Kent
in South East England

Beyond the green rolling fields and frolicking cows lies the tamed wilderness of Elmley Nature Reserve, where a collection of stays, from farmhouses and cottages, to cabins and bell-tents, are tucked thoughtfully into the landscapes. Complete with outside baths, wood-burning stoves, and uninterrupted countryside views, alongside a pizza shack, breakfast hampers and wellness treatments all on hand. It's rural camping with a considerable dose of added on luxury. 

A creative trio that includes Gabriel Chipperfield, whose father designed the Turner Contemporary across the road, are behind this grown-up 14-room hotel – a sensitive conversion of a sea-facing hotel that first opened in 1820. There’s serious art dotted about the place, with a Tracey Emin line drawing in the ground-floor Colina bistro – serving bright Southern European small plates – and one of her neons in a nook in the two-storey subterranean bar, which regularly hosts book talks and cultural events.    

A takeover of the former Sands Hotel, facing the Main Sands in the thick of it all, No. 42 is part of a boutique brand that has hotels in York, Bath and Brighton. Neutral-toned rooms with Crosley vinyl players feel like the Balearics-meets-Kent coast, and there’s little messing with Whitsable oysters and Kentish ribeyes at the Art Deco-ish Pearly Cow restaurant with stellar terrace views. The rooftop bar buzzes come summer, and there are treatment rooms and a copper bath in the basement spa.     

Ex-London music industry types Kelly Love and Dan Williams reopened the Grade II-listed George and Heart in late 2019, and have created a much-loved pub with rooms that happily sits somewhere between cosy and anarchic – laying on Sunday roasts, pumping Pride events and quizzes over Pink Palomar cocktails with similar panache. Each of the six rooms and two suites is an artful one-off, like the warm-toned, 70s-inspired Poodle and Blonde suite by the design duo of the same name.     

The Pig at Bridge Place is a boutique country hotel in the heart of Kent, offering a perfect blend of rustic charm and contemporary luxury. Set in a historic manor, it seamlessly combines its heritage with a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Guests can savor the finest local produce in the restaurant, unwind in the gardens, or explore the surrounding picturesque countryside, making it an ideal destination for those seeking a tranquil and stylish escape.

This listed farmhouse has had more than a fresh lick of paint. Inside there's a bright tangerine living room, as well as one in moody blue. There's are four elegant bedrooms in the main house, as well as a guesthouse with bunks for families. Most people are here for the vine-clad glasshouse restaurant at the bottom of the garden. There's a mediterranean spin on plates coming straight off the wood-fired grill, and in the morning a perfectly relaxed breakfast of creamy yoghurt, house-baked sourdough and homemade jams and compotes. Plus, it's all 10-minutes from Deal seafront for those who want to mix things up with fish and chips for lunch.