Hotels in Chilham

Chilham makes a peaceful, characterful base for exploring this corner of the Kent Downs, with Canterbury only minutes away by train and the North Downs Way passing close by for walkers. Hotel options directly in the village are limited given its size, with the historic White Horse inn on the square offering a handful of characterful rooms right at the heart of things, close to the castle gatehouse and St Mary's Church. Staying in the village itself means waking up inside the postcard scene of timbered houses and cobbled lanes that usually only day-trippers get to see, and having the square largely to yourself once the coach parties have gone home.

For a wider choice of hotels, bed and breakfasts and boutique stays, Canterbury is only a short drive or a ten-minute train ride away, and offers everything from budget chains to characterful townhouse hotels within the old city walls, alongside its cathedral, restaurants and shops. Ashford, a little further along the same railway line, is another practical base with good transport connections, including high-speed services towards London, making it useful for anyone splitting a trip between Kent and the capital.

Wherever you base yourself, Chilham's compact size means a night or two is easily enough to take in the castle gardens on an open day, wander the square, and follow a stretch of footpath out into the surrounding orchards and downland before moving on to Canterbury or the wider Kent coast.