164 Chatham – Magpie Hall Road – White Road Estate

While the 164 is principally a local estate service rather than a tourist trail, it makes a useful add-on to a day exploring Chatham, particularly if you want to combine the riverside attractions with a wander around the older Luton and Magpie Hall areas. Start at Chatham Waterfront Bus Station, where the bus stands sit right beside the river and just a short walk from the heart of town.

Before boarding, give yourself an hour or two at Chatham Historic Dockyard, a few minutes away by bus or a brisk walk along the waterfront. The Dockyard's three historic warships, including HMS Cavalier and the submarine HMS Ocelot, the Victorian Ropery and the Command of the Oceans gallery easily fill a morning, and the site's cobbled streets and Georgian storehouses are some of the finest naval heritage in the country.

Back in central Chatham, the Waterfront and Pentagon area offer the practical things, coffee, lunch, a browse around the shops, before you hop on the 164. The route's climb up through Luton passes St Paul's Church, a striking 19th-century landmark whose spire is visible from much of the surrounding area, and a reminder of the old village identity beneath modern Chatham.

As the bus loops through the White Road Estate, look out for the views opening up between the houses towards the Medway valley. The Victory Academy sits at the heart of the estate, and the long curving avenues are typical of the inter-war housing schemes that transformed Chatham's higher ground.

Returning via Magpie Hall Road, you are within easy walking distance of Fort Amherst, the great Napoleonic-era fortification cut into the chalk above Chatham. Its tunnels, ramparts and parkland make for a memorable afternoon, with panoramic views back down over the dockyard and the river.

Round off the day back at the Waterfront with a riverside walk towards Sun Pier, or a meal in one of the restaurants along the quay, watching the light change over the Medway. The 164 may be a humble town loop, but linked with Chatham's bigger attractions it slots neatly into a full and rewarding day out.