Set off from Hawkhurst around 10:00 and head to Folkestone Eurotunnel Terminal for a pre-booked, discounted shuttle crossing (book in advance for the best fares); the short crossing lets you arrive in Calais refreshed and ready to drive west. After clearing customs, take the A16/A28 route toward Normandy and pause for a light lunch and stretch at Parc du Château de Samer, a pretty roadside green with cafés nearby, before continuing to your hotel near the D-Day coast where you'll check in and secure parking for your classic car.
After check-in, take a relaxed drive along the coast to Port-en-Bessin-Huppert, a charming fishing port where you can stroll the harbour and watch trawlers return while sampling fresh oysters at a waterside bistro. Follow this with a short scenic detour to Le Manoir de la Tour viewpoint for sweeping views over the bay, then settle into an early evening meal at La Table du Peintre in a nearby village known for its seasonal Normandy dishes and welcoming, unfussy service.
As dusk falls, take a short drive to Sainte-Mère-Église to wander its atmospheric streets and visit the evocative church square where paratrooper history feels close; stop for a convivial meal at Le P'tit Bistrot for hearty Norman fare and local cider. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxed seaside promenade at Utah Beach under the evening sky-listen to the waves, view the preserved bunkers from the shoreline, and then return to your hotel to secure the classic car and rest for tomorrow's full day of exploration.
Begin with a leisurely breakfast at La Maison du Biscuit in Sainte-Mère-Église for fresh pastries and coffee, then drive to Arromanches-les-Bains to walk the remains of the Mulberry harbour and explore the panoramic exhibits at the Musée du Débarquement d'Arromanches that explain the harbour's engineering. Afterward, head uphill to The D-Day Remnants Viewpoint (Le Rond-Point du Débarquement) for sweeping coastal views and a reflective stroll among the interpretive panels before a late-morning coffee at a nearby café in Arromanches village.
Drive inland to Bayeux and spend the afternoon wandering the medieval streets to see the Bayeux Cathedral and the famed Tapisserie de Bayeux (book timed-entry for the tapestry to avoid queues), then pause for a late-lunch of local lamb and apple tart at the cosy Le Pommier brasserie. Later, head west to the coastline for a reflective visit to Omaha Beach and the nearby Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, where the clifftop views and rows of white crosses offer a poignant contrast to the lively market town atmosphere you enjoyed earlier.
After a day of museums and moving memorials, unwind with an evening drive to Port-en-Bessin-Huppain to watch the light soften over the harbour and enjoy a seafood-focused dinner at Le Bouquet where oysters and moules marinières are local highlights. Finish with a gentle post-dinner walk through Courseulles-sur-Mer promenade - stop for a nightcap at Le Bar des Flots overlooking the sea and then return to your hotel, parking your classic car in the secure lot and preparing for tomorrow's further explorations.
Start with a hearty breakfast in the market town of Portsmouth-sur-Mer-enjoy fresh croissants and strong coffee at Café du Marché-then drive along the coast to explore the dunes and preserved bunkers at Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, where a short guided walk explains the local defence works and natural habitats. Mid-morning, head inland to the tranquil Jardin des Plantes de Bayeux for a reflective stroll among seasonal blooms and a visit to the small local history room, finishing with a quick stop at La Ferme du Terroir to pick up Normandy cheeses and apple juice for the drive and to pack in the car before afternoon departures.
Drive a short way to Pointe du Hoc for a guided walk along the dramatic cliffs and restored craters, where rangers and interpretive panels bring the site's daring WWII assault vividly to life; pause at the clifftop lookout to photograph the sheer drop to the sea and the preserved gun emplacements. Later, wind inland to the picturesque village of Brecourt Manor (the setting for the famous glider assault) and enjoy a late-afternoon tasting of local calvados and artisanal cheeses at Ferme de la Mare, then return to your hotel to top up fuel, secure the classic car, and pack calmly ahead of your Eurotunnel crossing the next morning.
As the light softens, drive to the peaceful headland at Grandcamp-Maisy to stroll the harbour and watch local fishermen bring in the catch, then savour a seafood platter and Normandy cider at the waterside Le Bistrot du Port. Finish the evening with a short, reflective walk along the sands of Vierville-sur-Mer to view preserved wartime remains from the shoreline, then return to your hotel to secure the classic car, pack calmly, and enjoy a final nightcap in the lounge before an early start for your Eurotunnel crossing.
Leave your Normandy hotel early and take a final scenic coastal drive past Courseulles-sur-Mer toward Calais, pausing for a brisk coffee and pain au chocolat at Café de la Plage in Wimereux to stretch legs and admire the chalk cliffs. Arrive at the Calais Fréthun Eurotunnel Terminal in good time for your pre-booked midday shuttle (use any discounted voucher you secured) then relax in the on-board cabin while watching the countryside glide by-once through, head straight for the M25/M5 route to make steady progress home to Kidderminster for your planned arrival by 22:00.
After a relaxed morning crossing, take a final scenic detour along the Channel coast and stop at Wissant to stretch your legs on its wide pebble beach and watch kite surfers against the dramatic Cap Blanc-Nez cliffs. Continue with a short visit to Audinghen for a light lunch of fresh seafood at a village bistro and a quick walk to the Cap Gris-Nez viewpoint, where binoculars reveal the French and English coasts before you head north toward the Calais Fréthun Eurotunnel Terminal in good time for your booked midday/early-afternoon shuttle and the drive back to Kidderminster.
After your Eurotunnel crossing and a steady drive into England, pause for a convivial early-evening stop at Canterbury Cathedral Close to stretch legs with a riverside walk and admire the gothic façade as the light softens. Continue north with a comforting dinner at The King's Arms, Wrotham, a cosy gastropub offering seasonal fare and secure parking nearby for your classic car, then finish the day with a relaxed final leg toward Kidderminster aiming to arrive home by 22:00.