Stretch your legs after arrival with a leisurely breakfast at The Cinnamon Tree in Hawkhurst, savouring locally roasted coffee and a hearty fry before final packing. Pop by the charming High Street to admire the timbered facades and pick up last-minute travel essentials at Hartley & Co. deli, then give your classic car a quick safety check and top-up at Turners Garage so you're ready to set off mid-morning toward the Eurotunnel crossing.
Take a gentle post-arrival drive through the Kent countryside to [Bedgebury National Pinetum](https://www.google.com/search?q=Bedgebury+National+Pinetum+I+want+an+itinerary+for+a+road+trip+in+France.%0AI+will+spend+a+night+in+Hawkhurst+in+Kent+on+16th+April+2026+from+where+I%27d+start+out+mid%2C+morning+after+a+night%27s+rest.%0AI+would+want+to+get+a+Euro-tunnel+crossing+that+was+preferably+discounted+before+driving+into+Normandy.%0AMy+trip+would+ideally+include+three+nights+in+France+near+to+the+Normandy+beaches+and+staying+hotels+that+are+very+clean%2C+with+good+food+and+secure+parking+for+a+classic+car.%0AIdeally%2C+the+hotels+should+be+not+too+expensive.%0AI+would+like+to+return+via+the+Euro-tunnel+by+midday+of+the+third+day+in+France+before+driving+home.%0A+official+site), where a short walk among towering pines clears the head and gives your classic car a scenic backdrop for photos. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxed early dinner and local ales at the cosy Rose & Crown in Goudhurst, known for wholesome pub fare and a welcoming car-friendly atmosphere before an early night ahead of your Eurotunnel departure.
Wind down your day with a relaxed meal at The Crown at Lamberhurst, where seasonal British dishes and a good wine list make for a calm pre-trip dinner; arrive early enough to ask about local secure parking options for your classic car. After dinner, take a short starlit stroll to St. Mary's Church, Hawkhurst to enjoy the peaceful village atmosphere, then return to your room to lay out travel documents and a simple toolkit so you're ready for a smooth mid-morning departure.
Leave Hawkhurst mid-morning and aim for a discounted Eurotunnel crossing (check Eurotunnel Le Shuttle off-peak deals booked in advance) for a swift drive-through embarkation; after disembarking at Calais, follow quiet country roads into Normandy, stopping for a late brunch at the riverside Le Jardin Gourmand in Pont-l'Évêque to stretch legs and sample apple-based specialties. Continue along scenic lanes to the coast and pause at Pointe du Hoc for dramatic cliff-top views and a short, respectful walk among historic artillery craters before checking into a comfortable, budget-conscious hotel with secure parking for your classic car, such as Hôtel Le Tilly or a similar local guesthouse praised for cleanliness and hearty Normandy cuisine.
After checking into your hotel, take a gentle coastal drive to Arromanches-les-Bains to walk the promenade and view the remains of the Mulberry harbour from the reconstructed causeway; pause at [Musée du Débarquement d'Arromanches](https://www.google.com/search?q=Mus%C3%A9e+du+D%C3%A9barquement+d%27Arromanches+I+want+an+itinerary+for+a+road+trip+in+France.%0AI+will+spend+a+night+in+Hawkhurst+in+Kent+on+16th+April+2026+from+where+I%27d+start+out+mid%2C+morning+after+a+night%27s+rest.%0AI+would+want+to+get+a+Euro-tunnel+crossing+that+was+preferably+discounted+before+driving+into+Normandy.%0AMy+trip+would+ideally+include+three+nights+in+France+near+to+the+Normandy+beaches+and+staying+hotels+that+are+very+clean%2C+with+good+food+and+secure+parking+for+a+classic+car.%0AIdeally%2C+the+hotels+should+be+not+too+expensive.%0AI+would+like+to+return+via+the+Euro-tunnel+by+midday+of+the+third+day+in+France+before+driving+home.%0A+official+site) for a compact, well-presented film that brings the beach's history to life. Follow this with a late-afternoon cider tasting and light plate of local cheese and cold meats at La Crêperie du Port in the harbour area, then return to your hotel's secure parking to freshen up before an evening meal.
For a relaxed first evening, drive a short way to the clifftop village of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain to watch the sunset over the Baie des Veys and enjoy fresh seafood at Le Bistrot de la Mer, where the terrace dining and friendly service suit a classic-car stop. Afterwards, take a gentle post-dinner stroll along the harbourfront toward Eglise Notre-Dame, then return to your hotel to park securely and sample a regional calvados by the fireplace as you plan tomorrow's longer coastal explorations.
Begin with a leisurely drive through the Norman countryside to Bayeux, where you can stroll the cobbled streets to the impressive Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux and see the centuries-old tapestry at the [Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux](https://www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/)-both are compact, richly historic stops that set the tone for the day. Afterward, head a little inland to Bény-sur-Mer for a peaceful riverside brunch at a local café and a short visit to Jardin des Plantes de Caen (or a nearby public garden) to relax before an afternoon of beachside memorials and coastal drives.
Drive a short way to the charming seaside village of Sainte-Mère-Église to wander its historic market square and visit the atmospheric Airborne Museum for vivid displays on the parachute landings; follow this with a scenic coastal loop to Utah Beach where you can walk the broad shoreline, read the informative panels and reflect by the quiet Utah Beach Museum. Finish the afternoon with a leisurely cider-and-pâté tasting at family-run Domaine Dupont (or a nearby artisanal cidrerie) before returning to your hotel to admire your classic car in secure parking and freshen up for dinner.
As the light softens, take a short drive to the pretty harbour of Grandcamp-Maisy for a seafood-focused supper at Le P'tit Bouchon, where local fish and moules are served with regional cider; linger on the quay to watch fishing boats return. After dinner, enjoy a peaceful twilight walk through the nearby dunes to La Pointe de la Percée for panoramic views over the bay, then return to your hotel to secure your classic car and relax with a digestif while planning tomorrow's final coastal loop.
Set out on a gentle morning drive along the coast to Hermanville-sur-Mer for a seaside breakfast at La Terrasse, then stretch your legs on the peaceful sands and examine the well-preserved wartime bunkers scattered along the promenade. Continue with a short scenic run inland to Colleville-sur-Mer to walk the somber, beautifully maintained grounds of the [Omaha Beach American Cemetery](https://www.abmc.gov) and visit the adjacent Omaha Beach Museum for quiet reflection before returning to your hotel to check your car and bags for tomorrow's Eurotunnel departure.
Take a slow, scenic drive to the fishing port of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain to browse the harbour stalls and enjoy a late-lunch plate of oysters and moules at Le Vivier, then continue to the peaceful clifftop gardens of Les Jardins d'Etretat (or a nearby coastal garden if Etretat is further afield) for tea and sweeping sea-views. Finish the afternoon with a visit to the atmospheric Musée du Débarquement d'Asnelles for concise exhibits on the landings and a calm promenade along the sands to photograph your classic car against the golden light before returning to the hotel to pack and check secure parking arrangements for tomorrow's Eurotunnel drive.
As the sun begins to lower, drive a short way to the peaceful fishing village of Houlgate for an early-evening promenade along the Belle Époque seafront and coffee at the cosy Café du Casino, where you can watch locals stroll and take photos of your classic car against the promenade. Finish with a memorable seafood dinner at La Table d'Hôtes, sampling the day's catch with a glass of local cider, then return via quiet country lanes to your hotel to secure your classic car, lay out travel documents and enjoy a final nightcap while you confirm tomorrow's Eurotunnel timetable.
Rise early for a brisk coastal breakfast at Brasserie La Chaloupe in Calais-portioning a strong coffee and a warm croissant-then take a short scenic loop to Le Phare de Calais for panoramic views and a final photo of your classic car against the Channel before heading to the terminal. Arrive at Eurotunnel Le Shuttle with time to spare for check-in, refuel at TotalEnergies Calais Sud if needed, and enjoy a relaxed drive-on boarding so you cross by midday and set off for home refreshed.
Before your Eurotunnel check-in, take a relaxed coastal drive to Wimereux for a late-morning/early-afternoon stroll along the Belle Époque esplanade and a light seafood lunch at Le Bistronomique, where you can savour freshly shucked oysters and a crisp local white while your classic car rests in a nearby short-term parking bay. If time allows, detour via the scenic bluff road to Cap Blanc-Nez for sweeping Channel views and one last photoshoot of your car against the chalk cliffs before heading to Eurotunnel Le Shuttle for your midday crossing and the final easy leg home.
After a smooth Channel crossing and arrival in Kent, ease back into English roads with a restorative stop at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for a gentle estuary walk and birdwatching that lets your classic car rest while you stretch. Finish the day with a comforting late supper at The George in Rye, where traditional Kentish dishes and secure on-site parking make a relaxed end to your trip before the final drive home to Hawkhurst.