Town promoted as 'Gateway to Kent' to tourists

Gravesham Borough Council has launched a campaign to attract more visitors to the area

A campaign to bring more visitors to Gravesend in Kent has been launched.

Gravesham Borough Council said it wanted to "put the town on the tourism map" with its Visit Gravesham scheme.

The campaign highlights the area's maritime history, links to the novelist Charles Dickens and attractions in the surrounding countryside.

Council leader John Burden said: "We really should be proud of Gravesham’s position as the gateway to Kent, which is why we are shouting long and loud about everything we have to offer."

The authority is particularly targeting potential visitors from London and other parts of Kent, making use of the town's good rail and road links.

The new website tells potential visitors about the Crossfire Trail, a walk through different military equipment that would have been used to repel any invasion fleet that sailed up the Thames Estuary, Dickens' home at Gads Hill and the grave of Pocahontas in St George's church.

The district's country parks and open spaces, such as Shorne Woods and Jeskyns Community Woodland, are also being highlighted, along with its vineyards and microbreweries.

Mr Burden said: “Tourism has an important role to play in our local economy, with the most recent figures showing it contributes £70 million.

“We know there is huge potential to increase that over the coming years, and our new campaign is just the start of making that happen.”