History of Kent

Archaeological evidence suggests that there has been human settlement in the Kent area for hundreds of thousands of years from the Lower Palaeolithic era. Richborough Castle may well have been the main entry point for the landing Roman forces in AD 43. They built a triumphal arch as a symbol of their successful landing and it still exists today as a tourist attraction and is guarded by English Heritage. Richborough Castle was again used to defend Roman Britain against Saxon invaders in the 3rd century AD. One of the last Roman settlements in the 5th century AD was in Kent and there is an Early Christian church found in the fort. The Jutes used East Kent as one of their kingdoms after the Romans left. The area was known as Cantia in the 8th century and Cent in the 9th century.

Working in Kent

Kent is known as the Garden of England and is found in the South East of the country where it is located close to London. Because of this, Kent enjoys a healthy economy which is also aided by the large amounts of tourists that come to visit its many tourist attractions, not to mention its Channel Tunnel link with France. At one time, cement, papermaking and agriculture were major sectors in the Kent economy but these industries have declined. Large areas of Kent are now seen as pieces of London's commuter belt which is an indication of the capital city's expansion. Of Kent's £18 billion GVA, less than 2% of it can be attributed to agriculture. Industry accounts for almost 28% of the economy while the services industry is responsible for the other 70%.

Living in Kent

Kent is a county which is located in the South East of England and has a population of approximately 1.7 million people. Its administrative capital is Maidstone and the county itself is known as the 'Garden of England' because of the large number of hops and orchard gardens it contains. Kent is one of the most exciting counties to live in because of its proximity to both Greater London and France. If you live in Folkestone, France can be seen on a clear day as can the great White Cliffs of Dover. The famous Channel Tunnel which connects England with France is found at Folkestone and is a rail link under the sea which leads to Coquelles, located near Calais in France. Therefore, you could have breakfast in France but enjoy lunch back home in Kent, a unique experience not offered by any other place in Britain.

Top 10 Places

As Kent is a relatively large county in terms of area if not population, there are plenty of tourist attractions to keep you interested. Whether you are interested in learning more about British history or else you want to enjoy what Kent's coast has to offer, you will find no shortage of attractions. Here are the top 10 places to visit in Kent.

10 Top Companies

The county of Kent is no slouch when it comes to contributing to the UK economy. The last available regional GVA from 2003 shows that the region has a GVA of over £18 billion, far more than the majority of UK cities for instance, despite the fact that the county's population is just 1.7 million. Tourism of course plays a big role but there are also a number of up and coming companies who are adding to the Kent economy.