Britain Unlocked

SUKI WEBSTER & PAUL MERTON ON WHY THEY CAN’T GET KENT OUT OF THEIR HEADS

‘WE LIVE in the middle of the Kent countryside and there aren’t many houses around where we are,’ says Paul Merton, who has been driving around the UK with his wife Suki on Channel 5 show Motorhoming With Merton And Webster, screening on Fridays at 8pm. ‘But that’s good, we don’t mind that. Canterbury is probably our nearest city, which is lovely, but we really enjoy the countryside.

‘There are hundreds of walks in the surrounding area and in the last 18 months we’ve discovered many more of them. Suki was born in the country and I was born in London, and funnily enough I think she prefers London now, whereas I prefer the countryside.’

‘I was born and brought up in Kent and you can see why it’s called the Garden of England because it’s a very pretty county,’ adds Suki. ‘You have the sea, where you can look out to France, and the countryside. There’s so much to do but you’re not far from London, either.’ To eat well – whether that’s sizzling sausages or home-made fruit juices – eat local by hitting the farm shops, says Paul.

‘There are also various vineyards that produce English sparkling wine that’s rivalling champagne now, as well as white and red wines.

‘Try Simpsons Wine Estate – there are a few local restaurants that stock Simpsons’ wine so that’s how we first got to taste it. It’s really very good. ‘In terms of other must-dos, visit the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, which is a famous railway that Suki went on when she was younger. It’s somewhere we love to visit when we’re in the area.

‘Or go on a coastal walk in Capel-leFerne that takes in the Battle of Britain memorial. It has stunning gardens on the clifftop in the shape of the front of an aeroplane. Whitstable is another place we love to go, especially for the oysters.’