Towns & Villages in Kent
Delve deeper into Kent by visiting these hidden towns and villages
Kent isn’t known as ‘The Garden of England’ for no reason - its biodiversity, colourful countryside and vast amount of formal gardens all prove why. But to add to its picture-perfectness, Kent is home to copious amounts of hidden treasures. Its towns and villages are full of character and are just waiting to be explored. This guide highlights the villages where some of our best Kent Holiday Cottages are hiding, as well as delving into the more unusual side to Kent’s Parish past…
St Margarets Bay
Just five miles North of Dover lies the much quieter village of St Margaret’s Bay. With equally dramatic views of the White Cliffs and the English Channel, St Margaret’s Bay is Dover on the down-low. St Margaret’s beach is a sand and shingle beach surrounded by chalk cliffs and is a family favourite. At low tide, rock pools are revealed which are perfect for exploring with the kids.
Up in St Margaret’s Bay village, there are a range of local pubs selling tasty food for you to try, as well as local shops for you to explore. A particular highlight is The Pines Garden Tea Room, which dedicates itself to nature conservation as well as cream teas and cakes. They have their own gardens where they grow the majority of their salad ingredients and vegetables, so you’re guaranteed to have an organic, fresh meal in a lovely surroundings. If cliffs, pubs and gardens sound like your thing, why not extend your stay in one of our St Margaret’s Cottages?
Wye
Nestled in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Wye is a charming rural village that is brilliant for ramblers, as many of the walks around the Downs begin from the village’s Church and are clearly signposted. One of the most popular walks from Wye is the route up to Wye Crown, one of Kent’s distinctive chalk carvings. This one was created by students of Wye Agricultural College in 1902 to commemorate Edward VII’s coronation and still looks incredible today.
After your expedition, head to one of Wye’s many pubs and restaurants, including the lovely Kings Head, which is open for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and has a specialist wine menu. We have a range of Cottages in Wye should you wish to spend your break in a tranquil location such as this. Wye train station is also very well connected to the rest of the region, with services to Ramsgate, Maidstone, Tonbridge, Canterbury, Dover and London.
Biddenden
The posh little village of Biddenden is just north of Tenterden and on the border of the High Weald. An absolutely gorgeous high street made up of mock Tudor houses with floral displays greets you into the village centre and just wandering around is a pleasant experience. A hotbed for celebrities these days, Biddenden has always been home to notable people. When you get here, you’ll see the Biddenden ‘Two Maids’ sign, which plays homage to two sisters who lived as conjoined twins in the village many years ago. To this day, the sisters play a key role in village life and every year cheese and biscuits are handed round to the elderly with an illustration of the sisters on the biscuits.
Biddenden is also famous for its food and drink. Take a trip to Biddenden Vineyard to sample some of Kent’s freshest ciders and wines, or visit The Heritage Garden Kitchen to dine on sustainably sourced, locally grown ingredients. For a calming holiday full of good food, local history and access to the countryside, take a look at our Biddenden Holiday Cottages.
Aylesford
Aylesford on the River Medway is a village with all the modern conveniences you could wish for, with a historical twist. A parish village, Aylesford thrived during the medieval period as a hub of Christianity. The Friars remains one of Aylesford’s main attractions and is a twelfth century monastery that was home to the Carmalites, a religious order who left after the Dissolution of the Monasteries and returned in 1949. Today you can visit the grounds, tea room and gift shop as well as worship at the Friars and it is a lovely place to go if you’re in need of some quiet time.
The village’s thirteenth century bridge has become synonymous with Aylesford and is a sight to behold. Keen photographers should prioritise a trip to Aylesford, as its medieval architecture makes for some interesting holiday snaps.
Pluckley
Time for an alternative recommendation now - health warning, not for the faint of heart! This quiet, unassuming Kentish village has a spooky underbelly and holds a Guinness World Record as the most haunted village in Britain. Among its ghostly residents are the Red Lady who haunts St Nicholas' Churchyard, a Phantom Coach and Horses and The Lady of Rose Court, who is said to have poisoned herself in a state of heartbreak. If these spooky stories sound like your thing, book onto one of the Pluckley Walking Ghost Tours to find out more.
