Lonely Planet recommends White Cliffs Country

Lonely Planet has named Kent as its top family destination in Europe, with White Cliffs Country featuring prominently in the travel guides recommendation.

The White Cliffs of Dover are one of the great icons of British tourism and attract millions of visitors every year. Dover Castle meanwhile is English Heritage's second most visited attraction in the country, with Deal, Walmer and Richborough castles making for a unique collection of coastal fortifications.

New attractions in the area for 2015 include the World War II Fan Bay Deep Shelter and Sound Mirrors being opened this summer by the National Trust at the White Cliffs of Dover. Open to the public for the first time in over 50 years, this new attraction will provide the opportunity to explore beneath the White Cliffs of Dover.

English Heritage meanwhile continues to invest in new attractions, with a stunning renovation of Walmer Castle to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Dover Castle is marking the centenary of World War I with a reinterpretation of the Fire Command Post and Admiralty Signal Station.

Plans are also afoot for a £3 million Heritage Lottery Fund restoration of Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens, the latter a Grade II listed public park designed around 1900 by Thomas Mawson, the leading landscape designer of the Edwardian era.

Cllr Keith Morris, DDC Portfolio Holder for Tourism, said: "'Why pay thousands to fly half way around the world when you've got such a fantastic holiday destination on your doorstep?

"Tourism is a cornerstone of the local economy. We're delighted that Kent and White Cliffs Country have been recognised as a great family destination. Continued investment in the tourism and heritage sectors is paying real dividends."