Gravesend, Kent

Gravesend, located in northwest Kent on the south bank of the River Thames, is a town steeped in maritime history and strategic importance. It marks the eastern edge of the Greater London Built-up Area and serves as the administrative centre of the Borough of Gravesham.

The town boasts the world’s oldest surviving cast iron pier, built in 1834, now refurbished and home to a bar and restaurant. Nearby, the Royal Terrace Pier, dating from 1844, remains a vital part of the Port of London Authority’s operations and the Gravesend RNLI Lifeboat Station. Gravesend’s riverfront history includes the New Tavern Fort, a scheduled monument rebuilt in the 19th century, and Windmill Hill, once a Victorian leisure spot with panoramic views over the Thames.

Gravesend is famously linked to Pocahontas, the Native American princess who died and was buried here in 1617. A statue commemorates her near St George’s Church, the town’s principal Anglican church. The town also has a rich cultural heritage, with connections to Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle, and hosts one of England’s oldest regattas, dating back to Tudor times.

Transport links are excellent, with Gravesend railway station offering high-speed services to London and Kent, and the town served by several bus routes including the Fastrack service. The Saxon Shore Way and Wealdway footpaths start here, tracing historic coastal and inland routes.