Kent

Kent's coastline offers plenty of contrast, from Margate's vibrant seafront and revived arts scene to Whitstable's fishing-harbour charm, famed for its oysters and weatherboarded cottages. Nearby Birchington-on-Sea provides a quieter, more traditional seaside stay, while Sandwich, one of the old Cinque Ports, pairs medieval streets with links golf and marshland walks.

Inland, Rochester's castle and cathedral sit above the Medway, close to Tonbridge with its own riverside castle and busy market town life. Faversham retains a handsome Georgian centre and brewing heritage, while Tenterden and Cranbrook typify the Weald with timber-framed buildings and surrounding orchards and vineyards. Smaller villages such as Headcorn, Frittenden and Edenbridge suit those wanting a slower pace, with country pubs, footpaths and easy access to the wider Kent countryside.

Kent's coast and countryside offer a wide spread of places to stay, from Edwardian townhouses in Deal to converted barns near the North Downs. Whitstable and Margate suit those wanting beach walks and seafood, with guest houses such as Seaview Guest House Whitstable putting the water on your doorstep, while Folkestone properties like 10to12 Folkestone and Brunger House sit close to the harbour and old town.

Inland, Tenterden and Rochester bring a different pace, with period B&Bs and rural retreats such as Field View Bed & Breakfast and North Downs Barn suited to walking or exploring the Weald. Sandwich adds a quieter, historic base, with houses like Glebe House and Copeland House offering a good starting point for the Cinque Ports. Deciding between coast and countryside, or a grand old house like The Old Rectory versus a working farm setting like Beachborough Park, is really a question of what kind of Kent break you're after.

Kent's mix of coastline, castles and old dockyards makes for a broad spread of days out, and the county's towns each bring something different. Chatham draws on its naval history with attractions like Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Park, while Rochester and Aylesford lean into heritage and independent shops such as The Little Green Bookshop and The Pottery Box.

Along the coast, Margate, Broadstairs, Herne Bay and Folkestone offer a livelier, seaside-day-trip feel, with escape rooms and trails such as The Escapement Margate and the Broadstairs Spy Mission Treasure Trail giving families and groups something active to do beyond the beach. Inland towns like Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Sittingbourne add smaller-scale options, from Laser Quest Tunbridge Wells to quirky finds like Curious Cocoa and Tiny Town.

With so many escape rooms, trails and hands-on activities across the county, it's worth thinking about whether you want a coastal outing or an inland one, and how much walking or puzzling you fancy for the day.

Kent's coastline and countryside make for a wide spread of places to eat and drink, from Whitstable's seafood-driven dining to the harbourside spots around Folkestone. Inland towns and villages add their own mix of country pubs, cafes and family-run restaurants, so the choice shifts considerably depending on whether you're after a quick bite or a proper sit-down meal.

Gravesend and the county's larger towns tend to offer more familiar chains alongside independents, useful if you want reliable options on the way through. Smaller places like Cabin Cafe or Hennessys Tea Room suit a slower stop, while somewhere like Turk Oasis Mediterranean Restaurant or Basil gives a change of pace from traditional pub fare.

With so many venues across the county, it helps to think about location first: coastal towns favour fish and casual dining, while villages and market towns lean towards pubs with a more settled, local feel.

Kent's countryside runs to orchards, hop gardens and quiet farmland, and much of it is given over to camping and glamping rather than caravan parks. Around Cranbrook, Frittenden and Sutton Valence you'll find small farm sites like Frittenden Orchard and Swift Farm Camping, often set among fruit trees with space for a handful of tents rather than long rows of pitches.

Further sites cluster near Headcorn and Paddock Wood, useful for the Weald and its walking routes, while the coastal end of the county around Deal, Sandwich, Ripple and Eastchurch suits those wanting beach days alongside their camping. Glamping options such as Cherry Stone Yurts, Caracol Glamping and Nut Plat Retreat sit alongside simpler grass-pitch sites like Hedgeberry Farm and Puddledock Woods Camping.

Choosing between them often comes down to how much comfort you want and whether a working farm setting, like Solley's Ice Cream Campsite or Glassenbury Camping, appeals more than proximity to the coast.