The best towns and villages in Kent

Margate

Historic seaside Margate has a glorious, wide, silky-sand beach, enough iconic landmarks to shake a stick at, and a decidedly arty vibe thanks to a plethora of galleries and Tracey Emin’s school for aspiring artists. Among our favourite things to do in Margate are a visit to the Turner Contemporary Gallery, where many of his celebrated seascapes and sunsets were painted. Wind your way through 70 feet of subterranean tunnels covered in an intricate mosaic made from over 4 million shells. Pick up a good read at The Margate Bookshop and eat a sublime seafood meal at Angela’s of Margate. With its coveted Michelin Green Star, it’ll blow your tastebuds off. 

Stay a The George & Heart, an ancient coaching inn, all refurbished with huge personality, individually designed bedrooms and a pretty courtyard garden. 

Deal

The real Deal is delightfully pretty, with tiny quaint fisherman’s cottages and fine townhouses running down to the seafront. The town pulls off an enticing mix of old-school charm with cosmopolitan London feels – decent restaurants, proper coffee and plenty to see and do. We love it! Pick up artisan crafts, local gifts, homemade cakes and much more at one of the town’s thriving markets (they host three each week). Discover a fine Tudor castle looming above the beach, walk or cycle along the coast path and promenade down the pier for a delicious brunch at the Pier Kitchen – perfect for blowing the cobwebs away. Friday and Saturday lobster nights are great fun too. 

Stay at 49 The Marina, a renovated, bright apartment with lots of space, a hop, skip and jump away from the town’s jolly shingle beach and 15-minutes to Deal Pier. 

Sandwich

A mile and a half as the crow flies from the magnificent east Kent coast, Sandwich is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the UK, rammed with half-timbered buildings teetering down narrow lanes. Discover the Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre, cradle of Roman Britain, where gladiators fought bloody battles and the conquerors set up a vast trading hub and coastal fortress. Learn more about the town’s history at the Guildhall Museum, visit a tropical ‘secret’ Gertrude Jeckyll garden and go bird-spotting at the superb Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust, where you may spot egrets, corn buntings, plovers, waders and warblers. 

Stay at The Dog at Wingham, a much-loved pub with super-smart rooms and excellent breakfasts, tucked in a pretty village near Canterbury known for its thatched cottages and medieval houses.

Biddenden

A quintessential English beauty spot, this village in the Weald is surrounded by dense woodland for long rambles and has an award-winning country pub, The Three Chimneys, for a lazy post-walk lunch. At its heart, All Saints Church, built in the mid to late 1200s, offers a slice of local history. Pitch up at family-run Biddenden Vineyards for self-guided visits, group tours or more in-depth ‘meet the winemaker’ sessions. Close by is the wondrous Sissinghurst Castle Garden, once home to poet and writer, Vita Sackville-West, and her diplomat husband, Harold Nicolson. Pick up a plant to take home, visit the second-hand bookshop and Vita’s writing room in the tower, finish up with tea in the Old Dairy Café. 

Stay at Hensill Farmhouse, a very thoughtful and peaceful house with a garden for happy holidays with family or friends, surrounded by glorious countryside for walks.

Tunbridge Wells

The historic spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells is surrounded by miles of glorious countryside dotted with world-famous gardens, fairytale moated castles and grand country manors. Only an hour from London; come to browse boutique shops, galleries and cafés tucked in the ‘pantiles’ – an historic covered and colonnaded walkway. Visit NT Scotney Castle in the Bewl valley for an atmospheric ruin and gardens that offer an idyllic blend of glades and paths with planting that blurs wilderness with the well-tamed. Hop on the local steam train and ride through miles of glorious countryside or pack a picnic for Dunorlan Park or Calverley Grounds.

Stay at The Dorset Arms, where you can tramp through Pooh Bear’s 100 Acre Wood and stay in this outstanding historic pub with lovely rooms and tempting food.

Broadstairs

Old-school Broadstairs is a timeless coastal town on the Isle of Thanet, the easternmost peninsula in Kent. With no fewer than seven sandy beaches, there’s plenty of bucket and spade action for all the family, glorious views from teetering white cliff tops and a good selection of independent shops and eateries. Head first for sublime Botany Bay with its towering white cliffs and mesmerising chalk stacks for a spot of fossil hunting and rock pool dipping. Find out about Charles Dickens’ connection to the town in the local museum, housed in the cottage that was the inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield.

The garden of England is awash with pretty villages and beach towns, packed with culture and interest, from Tudor castles to literary museums, and abundant vineyards to country gardens. Browse our special places to stay in Kent and start planning your jaunt to the south east.

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