Days out in Kent and East Sussex by bus

Get your summer staycation started with Stagecoach.

Cultural cities, calming coastlines and Insta-worthy views, makes the shores of Kent and East Sussex the perfect destination for your summer mini-break. Whether you're a history lover or prefer off-the-beaten-track adventures, looking for some peace & quiet or finding a hidden gem, there's something for everyone!

Plan your bus journey

Dover Castle is a must for all history-lovers. Experience the greatest of English fortresses, standing at the gateway to Britain on the iconic White Cliffs. Take a tour of the Secret Wartime Tunnels, and see where the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk was masterminded. 

Dover is well served by buses from around the area including bus routes; 80 and 81. 

Take a guided tour around the Faversham Brewery site to learn about the ancient art of brewing. The 80 minute tour ends back in the Visitor Centre with a tutored tasting of Shepherd Neame’s Kentish ales and speciality lagers, before visitors have the chance to visit the Brewery Shop and pick up a souvenir, gift or some of their favourite beer.

Faversham is well served by buses in the area including bus routes; 3, 3B, 3X from Canterbury or Sittingbourne, and 666 from Ashford.

Why not try something a little different on your Kentish adventure? Take a day in the wild at Port Lympne Reserve and get an up close encounter with lions and tigers and more at this conservation foundation in the heart of the Garden of England.

Port Lympne is served by route 10/10A buses that run hourly on weekdays and weekends.

This ones for the history-lovers. Rye Castle Museum: Ypres Tower is a Medieval building and has served the town as a castle, a private home, a Court Hall, a gaol and a museum. There are exhibits on smuggling, policing and defence. From the Tower, there is a grand view of what was once one of the most important harbours in the country. 

East Street is just a five minute walk from the nearest bus stops through the cobbled streets of Rye. You can catch a route 100 or 101 bus from Hastings up to Rye, leaving the bus at Rye rail station. There are buses about every 30 minutes from Hastings on Mondays to Saturdays. From Folkestone, Hythe, Dymchurch, New Romney, Lydd and Camber you get to Rye on the ‘Wave’ 102 service which runs every hour on Mondays to Saturdays. There’s an extra bus every hour between Camber and Rye.

A day out in historic Canterbury wouldn’t be complete without admiring Canterbury Cathedral. Marvel at the stained-glass windows and ornate architecture, but taking a guided tour to discover the deeper history of Saint Thomas Becket’s infamous murder is the best way to enjoy this world-famous landmark. Afterwards, why not rest your legs by joining Canterbury Historic River Tours boat rides down the Stour river, running through the city and into the picturesque Westgate gardens.

There are frequent buses into Canterbury City Centre from all around east Kent. There are frequent buses throughout the daytime from most towns and both attractions are a short walk into the city from the main bus station. 

Bodiam Castle is one of Britain's most picturesque castles in the heart of a historic landscape. You can see Sir Edward Dallingridge's vision for an awe-inspiring building as you approach the castle with its towers rising majestically from the moat. Spiral staircases, battlements, windows for loosing arrows and ruins where knights once roamed - Bodiam Castle is a place where you can let your imagination run free.

You’ll need to catch the number 349 bus which runs hourly on Saturdays and every two hours on Sundays. Buses run from Hawkhurst or Hastings and on Sundays from Cranbrook too.

If you're more a fan of fairgrounds and candy floss, the rainbow world of Dreamland Margate is a must. Take a turn on the Big Wheel, soar across the tracks on the Scenic Railway, or spin across the floor at the Roller Disco. Whatever you do, don’t forget to strike a pose and a few snaps for your feed, because with these colourful sights, we can guarantee it’s #nofilter. Afterwards, the vibrant town has plenty to keep you entertained with independent shops and cool cafes, and the perfect beach for an afternoon best enjoyed with an ice cream in hand.

Dreamland is served by route 8, 8A and 8X buses from Canterbury every 15 minutes during the daytime with buses up to 22:15 in the evening. If you’re travelling from elsewhere in Thanet you can hop on a Thanet Loop bus from Broadstairs, Westwood, Ramsgate or Cliftonville. Buses run about every 8 minutes throughout the day and serve Cecil Street in Margate which is a short walking distance from Dreamland. Other bus routes include: 32, 33, 34 and 37.

Perhaps a trip to The True CRIME Museum in Hastings, where the UK’s largest collection of crime memorabilia is stored is more up your street? 

Hastings True CRIME Museum is well served by local buses and ‘wave’ route 99 buses from Bexhill and Eastbourne.