Our guide to luxury Kent holidays
From the hop fields and abundant orchards of the east to the trendy vineyards and white cliffs of the south, the "Garden of England" calls to the weekend adventurer. This is the Unique guide to luxury Kent holidays.
Hailed as England’s oldest county, Kent wears its maritime-meets-architectural heritage on its sleeve. Here, the iconic chalk cliffs of Dover stand sentinel; a geographical marvel, and a symbol of home, hope, and freedom. The mediaeval city of Canterbury brings towering spires, timber-framed houses, and cobbled lanes to the countryside mix, weaving 16th-century pie makers and jolly emporiums through the county like a Chaucer tale. What's more, the landscape is dotted with castles; from Hever Castle, the former home of Anne Boleyn, to Leeds Castle, oft crowned "the loveliest in the world."
Follow the salt trails to the coastal towns of Whitstable and Margate, where centuries-old seafood restaurants and family-run shacks a stroll from shingle beaches celebrate the North Sea’s bounty. Home to the world's leading English winemaker, Chapel Down, the county welcomes bon vivants for tours, tastings, and vineyard picnics. Of course, you’ll need somewhere to call home; so will it be an artist’s retreat in Brookland or a listed cottage — complete with a wood-fired hot tub — a stone’s throw from Deal? Find tips on what to see, do, and where to eat in our guide to luxury Kent holidays.
Locations in Kent
Collections in Kent
Whether you´re hoping to ride the waves in 60s marvel Joss Bay, or seeking a romantic escape par deux (and the dog) in Romney Marsh, our curated collections add secret gardens and starlit hot tubs to sweeten the deal.
Any day stays
From anniversary spots to party-ready manors, these luxury homes open their doors any day of the week, making them the ultimate flexi staycation.
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Coastal Retreats
From modern beach houses to bohemian self-catering cottages by the sea, spend days watching the waves in one of our luxury coastal cottages.
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Dog-Friendly Escapes
Luxury self-catering for dog-friendly escapes, these coastal cottages and country retreats are designed with discerning hounds in mind.
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Couples´ Retreats
From Valentine´s breaks to honeymooner´s hideaways, these luxury cottages were designed for couples with romance in mind.
View collectionLuxury Homes with Pools
Feel the heat? Choose from our luxury holiday homes with swimming pools. Indoors, outdoors, heated, natural... we have them all.
View collectionFamily-Friendly Self-Catering
Unique family-owned homes creatively designed with relaxation in mind, our luxury child-friendly holiday cottages offer stress-free escapes.
View collectionLarge Self-Catering Groups
Our larger luxury self-catering homes and big country houses are just the ticket for a celebratory luxury group gathering.
View collectionHoneymoons
Start married life with the ultimate romantic honeymoon in a luxury retreat, from cosy cottages to beach hideaways.
View collectionLuxury Homes with Hot Tubs
Plot your escape to one of these exclusive, hand-picked luxury self-catering cottages with hot tubs for a truly relaxing and rejuvenating break.
View collectionLuxury Homes with a Private Chef
From romantic breaks where dessert is always on the menu to celebration homes where chefs make the family favourites; see our homes with catering.
View collectionCountry House Breaks
Our exclusive collection of country houses includes luxury manor houses, opulent mansions with pools and beautiful private estates.
View collectionWorking Remotely
Discover luxury self-catering with inspirational home office spaces, allowing for both work and play on your holiday.
View collectionLuxury Homes with Tennis Courts
From Victorian vegetable stores to fairytale millhouses, our luxury homes with tennis courts bring the best of Wimbledon to the country.
View collectionAlternative Group Option
Alternative holiday cottages for groups. Stay as a small group in one of our luxury self-catering holiday homes with our alternative group option.
View collectionHoliday homes 2-3 hours from London
Plotting a romantic escape from the city? These luxury coastal and country retreats within two to three hours’ drive of London are just the ticket.
View collectionEco-Friendly Escapes
Our luxury eco-friendly retreats include a beach hut Cornwall and a coastal cabin in Scotland. Good for the soul, and the planet.
View collectionBaby-Friendly Breaks
For families with a baby on board, our unique baby-friendly breaks provide luxury self-catering with safety, comfort and parents in mind.
View collectionElopement Weddings
Whether a luxury home by the sea or grand country manor, run away to enjoy the elopement wedding of your dreams at a unique private home.
View collectionSecret Garden Escapes
Our unique garden escapes feature woodland hideaways, secret garden cottages and exclusive private homes in Alice in Wonderland estates.
View collectionFilm and Photoshoot Locations
Whether you want a unique film shoot backdrop or luxury venue for a new product launch, these shoot and stay locations are one of a kind.
View collectionWaterside Living
Experience the charm and tranquility of living on the water´s edge at these unique waterside properties set by lochs, lakes, rivers or beaches.
View collectionWellness Retreats
Wellbeing venues with a difference, take exclusive hire of a private home for your next wellbeing, fitness or yoga retreat.
View collectionLuxury Solo Travel
Indulge in a little me time and create your own itinerary with an independent solo travel experience at an inspiring luxury homestay.
View collectionElectric Car Escapes
If you are looking for an eco-friendly holiday that supports your electric or hybrid car, these sustainable luxury properties will be just the ticket.
View collectionLong Let Holiday Homes and Properties
Relocating for work? Between houses? Make yourself at home! Enjoy a long let rental without the hassle at a private luxury holiday home.
View collectionCorporate Events
Our unique corporate event venues promise creative settings for inspired company retreats, ideal for team-building or company rewards.
View collectionSurf Retreats
Unique surfing holidays along the UK´s stunning coastline, where chic beach houses provide a luxury base for adrenaline-fuelled escapes.
View collectionValentine´s Breaks
Unique Valentine´s Day breaks for a get-away-from-it-all adventure, from iconic beach huts to remote woodland cabins for two.
View collectionUnique Hen Weekends
For sophisticated brides wanting an alternative hen weekend its got to be Unique Homestays. Think yoga barns, swimming pools and disco balls.
View collectionWilderness Retreats
Idyllic hideaways perfect for wild food foragers and barefoot wanderers, our wilderness retreats combine remote settings with natural style.
View collectionBoho Hideaways
Embrace your inner nomad with our boho cottages and hideaway homes, where eclectic décor and laid-back vibes combine to make the perfect boho luxury escape.
View collectionLimited Edition
Be one of the lucky few to stay in one of these unique private homes, available for only a select number of weeks per year.
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Things to do in Kent
Find the best of the Great British seaside in Broadstairs, where waterfolk can get about surfing lessons and scouring the shore for nostalgic ´99 flakes, whilst antiquarians hunt for hidden treasure at the atmospheric Deal Market.
Chapel Down Winery
One for wine-lovers, the excellent Chapel Down Winery is based in Tenterden and is home to the largest producer of English Wines. Book in for a 60-minute tour and tasting session, followed by lunch at the Swan at Chapel Down.
Webbes Cooking School, Rye
A fabulous opportunity to prepare and cook a specially designed lunch menu with Chef Paul Webbe in the purpose-built kitchen. The day is informal and fun and finishes with you enjoying the sumptuous lunch that you have created.
Things to see in Kent
Play peek-a-boo with the pandas at Howletts Conservation Park, peruse Penshurst Place (Henry VIII´s former palatial pad), or go in search of blue-tailed damselflies and tufted vetch at the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Excellent for bird watching, walking and cycling, the nature reserve lies within a large triangle of land. A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of the many unusual plants and animals that live here, it´s well worth a visit.
Wildwood Trust, Herne Common
Set in 40 acres of ancient woodland, the Wildwood Trust brings visitors nose-to-nose with British wildlife. With a focus on conservation, Wildwood engages all ages with the natural world which is prevalent all around them.
Where to eat in Kent
Francophiles will be well fed at Frog and Scot, while Whitstable is the place for freshly-shucked oysters steps from the shoreline. There´s plenty of olde-worlde inns, too, where chalkboard menus and sleeping labs are de rigueur.
The Woolpack Inn, Warehorne
A beautiful 16th-century inn nestled in a picturesque village, The Woolpack is surrounded by grazing Romney Marsh sheep. There’s a wonderfully welcoming bar, comforting food, and outside seating for the warmer months.
The Pop-Up Café, Deal
With arguably the best coffee in Kent, pick a pew on Deal High Street from which to indulge in delicious cakes and a vegetarian menu. The supper clubs are a favourite, where meze made from local ingredients are the name of the game.
Journals about Kent
Pour a fresh pot and pinpoint staycation stops with this wistful recounting of a weekend in Whitstable, read all about the coveted cabins crowned Britain´s best, or wake up to smell the roses in this ode to the Garden of England.
Lifestyle
Places to visit from London
We’ve curated a list of the best places to visit from London – from Kent´s coast to the Cotswolds´ countryside – and covered everything to see and do when you get there.
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Meet the storybook homes
Here they are. With turrets and follies and islands and eiderdowns, the storybook homes welcome you not just to walk through their front doors — but to fall down the rabbit hole to a life of fairytale proportions.
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Channel 4’s Extraordinary Escapes
Sandi Toksvig returns with a star-studded line-up of celebrity friends to showcase the very best homes across Britain and Ireland, with a few Unique Homestays visited en route.
Lifestyle
The best surfing beaches in the UK and Ireland
Surfing nirvana needn´t be confined to far-flung places. Whether a seasoned boarder or a born-again “grommet”, surf trips on home soil know how to pack a punch (and stay under the radar).
Kent FAQ´s
Looking for advice on reaching the gateway from London? Want to know the best beaches in the county? If you have a Kent-specific query, you might find the answer here. For everything else, visit our general FAQs.
Why is Kent called the ‘Garden of England’?
Fertile farmland, cultivated country estates, grand palatial gardens; Kent has been affectionately known as ‘The Garden of England’ for hundreds of years because of its fresh produce. Hop gardens in iconic coastal houses are used for beer and acres of luscious orchards and prestigious strawberry fields (supplying Wimbledon every year) coat the landscape. Kent is well known for its locally-sourced food, with Whitstable oysters, Dover sole and Romney Marsh lamb regularly on menus. Born foodies, beware, what to eat for starter, main and dessert is likely to be your biggest conundrum.
How far is Kent from London?
Kent is a mere 40 minutes from London, departing from St. Pancras International. By car, it’s not much longer; in just over an hour you’ll be down by the coast, cone of chips in hand.
Are there many historic houses in Kent?
Many regard Kent to be the oldest county in England, with over 17,000 listed buildings to marvel at. As a result, there are more castles and historic houses in Kent than any other region. Wander rose gardens in the sun at Penshurst Place, tackle the water maze with the children at the double-moated Hever Castle, and lose yourself in 500 acres of regal grounds at Leeds Castle, once home to six mediaeval queens. Oast houses, historically used for drying hops, fleck the horizon and tales of battle linger on the wind at coastal forts. Whether by the sea or among the rolling hills, a historic house with a story to be told is never far away.
Is Canterbury worth a day trip?
If you’ve got time, Canterbury is always worth the trip. Half-timbered houses line ancient cobbled streets in a city steeped in mediaeval charm. The main draw for most is Canterbury Cathedral, built on Roman ruins and home to the Archbishop of Canterbury, having survived the Norman conquest. Cream with Caen stone and lined with kaleidoscopic stained glass windows insides, pilgrims have journeyed here for hundreds of years.
Where are the best beaches in Kent?
On the Kentish coastline you’re spoilt for choice. Popular with city-dwellers desperate to escape the hubbub and the suburbs, Margate Main Sands offers the sandy respite many so crave. Although busy in summertime months, it carries a kitsch vibe with one of the UK’s oldest amusement parks, Dreamland, on the promenade (penny arcades too), and street food stalls beckoning in the distance. Also popular is Minnis Bay in Birchington, a long stretch of sand for all; beach lizards, families, paddleboarders, kayakers, and wakeboarders. Botany Bay at Broadstairs presents warm, golden sand with chalk giants that tower above the beach, offering cool, shady spots in the midday sun. Rolling dunes and a wide, flat sandy beach make for the perfect family playground at Sunny Sands, Folkestone, whilst those who seek quieter scenes will find their solace among the pastel beach huts and gentle waves of Stone Bay at Broadstairs.
Own a property in Kent?
Are you the keeper of a historic hop farm? Or the custodian of a woodland chalet? From Canterbury to Aldington to classic Langton Green, we´re seeking Kent´s most unique homes to join our growing portfolio.
