Eastry

Eastry makes a quiet, unhurried base for exploring East Kent, sitting far enough from the coast to feel like proper countryside, yet close enough to reach Sandwich, Deal and Dover within minutes. Hotel options in the village itself are limited to bed and breakfast rooms above its historic pub, so many visitors choose to stay a short drive away in Sandwich, Deal or Canterbury, all of which offer a wider range of hotels, guesthouses and coaching inns, from Georgian townhouses to modern seafront rooms. Basing yourself in one of these nearby towns still puts Eastry's Anglo-Saxon history and surrounding footpaths within easy reach for a day trip.

Sandwich, just two and a half miles from Eastry, is one of England's best-preserved medieval towns and has a good selection of boutique and historic hotels within its timber-framed streets, many close to the Guildhall and the quay. Deal, a little further on, offers seafront hotels and B&Bs looking out over the Georgian promenade and Deal Castle, with easy access to the beach and pier. For those who prefer a city base with more choice of restaurants and evening entertainment, Canterbury is around 13 miles away and has everything from budget chain hotels to boutique stays close to the cathedral. Wherever you choose to stay, Eastry's position just off the A256 means all of these towns, along with Dover and its castle, are within a short and easy drive.

Eastry itself is small, but it punches well above its weight historically, and it sits within easy striking distance of some of Kent's best-known heritage towns and coastline. Here are some of the best things to see and do in and around the village.

• St Mary the Virgin Church, Eastry — A Grade I listed parish church with Saxon and Norman origins, standing on the site associated with Eastry's Anglo-Saxon royal estate; look out for the memorial windows and the peaceful churchyard.
• Eastry Court — The site believed to mark the location of the Kentish kings' royal hall, where, according to local tradition, two young Saxon princes, Æthelberht and Æthelred, were murdered in the 7th century; archaeological digs, including a Time Team excavation, have explored the site in recent decades.
• Eastry Picnic Site and White Cliffs Country Trail — A well-used local picnic spot on a network of public footpaths linking Eastry to the White Cliffs Country Trail, which connects Sandwich, Deal and Dover along the coast.
• Sandwich — One of England's best-preserved medieval towns, just a couple of miles away, with timber-framed streets, the Guildhall Museum and the historic Sandwich Bay coastline.
• Deal — A handsome Georgian seaside town on the coast, with a Tudor castle built by Henry VIII, a traditional shingle beach and a working fishing pier.
• Royal St George's and Sandwich Bay golf links — Some of the finest championship links golf courses in the country lie just outside Sandwich, within easy reach of Eastry.
• Richborough Roman Fort — The remains of the Roman gateway to Britain, close to Sandwich, marking where the Roman road to Richborough once ran directly past Eastry.
• Canterbury Cathedral and city centre — Around 13 miles inland, Canterbury's cathedral, medieval streets and museums make an easy day trip from an Eastry base.

The Five Bells, a 17th-century pub at the heart of the village on Lower Street, serves traditional home-cooked food, has a large beer garden and also offers bed and breakfast rooms. The village has a bakery and general store for essentials and picnic supplies, while a short drive brings you into Sandwich and Deal, both known for their range of independent cafes, seafood restaurants and traditional pubs along the quay and seafront.

Eastry sits within the gently rolling arable countryside of East Kent, a landscape of open fields, hedgerows and quiet public footpaths rather than dramatic hills, making it well suited to relaxed walking and cycling rather than rugged wild camping. As with the rest of England, wild camping without the landowner's permission is not legal here, so anyone wanting to pitch a tent in the area should use one of the licensed campsites or glamping sites in the surrounding villages and along the East Kent coast, several of which are within a short drive of Eastry and close to the White Cliffs Country Trail linking Sandwich, Deal and Dover.

The area's exposed, flat farmland means conditions can be breezy, particularly close to the coast at Sandwich Bay and Deal, so late spring through early autumn, from around May to September, generally offers the calmest and driest camping weather, along with the longest daylight for exploring the footpaths around Eastry and the nearby coastline. Sites near Sandwich and the Kent coast can get busy in peak summer weeks thanks to the area's beaches and golf links, so early booking is worthwhile if you want a pitch close to the village.

For those who prefer a more comfortable option than a traditional tent, glamping has become increasingly popular across this part of Kent, with bell tents, shepherd's huts and safari-style lodges available at farm sites within easy reach of Eastry, Sandwich and Deal. These typically come with proper beds, some form of heating and often a fire pit, making them a good choice for a comfortable countryside break in spring or autumn when a traditional tent might feel exposed. Whichever type of pitch you choose, Eastry's quiet lanes and surrounding footpaths make it an easy, low-key spot to explore on foot or by bike between longer days out on the coast.