In the Anglo-Saxon era, the South East coastal region was the strategic key to controlling passage across the English Channel. Edward the Confessor granted legal favours to the Cinque Ports in return for ships and sailors to defend the coastline against invasion; by medieval times, this had expanded to a defensive "coastal confederation" of 42 towns. Now, the region is one of the busiest and most densely-populated in the UK, with 8% of the population living here.
Within the region, you will find some of the most spectacular coastline in England, including Beachy Head & the Seven Sisters, the white cliffs of Dover (pictured left), magnificent ruins and numerous historic sites. Inland, there are many small towns with great hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions whilst London is within easy commuting distance.
The area is well-served by road and rail links; there are direct motorway routes to the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone, to the cross-channel ferries at Dover, to Brighton and to Gatwick Airport, giving easy access by sea to France, Belgium, Holland and Spain as well as by air to destinations further afield.
