Where to stay on an unforgettable trip to the 'Garden of England'
The White Cliffs of Dover, the Turner Contemporary in Margate, the Cloisters of Canterbury Cathedral - the 'Garden of England' is not short of an attraction or 1o, and the best hotels hotels in Kent provide the perfect base to explore the county.
From the gorgeous vineyards of Kent to the beautiful gardens, like Sissinghurst Castle Garden, there is so much to see, whatever your travel style. There are sandy beaches, picturesque oast houses and fabulous National Trust properties to see during a trip to Kent.
Whether you come for its history – Kent was home to such luminaries as Winston Churchill, Geoffrey Chaucer and Charles Dickens – to visit stately homes and Hever and Leeds Castles, or see the wildlife found at Port Lympne Wild Animal Reserve and Howlett's Wildlife Park, there's plenty to explore in the county.
Known as the 'Garden of England,' Kent's leafy interior is packed with historic market towns and is famed for its top-notch food scene. Of course, it's also where most of Britain's hops are grown. You'll want to have a pint in Faversham, home of Britain's oldest brewery, Shepherd Neame.
And don't forget the coastline. Explore Kent's Heritage Coast, the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which winds between Folkestone and Dover. Build sandcastles on wide blonde sands of Broadstairs or enjoy sparkling fresh seafood hauled from the boats into Whitstable.
Offering hundreds of gorgeous hotels, boutique inns and pubs with rooms, we've chosen our favourites for a country weekend away in Kent.
Hever Castle Bed and Breakfast, Hever
For a regal weekend away, you can’t beat staying in a proper castle. Surrounded by the rolling hills of the Kent High Weald, Hever Castle dates back to the 13th century and is best known as the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. While the double moated castle is open to day visitors, its charming B&B offers the rare chance to live like a king or queen for the night.
The 27 rooms are housed in the Tudor wings of the castle, Astor and Ann Boleyn, which were built as guest wings by the former owner William Waldorf Astor. Rooms all have the air of glorious country house, with roll-top baths, antique furnishings and rich fabrics. The added benefit is all guests receive free entry into the castle and rare out-of-hours access to the castle grounds.
Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa, Wilmington
Promising sweeping views of the Kent Weald, this elegant country house hotel and spa is only a 30-minute train ride from London. Built in 1868 as a family summer house, it's set in lush gardens and has a serene appeal that feels a million miles from the city. A big draw is Rowhill Grange Hotel's Utopia Spa, said to be one of Kent's finest. Designed like Roman baths, it has a fabulous marble-clad indoor pool area with hot tubs, saunas and hammams.
Out of the 38 rooms, all comfortable and spread across the old house and the thatched mews, the Master Suites are the grandest with vaulted ceilings and mezzanine floors. Dine out on the Garden of England's finest produce in RG's, the stylish restaurant that flings open the doors to the terrace for alfresco dining during the summer months.
No 42 by GuestHouse, Margate
Described as a 'beachfront belle of a boutique hotel', this is another gem in the art- and fun-filled seaside town of Margate. The Victorian building that houses No 42 by GuestHouse is positioned just above the town's main swathe of golden sand, giving guests idyllic views across the bay.
There are 21 rooms and 'Lookout Suites', with original features preserved yet paired with modern, elegant touches for a luxurious experience. Some have balconies and four-poster beds, but all are a lovely place in which to spend time. When hunger calls, there's the Pearly Cow restaurant, plus a rooftop cocktail bar. There are also a handful of deeply relaxing treatment rooms.
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, Canterbury
Canterbury Cathedral is magnificent and surrounded by the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and the oldest church in the English-speaking world. Little wonder the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perhaps more surprising is the fact that you can stay right in the heart of it all at a comfortable (and surprisingly affordable) hotel.
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
has 34 stylish bedrooms and a Lounge Bar in which to relax. Naturally, the views of the cathedral are second to none and guests get free entry to the Canterbury Cathedral Precincts. A great way to soak up the cultural epicentre of Canterbury.
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Boys Hall, Ashford
Tucked away on the leafy outskirts of Ashford – a 10-minute cab ride from Ashford International – Boys Hall is a beautiful boutique hotel in a Jacobean manor house. Set in three acres of wild English gardens, sit back with a glass of local fizz on the sun-drenched terrace or cosy down over a game of Scrabble and a warming cocktail in the oak-panelled lounge.
The main draw is the food. Championing the best of small local Kent producers – it's not called the 'Garden of England' for nothing – dine out on dishes such as grilled Romney Marsh lamb, rosemary potato and pickled morels, hot smoked salmon with avocado and sushi rice or sticky braun crumpet with kohlrabi and pickled chilli, while the menu's local Kent wines shine. After dinner, hunker down in one of the nine plush, beamed suites.
Port Lympne Mansion Hotel, Hythe
There are few places in the world that you can wake up to the roar of lions, and Kent is one of them. Set within the gardens of Port Lympne Wildlife Reserve, this glorious boutique hotel has sweeping views over Romney Marsh and out to the briny English Channel. With just eight rooms, each named after a famous guest, the Grade II listed country house has an intimate appeal and is perfect for a special escape.
Start the day with breakfast, feasting on Kent's garden produce in the restaurant, alongside wood-fired pizza. Of course, the highlight of any stay here is the rare after-hours access to the wildlife reserve, where you can see the resident black rhino, gorillas, giraffes and lions via your personal golf buggy.
Albion House, Ramsgate
Perched on a cliff above the sandy beach Main Sands, this Ramsgate icon is perfect for a weekend at the seaside. Once home to a recuperating Princess Victoria, just before she became Queen, Albion House was built in 1792 and has attracted a wealth of Britain’s dignitaries over the centuries, not least thanks to its magnificent views over Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour.
Stay in one of 14 delightfully decorated rooms and suites, many still adorned with Georgian and Regency details. Our favourite is Little Victoria, where the former queen resided, which has a balcony overlooking the harbour. You don’t have to go far to sample Ramsgate’s fine dining scene. The hotel's Dining Rooms delight in locally sourced fish and meat, all with smashing views of the harbour and the sea.
Eastwell Manor, Ashford
Owned by iconic spa brand Champneys, Eastwell Manor is the perfect place for pampering. Surrounded by 60 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the ivy-covered neo-Elizabethan manor house was built in the 18th century as the former home of Prince Alfred, son of Queen Victoria. Plushly decorated rooms are spread across the manor house and Mews Cottages, and there’s a brace of shepherd's huts in the grounds for a different kind of escape.
There's no chance of getting bored as the hotel has a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts and a croquet lawn. However, its biggest draw is the spa, which has a 20-metre swimming pool, saunas, steam rooms and all manner of treatments - you are almost guaranteed to return home looking and feeling refreshed.
Chilston Park Hotel, Lenham
Packed with classic country house charm, the 17th-century Chilston Park Hotel is just the ticket for a romantic trip in rural Kent. Once home to politician Thomas Best, the MP for Rochester in the 1700s, it's had many an esteemed guest through its doors. Overrun with antiques and ancestral portraits, it's like stepping into Downton Abbey for a weekend, especially if you book a Kent afternoon tea in the Marble Lounge or dinner in the 2 AA Rosette Culpeper's restaurant.
There are 53 rooms to choose from, but our choice would be one of the feature rooms in the main house. Named after former residents including Hogarth and Victoria, they all feature four-poster beds and sweeping views over the gardens and lake.
The Rose, Deal
Like nearby Whitstable and Margate, Deal is finally having its day as the London art crowd relocate to the Kent seaside. Dotted with antique shops, gorgeous bars and chichi restaurants, Deal is worthy of a weekend or longer. Perched on the High Street, The Rose was once a pub of less than desirable character, but now, thanks to interiors expert Michelle Kelly who has brought in a wealth of style in the form of the House of Hackney, Liberty and Farrow and Ball, it has been transformed into one of the Kent's most stylish seaside hotels.
There are just eight rooms, all differently decorated with plenty of colour and vintage glamour. If you're feeling especially adventurous, borrow the hotel's tandem for whizz along the coast. But be back in time for dinner in the restaurant, which is all about delicious home-grown Kent produce plated prettily.
Broome Park Hotel, Canterbury
Live the life of lauded gentry at this 17th-century mansion near Canterbury. The grand redbrick Broome Park Hotel was built during the reign of Charles I. Set in 250 acres of rolling parkland, it's a big draw for golf fans thanks to its 18-hole golf course. Naturally, there's plenty of other attractions too, including a lovely spa with an indoor pool.
For a real treat, book one of the 22 suites, all with views of the grounds or the golf course. Alternatively, one of the 14 woodland lodges is perfect for families or groups of friends, and dogs are allowed. All can enjoy the Peacock restaurant or the lounge bar, renowned its speciality gin cocktails.
Walpole Bay Hotel, Margate
One of the pioneers of the Margate hotel scene, the Walpole Bay Hotel is perfect for an old-school seaside stay on the Kent coast. Built overlooking the sea in Cliftonville in 1914, this Edwardian pile was quite the glamour puss in her early 20th century heyday. Now it has more of a charming and slightly kitsch appeal, not least thanks to its Living History Museum, packed with Margate images and memorabilia.
Take a peek in the 1920s ballroom, which still has the original sprung maple dance floor. And don't miss a look at the Napery Gallery, which features decorated napkins by artists including Tracey Emin and Curtiss Tappenden. There are 33 rooms, all of varying sizes and chintzy styles, some have four-poster beds or balconies with views over the English Channel.
Duke of Cumberland Hotel, Whitstable
Like a pearl in Kent's oyster, The Duke of Cumberland Hotel is a delicious treat for a weekend by the sea. Located mere yards from Whitstable Beach, this gorgeous pub with rooms is an epicurean delight for seafood fans. After a romp along the Kent coast and a bracing dip in the North Sea, head to the Grade-II listed bar and restaurant and feast on some of the finest locally caught fish Kent can offer, particularly the heavenly crab Thermidor on sourdough toast.
Colourful, contemporary and with a hint of nautical charm, the rooms are named after local smacks and yawls (oyster boats) and are a real delight. Our favourite is Gamecock, which is all teal tones, tobacco-leather armchairs and sunny-hued soft furnishings. And as an extra treat, each room is furnished with complimentary Whitstable Ales.
Rocksalt Rooms, Folkestone
Now foodies are flocking to Folkestone, there's no better, ahem, plaice to stay than in one of its finest fish restaurants, Rocksalt. Perched on Folkestone harbour, the swish and modern glass-fronted restaurant and sun-drenched terrace has four guest rooms built above the Smokehouse next door.
Each room is named after local fishermen. Opt for Valentine, which has a gorgeous antique bed, a Juliet balcony overlooking the sea and a beautiful vaulted ceiling. The highlight of any foray into Folkestone is lunch or dinner at Rocksalt, where you can feast on Dover sole baked in full view of the fishing boats that hauled in your lunch.
More UK travel ideas:
- The best hotels in East Sussex
- Where to stay for a luxury trip to Northumberland
- Harrogate's loveliest hotels
- Britain's best coastal walks
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