KENTSTAYCATION
A staycation spent in Kent is a holiday in the truest sense, with the scale and variety to rival destinations far further afield. Within a single day, you can stand beneath the White Cliffs of Dover, their chalk faces rising 350 feet above The Channel, then explore Canterbury Cathedral- one of the oldest Christian structures in England, before finishing with oysters landed hours earlier and served within sight of the water they came from. Elsewhere, steam trains still run through the Weald, Norman castles continue to dominate skylines and former naval dockyards house galleries, restaurants and cultural spaces that draw in thousands of visitors all year round.
What really defines a Kent staycation, though, is choice. This is a county where you can design your own timetable, from morning sea swims and lunchtime vineyard tastings to afternoons exploring Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Together, the North Downs Way and Saxon Shore Way alone stretch for more than 200 miles, threading through landscapes that have barely shifted in centuries. Elsewhere, market towns host weekly farmers’ markets, breweries and distilleries throw open their doors daily, and festivals fill the calendar from food and wine celebrations to open-air theatre, craft shows and live music staged in castle grounds and parkland.
Home to Michelin-starred restaurants and AA-rosette dining rooms, but also vineyard terraces, seafood shacks, neighbourhood bistros and long-established pubs where menus reflect the seasons, the county’ s spectacular food and drink alone could anchor an entire stay. Kent produces more than three-quarters of the UK’ s top fruit and its vineyards have gained international recognition, with English sparkling wines regularly outperforming Champagne in global blind tastings. Whitstable oysters, Romney Marsh lamb, Kentish cherries and apples, artisan cheeses and small-batch spirits are not novelties in the Garden of England- they are part of the local economy and culture, shaping how and where people gather.
Crucially, Kent’ s accommodation options- a rich tapestry of imposing manor houses with views for days, hidden boutique hotels, coastal boltholes where the sun rises above the sea and cottages set deep in the countryside- are also as varied as its landscape. Glamping sites place you closer to the land, while contemporary retreats offer design-led comfort within easy reach of historic towns and coastline, so there really is something for everyone.
Supporting every kind of staycation imaginable, whether ambitious or low-key, planned months ahead or decided on a Friday afternoon, Kent works for families wanting activity-filled days; for couples seeking somewhere atmospheric and restorative; and for solo travellers drawn by its palpable sense of history. This is what gives Kent its staying power- not a single landmark, but the accumulation of experiences that always reward exploration.
Welcome to our Summer of Kentish Staycations special feature- read on and you’ ll soon see that actually, this beautiful, broad and brilliant county has enough discovery to stretch throughout every season, it just depends how you decide to experience it. www. insidekent. co. uk • 59