From converted railway carriages and treehouses, to traditional oast houses and castles, these are the most unusual places to stay in Kent.
The county of Kent in the South East of England has a lot to offer visitors. It’s home to the beautiful Kent Downs, many pretty historic towns and has 350 miles of coastline. If you’re planning a trip, you might find it difficult to decide where to visit first!
Of course, there are plenty of hotels available, but why not make your stay more of an experience by opting for a ‘one of a kind’ property? Your choice of accommodation really can bring you closer to nature, provide a touch of luxury and inject your stay with an element of fun!
There are plenty of quirky places to stay in Kent that we think are guaranteed to make your trip special. How about staying in a shepherd’s hut, log cabin or converted railway carriage? Or would you prefer a luxury castle stay, glamping pod, or river barge?
We’ve searched through the weird and wonderful to bring you a list of the most unusual places to stay in Kent!
If you’re looking for other options, and fancy something a little more upmarket, don’t miss our comprehensive guide to the best luxury and boutique hotels in Kent.
Contents:
19 Most Unusual Places to Stay in Kent
The Maiden’s Tower, Leeds Castle
Let’s start our list of unusual hotels with some grand options. How grand? How about a choice of castles perfect for history lovers or golfers!
The Maiden’s Tower is set within the castle walls of beautiful Leeds Castle. It offers huge rooms and a fine dining restaurant with stunning views across to the castle. Guests are able to access the castle grounds at night after they have been closed to the public, which we think makes this a great option for romantics too!
Hever Castle Luxury Bed and Breakfast, Hever
Or perhaps you’d prefer to stay at 13th-century Hever Castle? Just 30 miles south east of London, this luxury bed and breakfast has period features and also gives guests after-hours access to the castle gardens.
It’s a fun option for ghost hunters too, as the ghost of Anne Boleyn is said to haunt the site!
Five Bells Inn, Brabourne
Are you hoping to sample some famous Kentish beers, ciders or sparkling wines during your visit? Don’t want to worry about driving home? Then consider a pub stay!
Kent has plenty of great gastro pubs with stylish B&B rooms. If your ideal pub stay is a historic inn with an open fireplace, a great restaurant, and stylish designer bedrooms, the Five Bells Inn is for you!
Ferry House Inn, Isle of Sheppey
You’ll find another great pub stay with high-quality rooms and river views over at the Ferry House Inn on the Isle of Sheppey.
It’s ideally placed if you’re planning to visit to Elmey Nature Reserve or want to spot wildfowl and wading birds at The Swale National Nature Reserve.
Bushes Oast, Sevenoaks
The next two of our unusual places to stay in Kent are both traditional Oast Houses. These cone-topped farm buildings were originally built for drying hops for beer making are unique to Kent and East Sussex.
Pretty Bushes Oast near Sevenoaks, sleeps up to five people. Can you imagine relaxing in the private garden and enjoying the natural beauty of the Kent countryside from here?
Goudhurst Oast, Tunbridge Wells
If you’re travelling as a large group, you can still stay in an Oast House. Goudhurst Oast near Tunbridge Wells has a whopping 9 bedrooms and sleeps up to 22 people!
This impressive property comes with its own outdoor swimming pool and tennis court to keep everyone entertained.
Hobbit House, Sheerness
There are plenty of quirky places to stay in Kent if you’d like to try glamping!
How about enjoying the Kent countryside from a little hobbit house for two? With a private hot tub, this cute place near Sheerness is perfect for a snug and romantic break.
Glamping at Honnington Farm, Tunbridge Wells
Honnington Farm offers arched wooden glamping pods which sleep up to four people.
The well-equipped onsite games room, children’s play area, and BBQ area, make these a great option for family holidays.
Bluebell Shepherds Hut, Rolvenden
You’ll find a different style of hut on offer in Rolvenden near Ashford.
This cute shepherd’s hut sleeps two and makes an ideal base for visiting Great Maytham Hall, which inspired the famous book, ‘The Secret Garden’.
Chapel House Estate, Thorne Hill
Next on our quirky places to stay in Kent are the sleek modern versions of a log cabin at the Chapel House Estate. The cabins sleep two and are heated for year-round comfort.
The ensuite rooms include a small fridge and drink-making facilities, and you’ll also have access to the estate’s stunning gardens. Dogs and pets are welcome to come along too!
Plumcot Halt, Canterbury
Canterbury has been welcoming pilgrims and guests since 1173! It’s no surprise then that it’s now home to some of the most unusual and quirky accommodation in Kent.
For a couples getaway, take a look at Plumcot Hall, just one mile from the centre of Canterbury. Once a railway carriage, it’s been tastefully converted into a one-bedroom home with everything you need for a one or two-night stay in the city. It’s also dog friendly!
Oakside Treetops, Canterbury
Or how about booking a treehouse stay? Oakside Treetops sleeps 2-4 people, making it a fun choice for either a couple or a small family.
The resident pigs in the farm garden are an unusual touch too!
Port Lympe Mansion Hotel, Port Lympe near Hythe
If your idea of a nature break involves animal spotting rather than camping, then you’ll love the next on our list of the most unusual places to stay in Kent.
This Edwardian mansion is set in 15 acres of landscaped gardens overlooking Romney Marsh and the Kent coast. It’s a fabulous place to stay, even before we tell you that it’s set in the wider grounds of the Port Lympne and Howlett’s Wild Animal Reserve.
A stay here includes a safari to see the giraffes, zebras and other animals. And where else in the UK might you be woken in the morning by the sounds of a roaring lion?!
Sea Sunset Cottage, Whitstable
Kent has 350 miles of coastline, and has highlights including Whitstable, Folkestone, Margate and more! So how about booking an unusual place to stay in Kent by the seaside?
You won’t find anything closer to the beach than this cottage in Whitstable (one of our favourite places on the Kent coast!) Sleeping six in three ensuite bedrooms, this beach house has a patio which joins onto the beach, so book early if you want to visit during peak summer.
Beach Cottage, Folkestone
This is another great option for a ‘right on the beach’ stay. This stylish cottage sleeps seven, and the private garden has views directly onto Sandgate Beach.
The cottage includes the use of free bikes. Why not use them to visit nearby Folkestone Downs, an area of outstanding natural beauty?
Bellevue By The Bay, Herne Bay
Or how about a stay in the seaside town of Herne Bay? This beach pad is a stylish apartment in a traditional house on the seafront.
Be warned, the sea view from the bay window and terrace is so good, you might not want to leave the flat!
Seaview Cottage, Dungeness
The last of our coastal options is a white clapperboard fisherman’s cottage. It’s set in the beautiful National Nature Reserve of Dungeness so makes a perfect base for nature walks.
There’s also the bonus of the famous Romney Hythe and Dymchurch miniature steam railway line running right past the house! This makes it a particular favourite with young families visiting the area.
Lady Florence, Maidstone
There are even some unusual places to stay in Kent which are ON the water rather than next to it!
Lady Florence is a small modern houseboat that sleeps four. It’s moored on the River Medway near Maidstone and has views over to pretty Allington Castle.
Dutch Barge, Sandwich
And finally, how about staying in the historic town of Sandwich? This river barge sleeps up to six and is moored in the centre of town, close to restaurants and cafes.
It also makes a stylish and handy base for exploring nearby Pegwell Nature Reserve.
We hope you’ve enjoyed finding out about all of these unique and quirky places to stay in Kent. If you’re looking for other options, and fancy something a little more upmarket, don’t miss our comprehensive guide to the best luxury and boutique hotels in Kent.