not explain why ! ).

Sorry I cannot recommend any place to stay, the snag is, living in West Sussex I've never had the need...

There is a perfectly reasonable, if soul-less, Travel Lodge at Fontwell near Chichester, handy for Tangmere.

There is the Amberley Castle Hotel, between Storrington & Chichester, where you could hardly go wrong and it would be an interesting experience in itself, but it sure wouldn't be cheap !

Will ask around and try to update this...hope you and your chums have fun,

DZ

[Steve Bond]

Thanks again to all. DZ, we live close to Duxford and go there often, but thanks for the thought.

[Sir George Cayley]

Try the pub lunch at the Plough, Plumpton, Sussex. In the garden is a simple yet moving memorial to the Polish Spitfire Sqdn that flew from Chailey ALG just up the road. The walls of the pub are adorned with memorabilia and the beer's not bad too.

Sir George Cayley

[foxtrot-oscar]

Give the museum at Manston a go, also for Pub Lunches, the Wattendon near Kenley is very good.

[Steve Bond]

Thanks both - sorry to have only just picked these up.

Steve

[kevmusic]

Let us know how you get on! :)