Rochester, a charming town near London, mistakenly lost its city status due to an administrative error that went unnoticed for years
Rochester: So, you know how living in London is great, but sometimes you just want to escape? Well, Kent is the perfect spot for that. It’s got this rich history and is super close to the capital.
Now, Kent has only one official city, Canterbury, famous for its stunning cathedral. But here’s the kicker: Rochester also has a cathedral and used to be a city until a mix-up in 1998.
What happened was, when Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham merged to form Medway, they accidentally dropped Rochester’s city status. And no one even noticed for four years! Crazy, right?
Even though Medway Council tried to get it back in 2000, 2002, and 2012, Rochester is still a must-see for anyone who loves history. The Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest in England, dating back to around AD604.
This place is packed with cool stuff, like the Textus Roffensis, which is the only copy of the first English Law code. Plus, there are amazing sculptures, paintings, and stained glass to check out. And let’s not forget Rochester Castle, a stunning piece of Norman architecture that looks over London Road.
Inside the castle chapel, you can even see a model of what it looked like back in the 14th century. In the summer, the castle grounds turn into a lively spot with open-air theatre and cinema shows.
Rochester’s High Street is buzzing with shops, restaurants, museums, and art galleries. It’s a lovely area with cobbled streets that lead right to the castle and cathedral, plus museums like Eastgate House and the Guildhall Museum.
Getting to Rochester is super easy, too. Trains from Victoria, Kings Cross St Pancras, and London Bridge take less than 40 minutes. Just hop on a Southeastern train from Victoria heading to Dover Priory and get off at Rochester.
If you’re coming from St Pancras or London Bridge, there’s also a train to Ramsgate that stops at Rochester. Driving takes a bit longer, about an hour and eight minutes, but you can take the A13 and A2 straight there.
