It's appropriate that trains to Gravesend glide in along the banks of the River Thames. This important river port is just inside the Thames estuary, and has acted as a gateway in and out of London for hundreds of years. Rail arrived in 1845, and the modern-day front of the station, with columns and hanging flower baskets, is a charming introduction to the town. It underwent a £19 million facelift in 2013, which replaced the 20th century footbridge and added new lifts.
Today, Gravesend is a busy commuter station, with regular trains to London Charing Cross and London St Pancras - the quickest reach the capital in just 24 minutes. The town itself has a great range of independent shops, and the oldest cast iron pier in the world. One of its more unusual attractions is the grave of native American princess Pocahontas, who is buried in the yard of St George's Church, five minutes' walk south of the station.