Hotels in Rochester

Rochester's hotels are concentrated along or just off the High Street, in buildings that predate the city's modern tourism trade by several centuries; several were coaching inns before the railway arrived, and the sense of history has stayed even where the plumbing has been thoroughly modernised. Staying in the old city puts the castle, cathedral and every independent shop and pub within a few minutes' walk, which suits anyone visiting for a short, castle-and-cathedral break.

A short distance away, Chatham's dockside and marina add a handful of more contemporary options, including a working boutique inn overlooking the water and a larger spa hotel geared towards longer stays, conferences and leisure breaks with parking, pools and gyms on site. These properties suit visitors combining Rochester with the Historic Dockyard, or who simply want more modern facilities alongside easy access to the old city by taxi, bus or a riverside walk.

Further out, in the villages of the Medway Valley and the marshland fringe towards the Thames, a small number of family-run bed and breakfasts offer a quieter, more rural alternative, typically with free parking, home-cooked breakfasts and a warmer welcome than can always be found in the city centre. Whichever base you choose, Rochester rewards a stay of two or three nights rather than a flying day visit, giving time for the castle, cathedral, dockyard and High Street without having to rush any of them.