Holidays in Kent

All places to stay in Kent

184 places matching your filters.

Royal Albion Hotel

🏖️ a few minutes' walk from Broadstairs, Viking Bay (Good water quality)

Broadstairs

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Selina Margate & Cowork

🏖️ a few minutes' walk from Walpole Bay, Margate (Good water quality)

Margate

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Shoeburyness Hotel

✓ Historic pub and restaurant dating back to 1899

🏖️ 0.45 miles from Shoebury East (Excellent water quality)

Southend-on-Sea

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Fort Road Hotel

✓ Sea-view hotel a short walk from the beach and old town

🏖️ a few minutes' walk from Margate Fulsam Rock (Excellent water quality)

Margate

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Premier Inn Ashford Eureka Leisure Park

Kent

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Premier Inn Folkestone Channel Tunnel

🏖️ 1.52 miles from Sandgate Granville Parade

Canterbury

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Somerville Hotel

🏖️ a few minutes' walk from Margate The Bay (Good water quality)

Margate

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Botany Bay Hotel

✓ Clifftop hotel overlooking Botany Bay beach

🏖️ a few minutes' walk from Botany Bay, Broadstairs (Excellent water quality)

Broadstairs

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Bridgewood Manor Hotel

✓ 100 bedrooms including Standard Rooms and Suites

Chatham

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Travelodge

✓ Free on-site parking at the hotel

🏖️ 2.11 miles from Margate The Bay (Good water quality)

Broadstairs

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Holiday Inn Express

🏖️ 2.84 miles from West Bay, Westgate (Sufficient water quality)

Ramsgate

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Cathedral Gate Hotel

✓ Historic hotel dating back to 1438 in the heart of Canterbury

Canterbury

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Oakside Lodge

✓ Full English breakfast with free-range bacon and sausages from own piggery

Canterbury

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St. George Hotel

✓ Within walking distance of Rochester Castle and Cathedral

Kent

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Wards Hotel

🏖️ 0.9 miles from Sandgate Granville Parade

Folkestone

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Hussar Hotel

✓ Family run hotel with friendly, welcoming atmosphere

🏖️ 0.58 miles from Westbrook Bay, Margate (Excellent water quality)

Margate

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More around Kent

Kent packs a lot into a small stretch of coast and countryside: Roman foundations under a cathedral city, wartime tunnels cut into chalk, castles that range from ruined walls to grand estates, and a run of seaside towns that each have their own character. With Margate, Whitstable, Broadstairs and Canterbury all within easy reach of one another, you can plan days that mix a museum, a long walk and a decent pub without feeling rushed.

Choosing a base

Most people pick between the coast and the city. Whitstable and Broadstairs suit anyone who wants shingle, sea air and a short walk back to the car. Margate is the liveliest of the seaside options. Canterbury works better if you want a walkable centre with history on the doorstep and don't mind driving out to the beach. There are 686 places to stay in Kent on BritStays, so it's worth deciding what matters most — sea views, parking, or being able to walk home after dinner — before you start filtering.

Days out with children

Broadstairs is the strongest single town for keeping older children interested. The Secret Wartime Tunnels are the obvious draw — underground passages with a real story behind them — and they pair naturally with the Spur Casemates Exhibition if you want to make a morning of it. Arthur's Hall and the PWRR & Queens Regiment Museum add more for anyone who likes uniforms, medals and the detail of military history.

Younger children will usually get more from the beach itself, with a museum as the backup rather than the main event. The Seaside Museum in Whitstable is a sensible size for short attention spans, and it explains what you're looking at when you're back down by the water.

Rainy day options

Kent copes well with bad weather because so much of its history is indoors or underground.

Canterbury Roman Museum — built around remains in the city centre, and an easy walk from everything else in Canterbury.
Secret Wartime Tunnels, Broadstairs — weather makes no difference underground, though it's cool down there, so take a layer.
The Seaside Museum, Whitstable — a short, dry stop when the wind comes off the sea.
Arthur's Hall and the Spur Casemates Exhibition — useful if you need a second indoor stop in the same town.

Outdoors and the coast

The White Cliffs of Dover are the headline walk, and they reward being given proper time rather than squeezed in at the end of a day. Boots or decent trainers, a windproof layer and a plan for where you'll park are the three things that make or break it. Elsewhere, the beaches at Margate, Whitstable and Broadstairs give you flat, easy walking when you want something gentler, and Whitstable in particular is good for a slow afternoon along the shore.

Castles and heritage

This is where Kent shows off. Leeds Castle and Walmer Castle are the two best known, and either can fill a good half-day with grounds included. Upnor Castle sits by the water and makes a change of scene from the chalk coast. For something more low-key, Sandgate Castle, Saltwood Castle, Dymchurch Redoubt and Garrison Point Fort show the county's long habit of defending itself. Bradbourne House and Gads Hill Place are the gentler option if you'd rather look at a house than a gun emplacement. One of these sites is in National Trust care, so a membership card may be worth having in the glovebox. Access varies a great deal between them — some are private or only open on set days — so check before you drive out.

Where to eat

Five-star hygiene ratings are a reasonable shortlist when you don't know an area. The Dove, the Royal Naval Reserve, Quayside and The Castle are all pubs, which makes them the safest bet for a late lunch after a walk, and Scoops covers the ice cream stop that any day by the sea seems to require. Book ahead for Saturday evenings in summer, and remember that seaside kitchens often stop serving food well before the bar closes.

Putting a day together

Group by town rather than by theme. A good Broadstairs day runs: Secret Wartime Tunnels first thing, lunch at a pub, then Arthur's Hall or the PWRR & Queens Regiment Museum, and the beach or Scoops to finish. A Canterbury day pairs the Canterbury Roman Museum with a slow wander round the city. A coastal day works best as White Cliffs of Dover in the morning, Walmer Castle in the afternoon.

Making it a short break

Three nights is the sweet spot: one day on the coast, one day inland for castles, one day in a single town done properly. Four nights lets you add Leeds Castle or Upnor Castle without cutting anything short.

Practical notes

Park once and walk where you can — seaside parking fills early in school holidays. Check opening days for the smaller museums, as several keep limited hours out of season. Carry cash for car parks, take a windproof jacket even in July, and eat earlier than you think you need to.

Frequently asked questions

Which towns in Kent make the best base for a short break?

Margate, Whitstable, Broadstairs and Canterbury are the main options. The three coastal towns suit beach-focused trips, while Canterbury works better if you want a walkable historic centre and don't mind driving to the sea.

What is there to do in Broadstairs?

Broadstairs has the most indoor attractions of the Kent towns listed here: the Secret Wartime Tunnels, the Spur Casemates Exhibition, Arthur's Hall and the PWRR & Queens Regiment Museum, all museum or exhibition sites, plus the beach.

What are the best rainy day options in Kent?

The Canterbury Roman Museum, the Secret Wartime Tunnels in Broadstairs, The Seaside Museum in Whitstable, Arthur's Hall and the Spur Casemates Exhibition are all indoor or underground, so they work regardless of the weather.

Which castles and historic houses can you visit in Kent?

Leeds Castle, Walmer Castle, Upnor Castle, Saltwood Castle, Sandgate Castle, Dymchurch Redoubt and Garrison Point Fort cover the castle and fortification side, while Bradbourne House and Gads Hill Place are stately homes. One of these sites is in National Trust care, and access varies, so check before travelling.

Where can I eat in Kent with a top hygiene rating?

The Dove, the Royal Naval Reserve, Quayside and The Castle are pubs and inns with five-star hygiene ratings, and Scoops covers ice cream.

How many places are there to stay in Kent on BritStays?

There are 686 places to stay in the Kent region on BritStays, spread across the coast and inland.

Explore Holidays in Kent