Kent - 388 places to stay
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Principal Towns: Maidstone, Canterbury, Ashford, Royal Tunbridge Wells,
Dover, Folkestone, Faversham, Ramsgate
Kent is known as 'The Garden of England', due to the large number of hop gardens and orchards in the county. It is a lush green county that also benefits from a large coastal stretch with many fine and famous beaches. The world famous White Cliffs of Dover are along this coastline.
The area has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic era and has provided archaeological finds from this time through the Neolithic era, The Bronze Age, The Iron Age and Roman times. Significant Roman finds include Roman Villa remains found in the Darent valley. The name of Kent is derived from the Brythonic word for rim or border (Cantus), from which the Roman name given to the county 'Cantium' is a derivative.
As the county lies on the corner of England that is closest to continental Europe, it has been subjected to numerous invasions and attacks over the course of many centuries.
In early medieval times the inhabitants of Kent regarded the cathedral city of Canterbury as their capital. The first Archbishop of Canterbury, Augustine, was appointed in 597. Augustine had converted King Aethelberht of Kent from paganism one year earlier. Canterbury has remained the centre of British Christianity ever since. It is famous in history for the murder committed on its hallowed ground of Sir Thomas Becket , then Archbishop of Canterbury. A stain in the stone, which is apparently from Becket's blood, still marks the spot of the dastardly deed. The magnificent Cathedral at Canterbury has been a major attraction for tourists and pilgrims alike for many hundreds of years. Canterbury was, of course, the destination for the pilgrims in Chaucer 's Canterbury Tales; one of the most famous works in the history of English Literature.
The River Medway and the associated Medway Towns are also steeped in history. Chatham became an important Royal Naval dockyard during the 16th century and remained as one of the most important Naval dockyards until this century when the focus switched from the French threat across the channel to possible attacks from the Atlantic side of the channel. Rochester Castle has existed in one form or another since Roman times, but was rebuilt by the Normans. The ruins of the original castle still clearly show the four-keep design of the Norman castle, as the exterior is largely intact. King John seized the castle in 1215 but was forced to return it to the control of the Archbishop of Canterbury as part of the terms of the Magna Carta of 1215.
Perhaps Kent's greatest landmark is the ' White Cliffs of Dover ', a daunting first sight of the country for many invaders but a welcome sight to those soldiers returning from campaigns! The cliffs were immortalised by the wartime song 'There'll Be Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs of Dover', by Vera Lynn . The song became a wartime anthem for homesick troops during World War II .
During World War II Kent bore the brunt of incursions by German aircraft, especially in the 'Battle of Britain', most of which took place in the airspace over Kent.
Of course, the cliffs are not the only well known part of the Kent Coastline. The district known as the Isle of Thanet contains some very popular seaside resorts, such as Ramsgate and Margate. The resort of Margate has been a popular seaside retreat for at least 250 years. It became infamous during the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s for violence between rival youth culture groups, the Mods and Rockers. The Mods have never lost their affection for Margate and Scooter Rallies are still held annually there.
Another place worth a visit in the Thanet area is Quex Park at Birchington, which has a variety of attractions. Quex Park boasts impressive grounds, which hold the only fully mature woodlands in Thanet. It is also the home of Quex Museum , which houses world-class natural history and ethnographical collections. Quex Park also holds regular musical events, including the summer Sound Island Festival.
Due to its geographical location, Kent has always been a gateway to France and through France, the rest of Europe. Ferries carrying freight and passengers have run for many, many years from its ports, with Dover being possibly the best known. Since the building of the Channel Tunnel, getting from Kent to France has become even easier. The Eurotunnel will get you and your car from Folkestone to Calais in around 35 minutes! There is also the Eurostar service, which carries rail passengers from London Waterloo, through Kent, to France and beyond - the train can take you all the way through to Belgium without changing trains!
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Destinations
- North Downs Way Kent
- Maidstone
- North Kent Coast
- The High Weald of Kent
- Maritime Medway
- The Cinque Ports Heritage Trail
- Wine in the South
Recommended Hotels See Map
- Ashford International Hotel Ashford *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Eastwell Manor Ashford *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, TennisCourt, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Marriott Tudor Park Hotel Bearsted *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Bexleyheath Marriott Bexleyheath *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Fayreness Hotel Broadstairs *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Best Western Abbots Barton Hotel Canterbury *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Castle House Hotel Canterbury *featured*
Licensed, Restaurant - Cathedral Gate Canterbury *featured*
Licensed, Historic, Restaurant - Ebury Hotel Canterbury *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Falstaff Hotel Canterbury *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Howfield Manor Hotel Canterbury *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV - George Hotel & Brasserie Cranbrook *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV - The White Cliffs Hotel Dover *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Wallett's Court Country House Hotel Dover *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, TennisCourt, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Best Western Clifton Hotel Folkestone *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - King Charles Hotel Gillingham *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Premier Inn Gillingham A2 Gillingham *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Star & Eagle Hotel Goudhurst *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Inn on the Lake Gravesend *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Hever Hotel Hever *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Grange Moor Hotel Maidstone *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Headcorn Lodge Hotel Maidstone *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Premier Inn Maidstone (A26/Wateringbury) Maidstone *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Holiday Inn Rochester - Chatham Rochester *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Bell Hotel Sandwich *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Holiday Inn Maidstone Sevenoaks Sevenoaks *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Royal Oak Hotel Sevenoaks *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Hempstead House Sittingbourne *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Little Silver Country Hotel Tenterden *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - London Beach Country Hotel, Golf Club and Spa Tenterden *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - One Warwick Park Hotel Tunbridge Wells *featured*
Licensed, Restaurant
Hotels bookable online See Map
- Bromley Court Hotel Bromley *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - ABode Canterbury Canterbury *book online*
Licensed, Historic, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Broome Park Golf & Country Club Canterbury *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, TennisCourt, Restaurant - Chaucer Hotel Canterbury *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - House of Agnes Canterbury *book online*
Licensed, Restaurant - Ramada Encore Chatham Chatham *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Express by Holiday Inn Dartford Dartford *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Rowhill Grange Hotel & Spa Dartford *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - County Hotel Dover *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Dover Marina Hotel Dover *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Judd's Folly Hotel Faversham *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Crete Down Guesthouse Folkestone *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Holiday Inn Express Folkestone Channel Tunnel Folkestone *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Quality Hotel Folkestone Folkestone *book online*
Licensed, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Overcliffe Hotel Gravesend *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV - The Granby Hotel Gravesend *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Hilton Maidstone Maidstone *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Larkfield Priory Hotel Maidstone *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Ramada Hotel & Resort Maidstone Maidstone *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - The Lime Tree Hotel Maidstone *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Palm Court Hotel Margate *book online*
Licensed, Historic, Restaurant - Smiths Court Margate *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Kent International Hotel Ramsgate *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV - The Royal Wells Hotel Tunbridge Wells *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities
More Kent Hotels
Bed and Breakfast See Map
- Ashford Warren Cottage Hotel Ashford *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Brook Farm Ashford *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Cornerstone B&B Ashford *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Disabled - Croft Hotel Ashford *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Downsview Ashford *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - Hogben Farm Ashford *featured*
TV in rooms - Rectory Barn Ashford *featured*
TV in rooms - The Croft Ashford *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking, Disabled - Woodland B&B Ashford *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Aylesford Bed & Breakfast Aylesford *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking - Bethersden - The Old Barn Bethersden *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled - Bishopsdale Oast Biddenden *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking - South Lodge Guest House Broadstairs *featured*
TV in rooms - Clay Farm Guest House Bromley *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled - Amadis Bed & Breakfast Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Anns house Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Becket Court Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms - Chaucer Lodge Guest House Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Ersham Lodge Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms - Harriet House Guest House Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Homelea Bed & Breakfast Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Iffin Farmhouse Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Old Alma Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms - Park Wood Courts Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms - Peregrine House Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms - Pilgrims Hotel Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Rutherford College Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms - Thanington Hotel Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Upper Ansdore Guest House Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Woodlands B&B Canterbury *featured*
TV in rooms - Godwin House B&B Cranbrook *featured*
TV in rooms - Beachbrow Hotel Deal *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - Chilton Villa Deal *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled - Sutherland House Hotel Deal *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Beulah House Dover *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Blakes of Dover Dover *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Churchill Dover *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Crabble Hill House Dover *featured*
TV in rooms - Oast Cottage Dover *featured*
TV in rooms - St Albans B&B Dover *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - The West Bank Dover *featured*
TV in rooms - Westbank Guest House Dover *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - Waterside Guest House Dymchurch *featured*
TV in rooms - Banque Hotel Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Banque House Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - Chandos Guest House Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Crete Down Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms - Hotel Relish Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Kentmere Guest House Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Lismore Hotel Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, Historic, Parking - Portland Hotel Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - The Hamlet Hotel Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - The Southcliff Hotel Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - Wards Hotel & Restaurant Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Windsor Hotel Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms - Wycliffe Hotel Folkestone *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Henry B&B Gravesend *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Shamrock Guest House Gravesend *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - Seabrook House Hythe *featured*
TV in rooms - Sheppey Island Guest House Isle of Sheppey *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled - Aylesbury House Maidstone *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - Detling Coach House Maidstone *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - King Street Hotel Maidstone *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Merzie Meadows Maidstone *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, Historic, Parking - Oakwood House Maidstone *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - The Town House Maidstone *featured*
TV in rooms - Pavilion View Hotel Margate *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - The Malvern Guesthouse & The Blues Grill Margate *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking - Durlock Lodge Minster *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Upper Ansdore Petham *featured*
TV in rooms - Comfort Inn Ramsgate Ramsgate *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Royal Harbour Hotel Ramsgate *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, Historic, Parking - Sharons B and B Ramsgate *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, Parking - Spencer Court Hotel Ramsgate *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Molland House Sandwich *featured*
TV in rooms - Moorings Hotel Sevenoaks *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Pretty Maid House B & B Sevenoaks *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled - Beaumont Sittingbourne *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Hopes Grove Cottage Tenterden *featured*
TV in rooms - Hadlow Manor Hotel Tonbridge *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Langley Hotel Tonbridge *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Danehurst House Tunbridge Wells *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking, Disabled - Hopgarden House Tunbridge Wells *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic - The Lancers Tunbridge Wells *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Little Tidebrook Farm Wadhurst *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - The Marine Whitstable *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic, Parking - Warren Cottage Guest House Willesborough *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking
Pubs & Inns
- Conningbrook Hotel Ashford *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - New Flying Horse Inn Ashford *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Bull of Brenchley Brenchley *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Abbots Fireside Canterbury *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Evenhill Canterbury *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Grove Ferry Canterbury *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Kings Head Inn Canterbury *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Millers Arms Inn Canterbury *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Tuns at Staple House Canterbury *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Victoria Hotel Canterbury *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Woolpack Inn Canterbury *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Lighthouse Capel le Ferne *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Ship & Trades Chatham *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Crown Inn Chislehurst *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - St Crispin Inn Deal *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Swingate Inn Dover *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Marquis At Alkham Dover *featured*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Rose and Crown Elham *book online*
Food, Children Welcome, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Sun Inn Faversham *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - White Horse Inn Faversham *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Ship Inn Folkestone *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Castle Hotel Hythe *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Swan at the Vineyard Lamberhurst *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Dog & Bear Hotel Lenham *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Pilgrims Rest Littlebourne *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Duke William Ickham Littlebourne *featured*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Black Horse Inn Maidstone *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Roebuck Inn Maidstone *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Dering Arms Pluckley *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Fleur De Lis Hotel Sandwich *book online*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Bull Hotel Sevenoaks *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Chequers Inn Smarden *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Black Pig Staple *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Black Horse Inn Thurnham *book online*
Food, Children Welcome, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Carpenters Arms Tonbridge *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Rose and Crown Hotel Tonbridge *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Camden Arms Hotel Tunbridge Wells *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Swan Hotel Tunbridge Wells *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - King's Arms Hotel Westerham *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Dog Inn Wingham *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Bull Hotel Wrotham *book online*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Wife of Bath Wye *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards
Self-Catering See Map
- Ashmead Apartments Ashford *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Freedom Holiday Homes Ashford *book online*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Short Breaks, Pets Allowed, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Freedom Holiday Homes Biddenden *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Knowlton Court Canterbury *featured*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Pets Allowed, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Forest Cottage Cranbrook *featured*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Pets Allowed, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Freedom Holiday Homes Deal *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Frith Farm House Faversham *featured*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Three Chimneys Farm Goudhurst *featured*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Short Breaks, Pets Allowed, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Old Post Office Hamstreet *book online*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Freedom Holiday Homes Herne Bay *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Lympne Castle Cottages Hythe *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Sunrise Meopham *book online*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Pets Allowed, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Chalk Pit Cottage Sarre *book online*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Pets Allowed, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Featherdown Farm Tunbridge Wells *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Garden of England Cottages Tunbridge Wells *featured*
Pub Nearby, Garden, Pets Allowed, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Freedom Holiday Homes Whitstable *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards
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